Well, the massive heat wave that has been sitting on the Memphis area for about 2 mos. now is finally starting to dissipate. It has actually been in the low 90's during the day and less humidity. That will make the vegies happy as they have been overheated and thirsty.... especially the tomatoes.
We have been busy picking what is ripe in the garden; squash, zucchini, lady peas, okra and cucumbers. The cucumbers are beautiful but some have a bitter taste to them due to the stress of the heat and no rain. We plan to buy the stress resistant variety next season so there is no bitterness. Everything else has been great despite the squash bugs coming to pay us a visit and having to pick caterpillars off the tomato plants but we have been using organic bug spray to help with that. There is a great organic nursery in Collierville that has all the stuff we need to keep the bugs away. We have heard from other farmers who say the squash bugs have invaded their gardens as well, so I am glad it is not just us who have the problem.
We also planted a few zinnias this year and they turned out so pretty that we will plant a bunch more next year. The butterflies love them. The bees are having a great time on our sunflowers as well.
The tractor has turned out to be more work than anticipated.... it is nothing that Cris can't fix but it is just finding the time to do it. There are not too many actually parts to an old Ford 8N tractor. He fixed the alternator last week and now it is charging the battery just fine but he thinks the engine needs some work; especially after the tractor starting spewing smoke. He ordered the parts and plans to bring the tractor to our house to work on it in the garage next week. By the time he is through, the tractor will have all new parts.
We started cutting down more trees and brush around the pond to get some sunlight there and grass growing. The blue gill fish are alive and well and growing. They are used to us coming to the pond now and throwing fish food in for them. They hear Cris start the water pump for the garden and they come running (or swimming) to the edge and wait for the fish food. Cris wants to add some bass this fall.
We finally decided on a name for the farm.... we at first were going to be Watson Organic Farms but I wanted something other than our name and really didn't want "organic" in the name. We wanted Firefly Farms but it was already taken in Tennesssee (someone licensed it in July of this year..... uuuuggghhh I was too late). We decided on Renaissance Farms, LLC. We were always big Renaissance Fair goers in Maryland and I made each of us an outfit to wear each year. So as long as the State of Tn. approves it, Renaissance Farms it will be.
Due to Cris receiving a decent bonus this year, we are able to order the gravel for the driveway and barn area and get set-up for electric. They will have to install about 3 utility poles to run the electric to the barn.
We are deciding rather to have the builders start on the house in the spring before we sell our house in Memphis or just buy a trailer or mobile home to live in at the farm after Alex graduates high school, sell our house in Memphis, then start building after we sell the house. We will probably go with the 2nd option due to the economy and crazy housing market. I would hate to have to pay for two homes at the same time.
We have been busy picking what is ripe in the garden; squash, zucchini, lady peas, okra and cucumbers. The cucumbers are beautiful but some have a bitter taste to them due to the stress of the heat and no rain. We plan to buy the stress resistant variety next season so there is no bitterness. Everything else has been great despite the squash bugs coming to pay us a visit and having to pick caterpillars off the tomato plants but we have been using organic bug spray to help with that. There is a great organic nursery in Collierville that has all the stuff we need to keep the bugs away. We have heard from other farmers who say the squash bugs have invaded their gardens as well, so I am glad it is not just us who have the problem.
We also planted a few zinnias this year and they turned out so pretty that we will plant a bunch more next year. The butterflies love them. The bees are having a great time on our sunflowers as well.
The tractor has turned out to be more work than anticipated.... it is nothing that Cris can't fix but it is just finding the time to do it. There are not too many actually parts to an old Ford 8N tractor. He fixed the alternator last week and now it is charging the battery just fine but he thinks the engine needs some work; especially after the tractor starting spewing smoke. He ordered the parts and plans to bring the tractor to our house to work on it in the garage next week. By the time he is through, the tractor will have all new parts.
We started cutting down more trees and brush around the pond to get some sunlight there and grass growing. The blue gill fish are alive and well and growing. They are used to us coming to the pond now and throwing fish food in for them. They hear Cris start the water pump for the garden and they come running (or swimming) to the edge and wait for the fish food. Cris wants to add some bass this fall.
We finally decided on a name for the farm.... we at first were going to be Watson Organic Farms but I wanted something other than our name and really didn't want "organic" in the name. We wanted Firefly Farms but it was already taken in Tennesssee (someone licensed it in July of this year..... uuuuggghhh I was too late). We decided on Renaissance Farms, LLC. We were always big Renaissance Fair goers in Maryland and I made each of us an outfit to wear each year. So as long as the State of Tn. approves it, Renaissance Farms it will be.
Due to Cris receiving a decent bonus this year, we are able to order the gravel for the driveway and barn area and get set-up for electric. They will have to install about 3 utility poles to run the electric to the barn.
We are deciding rather to have the builders start on the house in the spring before we sell our house in Memphis or just buy a trailer or mobile home to live in at the farm after Alex graduates high school, sell our house in Memphis, then start building after we sell the house. We will probably go with the 2nd option due to the economy and crazy housing market. I would hate to have to pay for two homes at the same time.
I was able to get some more butterfly photos this week and even saw a monarch. These were in Mississippi at a house were we picked pears. The man advertised on Craigslist that he had pears that needed picking so we picked 3 brown grocery bags full and have been busy making pear butter and canning pears. We are going to plant our own fruit trees in October but it will take a few years for them to produce a decent crop.
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