Since July, so much has happened at the Farm.
At the moment, we’re watching three new goat kids. Both Rosie, one of the Nubians, and Cotton, the Lamanche, had a pair of twins with one boy and one girl each. Nellie, an Alpine goat, will give birth sometime in April, and Ebony, another Nubian, will possibly birth then, too.
We have stopped milking and have “dried off” all four milking cows in our herd. Both Strawberry and Rhubarb are due to give birth in April; Hibiscus and Moon are due in August.
Halifax, our 800-pound pig, was with a boar recently, but I am suspicious of whether or not she got bred this time.
The sheep are all nice and plump. We’ve had our first lamb and more are expected from February into March. The four alpacas and Hank, our ram, are keeping each other warm in the top of the Chicken Cathedral and the chickens are telling me they are really ready for spring. We have placed our chick order and expect them to arrive in May.
I picked up some new Angora bunnies and one gave birth a week after we got her, which was a nice surprise.
The sugar lines are in pretty good shape and we will tap on the first Friday in March. I have ordered a new tank to help with the overflow of sap that has occurred since we fixed the lines several years ago.
We are getting ready to pick up soil and start seeds in the next month or so. Soon, the greenhouse will have lots of little sprouts to remind us spring is not far away.
Gardener Rachel Stievater adds that she has ordered all of her seeds for the upcoming season.
The question is not, “What are we growing this year?” but, “What are we NOT growing?” Well, I think I can safely say that we are growing some of everything, from asparagus to zinnias. Actually, there are two crops that I won’t be planting: Turnips and rutabagas. When I find a child who will eat turnips and rutabagas, I will plant turnips and rutabagas. (I have been called out on my planting decisions before). Last season, I only planted chard at Tamarack Farm because I haven’t met any kids who admit to loving chard. One morning I was up at Timberlake’s garden, though, when a camper asked why Timberlake didn’t have any chard? I sheepishly answered that I didn’t think 11-year-old boys liked to eat chard and then quickly reassured him that he was talking to the right person to make a change. Rest assured there will be chard at Timberlake this summer.
So, stay tuned for more updates and pictures of all that is happening at the Farm.