Farmers' Market 2009

Happenings at P n S Farm May 2009

Our First Farmers' Market was yesterday, May 16, and it was a success. I guess the term success is really dependent on how you measure success. We didn't blow away in the wind storm and saw lots of friends from town. About 15 vendors showed up. This was a great turn out considering how much produce was available this time of year. That was a success!

Our pecans had been shelled and vacuum sealed back in the winter when we collected them. They've been in a cold storage area until this week. We added to that some apples from fall, dried and also vacuum sealed. Then I tried to make some crackers from the rosemary that I've got in the lower herb bed. Whole wheat was suggested by the friends who tasted them and a bit of parmesan cheese mixed in was a good blend. These were packaged with a bit of rosemary and a recipe. We also provided samples (as we did with the pecans) Finally, these were supplemented with a cooler full of eggs from our chickens. We did earn enough to pay for feed until next time.

As luck would have it, our turn came up with the watering of the fields on May 16. Phil was able to run back to change the fields during this busy day. The creek stopped running past our house while people water, this past week. There is still overflow at the Wier, but it no longer makes it's way down to our area, down canyon. Phil found this HUGE crayfish at one of the gates (the valve for the water to come out to the fields). He was able to rescue it and we put it back in the pond near the cattails.

Kid Rock and Skippy came back early this month as well. We now also have another set of horses around. This brings the tally up to 3 colts and 3 mares. Only Kid Rock is still nursing regularly. Todd brought over Loren's Stud to breed all three again. There was a need for some introduction as the mares are pretty protective of their colts, but things settled down pretty quickly. Now, the only time they are a bit rambunctious is when they are being fed. There's so much growing out there, I'm surprised they are even interested, but it is hay and oats. They are beautiful to watch and the colts are great to watch run and kick up a storm.

Other accomplishments this month include:
The cedar flooring and porch flooring are done. Phil did a great job with this and we've already begun moving our camping gear in to sort through for our trip.

I also stained a bit more of the cement around the house. The pink stain is gone and this is a rust and coffee color. I ran out of stain before all was complete. I've got one more gallon coming for the back of the house. This looks really nice with the stone wall we have when you look to the house from the road.

The garden is growing and we have lots coming up. Including romaine and spinach and herbs and onions. Dinner last night was made with some of this bounty.

I also planted corn, squash and beans last week end. I trenched near the fruit trees to try to get some overflow from the trees and one of the check valves for the irrigation. I covered this with some old fencing dad gave us. I was amazed the other day when I saw that everything I planted was coming up (seeds were 2 years old from a friend in TBA). I got out there yesterday, after the Farmers' Market to thin and transplant these. Its not at all organized this year! I also got the Sweet Potato vines this week. They were pretty tired looking after spending two days in the post box. The directions suggest that these are pretty hardy, so we will see what comes up.

One of the fruit trees! They are full of leaves and it looks like all four made it through the transplant time.

The next couple of weeks are going to be spent correcting the drip irrigation system so that each section gets enough water for growth but not too much to drown or waste water.

1 Month laterBags are working!

Another Horse Emergency

Comanche

The other night, Todd brought Comanche over to keep Monday (one of the new colts) company. Comanche was the colt born in July of last year on the farm. He had been at the LNZ, keeping company with several roping horses and a donkey that they rescued. Colts take up to about 2 years of growing before they can begin to be riden to learn to become a roping horse. Comanche has a bit of time to go.

Pinney is the mother of Monday. She's been very protective of her colt. They spend the day feeding in the field. When Comanche came over, she initially bullied him, but left him for the night, the field is pretty big. Apparently, sometime in the morning on April 15, she boxed him into a corner of the field and he tried to jump the fence and got twisted up. I heard some kicking of a bucket. Turns out, in trying to get himself loose, he got twisted in all three wires of the barbed wire fence. I got out there and tried to calm him down while still calling to Molli to stop barking and calling Phil to come out to help. I do recall thinking, Molli go get Phil...yeah, right. She just wanted to be there with us.

Ultimately, I ran half way back to the house after getting two of the wires untied. Comanche was getting more nervous as Pinney moved closer. Rather than get kicked, I thought I could actually use some help. We got him unraveled and into the other field. Salve that was left after an accident last year was still around, so we put that on the open wounds. He seems okay, but stuck to the far side of the field until Todd and Wyatt could get over to pick him up. We'll try again in a couple of days.

A few deep scratches, but no stitches or Vet visit needed. The back leg here was the one caught up in the wire. Just above the tip of the tail, you can see part of the cut. There are also some cuts on this side. Barbed wire is nasty!

This is exciting, but a bit stressful. I'm ready to just pet these horses when they will let me!