Wow, a lot has happened in the last month! We finished the maple syrup after a very short sap run. With some March days that reached 55 to 60 degrees and the nights staying above freezing, the sap run was short. Then when the night temperatures dropped, the trees were already budding and it was time to pull the taps - before the run really even started. But we ended up with a few gallons of syrup which will keep our farm crew in maple syrup cinnamon rolls for a while this summer.
Just as we finished cooking syrup, the second group of sheep moms began giving birth. With warm temperatures, it has been perfect for lambing (warm but still no flies.) We have 26 lambs so far - the biggest are already nearly 50 pounds - they grow sooooo fast. Four of the goats - Didja, Mamba, Mantra and Mezzo - have also given birth with six kids, three of which are doelings. We're still waiting on Stormy.
We've also been busy seeding. We've transformed our farm office cabin into a germination house with four - just build two new ones last week - plant stands full of flats of germinating seeds. With thirty six fluorescent lights going day and night it keeps the cabin plenty warm to aid in quick germination of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and a variety of flower seeds. The cold nights are a constant worry. We are not automated and have small greenhouses, so keeping them warm enough at night when the temperature dips below freezing is difficult. Last week, we had spotty freezing on several flats of flower seedlings. A further concern is that after a night of close to or below freezing temperatures, the morning is too cold to open the greenhouse door. Then very, very quickly, as the sun rises high enough the temperature zooms to over 100 degrees. It takes almost constant monitoring on warm, sunny days, a choreography of propping doors, spray watering, closing doors, setting up small heaters....
Hopefully, by Earth Day - April 22 - we'll get the seed potatoes in the ground. We usually aim for Mother's day - so this is early. We'll also be receiving the thousands of onion plants which will go in about the same time. As soon as all those are in, we'll begin seeding Sugar Snap peas, Radishes, lettuce and greens. The bok choi and brocolli are growing in the greenhouse and will go in right after. Of course all this means plowing and disking and harrowing the fields - not to mention hauling and spreading loads of compost - before anything get planted!!!
Our apprentice/intern crew - some of whom will be starting full time soon have been volunteering on Fridays since tapping Maple trees in March. This gives us all a chance to get to know each other and gradually work into the farm season. They are an invaluable help at this time of year when we don't really need full time help. This year our interns will be staying in yurts as their temporary housing. Last year, we constructed two small yurts and this year we'll add to that number, creating a yurt village in our back yard.
Didja, one of our older goat does had triplets last year, and was equally huge in her pregnancy this spring - she looked like she was carrying two basketballs on either side - so we were guessing she'd do that again this year, but no - just one huge buck (boy) kid.
Thanks again to all of you who have joined the farm this year. We have a great intern/apprentice crew and are looking forward to a wonderful year. We still have shares available so tell your friends. We will be raising some meat animals again this year so watch the blog for the updates about available meat shares as we know the numbers we'll have available.
Until next week....
