SETTING UP SHOP.
When starting any business, there are going to be a fair number of things to be done before you can open the doors to the public. For a farmer that can mean plowing a garden (or cardboarding one, respectfully), building fences, fixing buildings or all manner of digging, hauling, heaving and pulling. With the warm, Spring weather quickly approaching, and hopes to offer a CSA this year, Hannah and I have been in somewhat of a dash to get ready for the season.We have multiple projects in the works, but the most pressing as of late has been the greenhouse. A greenhouse is not a necessity, but it definitely helps to get your garden going sooner. You can start seeds in small blocks of soil and let them mature until they are ready to transplant into the garden. I know farmers who don't use greenhouses at all, preferring rather to place the seeds directly in the soil in lieu of the young starts. However, they have to wait until the soil is warm and dry enough to do so which in turn pushes their season back later. Or there are gardeners who buy young plants from markets and place them straight into the soil. For our farm,we're interested in enjoying early crops from the garden, and if we want to start eating fresh food in May, we need to have seeds in the greenhouse in March. But first...we need a greenhouse!This morning we dressed warmly (including our slick new coveralls), gathered our tools and headed out to the farm for a little lesson in carpentry. By the end of the day we'd finished most of the frame - not bad for a couple of beginners on a cold, Kentucky afternoon!- Hannah.
FENCE ME IN.
We made a trip to the farm on Friday, because how could we not? The forecast called for sunny and ridiculously warm! I love it, but it's also a little bit scary to think: is this weather the new normal? IS February going to be a part of the growing season soon? Farmers everywhere are saying goodbye to their winter vacations... I guess I'm not exactly complaining, though––55 degrees in February is a pretty pleasant treat, and it gave us great opportunity to knock out a little project!After a super-healthy breakfast, we started the process of fencing in the garden, digging some post holes and setting up the corners. It is nice to be able to visualize the garden...to stand at the edge and really SEE it! With the corner posts up, we now just have to finish the fence with some gridded wire - to keep out the bunnies and deer and other such undesirables. This was a small project, but it was pretty psychologically big! We spent the rest of the day playing with worms we found (a really good sign for the soil!) and planning out our greenhouse and chicken yard. Now we are relaxing, looking forward to a weekend of sports. UK plays tonight, and of course, on Sunday...the Puppy Bowl!What are you plans for the Big Game?- Jesse.
BARRELS OF CRAIGSLIST FUN.
When I read the words "Wine Barrel For Sale" I tried desperately to ignore it. And by 'tried desperately" I mean I immediately asked Hannah if I could buy it. I've looked into barrels before. Used oak barrels are not cheap––generally around $100-$150, and that's not including shipping––so $40 was a pretty enticing price tag. Once she gave me the OK, I gave the guy a call and the next thing I knew I was coming home with a beautiful, fifty- something gallon wine barrel once used.The man who owned the barrel used to work for Woodford Reserve "before the 2009 layoffs." Apparently Woodford had purchased hundreds of used barrels from "Sonoma Cutter" which I'm pretty sure means Sonoma Cutrer, the makers of a commercially popular chardonnay. Producers like that typically use these barrels for one year to suck all of the oaky flavor out of them and then they sell them or find other uses. Woodford purchased a number of these uncharred barrels to make a special batch of Sonoma Cutrer whiskey. They poured two bottles of wine into each barrel of whiskey and let it age for a year. The barrel I bought today was a leftover, thankfully never used in the batch and thus never tainted by the whiskey. He had bought it when Woodford decided they didn't need it anymore and never used it himself so he decided to get rid of it. That's when he got a call from your's truly.I have no immediate intentions for this barrel, though I've dreamt of plenty of possibilities. I've imagined it as a rain barrel in the garden with a hose running out of the bottom. Or it would make a good table, a piece of glass fixed to the top and maybe an umbrella. Even a life as a container in which to stir biodynamic preparations would be a worthy use, but nothing trumps my want for it to fulfill its destiny as a wine barrel and fill it with bubbling fruit juice. It might not be soon, and it might not be ever, but if the opportunity ever arises and fifty gallons of wine present themselves, I'll finally have a place to put them for a couple of years. No matter what, it'll make a pretty excellent addition to the farm.- Jesse.
SPECIAL DELIVERY.
Today started out a bit gloomy. Cold and rainy, with Jesse and I feeling confused about the farm, cooped up indoors, generally uninspired. So that made a lovely surprise like this one all the more happily received.
You'll have to stay tuned for more details, but by all means, if you do not understand the significance of this, get thee to a library!
- Hannah.