Big Pink Farm

<knock knock knock> Anybody in there?

It's like I fell off the planet or something.  Roger reminded me that I haven't posted anything new here in over 3 months.  Oops!  We've been busy, of course, so this entry is going to be more like a string of random thoughts with accompanying photos.

The garden is just about spent, and I am glad for the respite.  Despite the summer being rather cold and wet, we managed to put up a lot of tomatoes and other garden goodies.

After the cool summer, we're being spoiled with a warm fall.  We still have lettuce in the garden!  I've lost my enthusiasm for weeding the garden this late in the year, but the good news is that the weeds have lost their enthusiasm for taking over the world.  We're peacefully co-existing for awhile.

We also had quite a challenge this summer keeping the poultry from being eaten by various predators.  We lost a huge number of chickens - both layers and meat bird - and almost all of our turkeys before we finally won the battle.  Hard lessons were learned and we're planning steps to take now to avoid a similar repeat of tragedy next year.

Perhaps the best proof I can offer that the year is winding down is that we've let the CHICKENS IN THE TOMATO GARDEN!  That, my friends, never ever happens unless there's nothing left to harvest.  Roger guards that plot of land ferociously.  Chickens love to peck at ripe tomatoes and that is strictly not allowed while there is yet one tomato left on the vine. 

In other news, we had a little bit of a water shortage scare here at the farm that prompted us to get off our duffs and do something really simple.  Finally, we're collecting rain water.  It's almost the easiest thing in the world to do, yet it took us years to do it and now we feel a little bit foolish about our hesitation.  We installed gutters on both sides of the barn and connected reclaimed plastic tanks to each downspout.  It takes less than 1/2" of rain to fill them both up to the top; 550 gallons of water collected just that like!  In fact, a 1 minute moderate downpour yields at least 20 gallons of water that would have otherwise gone into the ground.  Doh!

Collecting rainwater has become my new passion.  Now instead of seeing cute little houses when I drive around the area, I see under-utilized gutters begging to be used for water collection.  I'm full of zeal!  Do it!  It's easy!  And eco-friendly!  Here's how.

I'll see you next month!  Meanwhile, I'm going to go stack firewood.  Hahahaha!  No, of course not; I'm going to have my minions stack firewood.  Just as soon as I can find them.