MODERN FARMER.
Modern Farmer Magazine, now on it's fourth issue, is also well on its way to becoming one of our favorite publications. Hannah and I read a lot of magazines and subscribe to more than a few, but when we found Modern Farmer we discovered a farming magazine that combines farm technology and design with insightful journalism in a way that has been, at least for us, somewhat lacking in our regular deluge of print media. And not only is the magazine itself a consistently good read––which one does not remotely have to be a farmer to enjoy––but they have an awesome website worthy of regular visits, especially if the reader is as interested as we are in an objective view of farming. They even have a live Hamcam! Anyhow, please join us in supporting this great new magazine, and subscribe here.- Jesse.
GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY.
And just like that, its spring. One day I am complaining about the brutal winter, and (truly!) the very next day, we are busy planting and preparing beds and starting soil blocks. How wonderful to have our hands in the dirt again, sun on our bare shoulders, sore muscles at night.We planted peas in our own garden and started cabbage and broccoli in soil blocks. In the big gardens, we prepared beds by spreading compost (with the trusty golf cart) and planted onions and lettuce with the Smiths while the children picked chickweed.What are you busy with in these early days of spring?- Hannah.
FOREVER WINTER.
We are getting a little tired of the winter around here. This past week brought us more snow and ice and freezing temperatures, and we are just OVER IT. It is stressful. The piglets are way too big to be living indoors, but after a day of freezing sleet and snow it just seemed cruel to make them sleep outside. So inside they come, trailing chaos in their wake. During a freezing downpour, I was forced to chase escaped goats all around the garden, one of them with a profusely bleeding head where she had broken off a horn. And of course, we are running out of firewood. WINTER! You are the worst.But of course, the sun is out and today is beautiful. The goats are fine and the piglets are back outside. And it will warm up. And then we will be running like crazy to contain the explosion of spring, missing these days of winter. I know this. But seriously, I do not know how you people up north do it.- Hannah.
