everything update

Well, I have been out of school for the Summer and thus lack the constant internet used to update this blog. A little catchup here. Siding; still not done but getting more done by the week. Toilet; arrived in the mail yet still to plumb/ build the base ( composting toilet with a "dirty grey water" drain). The patio; has gravel down. the furnace; the hole is dug and a trench dug for running the hot air into the house. landscaping: this is always first to be done. Lowes had a deal on dying plants and so we bought trees and shrubs, flowers and herbs, as well as a few lime trees. The geo thermal concept is designed and the hole is dug yet we lack all the supplies to finish it yet. The garden has been struggling due to excess rain and a cool cloudy Summer. We are working to build soil fertility and chalk this year, as well as the past two, up to building tilth and nutrient density. Oh, we also built/ are building a barn. Pictures of all projects to come.

Farm work: tiny house

We have begun the farming part of living on a little farm in GA. We went with the ancient way of clearing our field of Winter frost killed weeds and grasses. We burned. The field is now full of nutrients left in the ashes and clear for the planting. 

tiny house farm: grafting

Experimenting with grafting. We will see if the grafts work. I am hopeful. The trimmings of some rare and old trees are grafted onto less rare young trees. I hope this works as every one that works is like saving $30+ 

the garden

The garden is one of the first things I started at the farm. The posts are to become an arbor and at their base are climbing plants (muscadines). The raised beds are filling up with leafy greens, brassicas, and onions. The herbs skirt a couple of fruit trees and two rows of berries provide a wind break. It is a work in progress but is taking a much better shape now that Donnelly is tending the garden. The pictures below are of the garden and then the upper field of the farm.  

planting and harvest

With the break from building we have had time to invest in other needs. This weekend we planted about 490 garlic plants. Though it is a little late to plant the garlic the soil is still warm and should help them get a good start. Now we wait until July to harvest them. We also spent some time watching the sun set as we harvested some of the peanuts we planted. Yes, we should have done this months ago. Yes, lots of the peanuts were ruined because we had not harvested them sooner. The consolation is that there are lots of peanuts to use as seed for next year.
The first frost has hit and taken with it all of the beautiful flowers in our yard, the pepper plants as well as the final growth of the sweet potatoes. It is sad to see all the lingering Summer joys slip away in one night. On to the grey month and the subfusc evenings cozied around the wood stove.

Autumn Shoots

The fall shoots are proudly popping up in the garden. 

Bright turnips letting their hair out. I was delighted to remember these were turnips and not radishes. 

A splendid example of the honesty of seeds. Even though I had forgotten that I was exhausted at this point in the planting, the broccoli seeds had not. Stephen politely wanted to know what had happened to my usual organized planting style. For a moment I thought about making up a clever story, you know those deer cannot be trusted with anything! (Alas the broccoli was ratting me out in plain sight) Dumping out a seed packet at sunset to proudly announce that you are finished planting is not recommended. You can be certain your seed sins  will surely find you out. 

Thinning seedlings just might be one of the most painful tasks of gardening for me. In a way I feel as though I am splitting up a second grade romance, just heart wrenching... this is where my charming husband comes in to be my knight. 

The blogger. 

A wonderful gift from Papa, by far the cutest shovel I have ever beheld. 

I was tickled to find this little fellow chocking under the native grasses. The rosemary is recovering nicely thanks to aggressive weeding measures.