May showers, bring June...?

One week ago every farmer I knew was making half-hearted jokes that we needed to host a workshop on 'farming in the mud'; I couldn't not agree with them.  The harsh rain of a week ago is still affecting us. We are unable to ready many of our gardens for planting, and many of the plants that were already in the gardens have received too much water.  The peas that we planted almost one month ago are only two inches high, the beets will likely not survive, and we have many transplants that need to planted out in the gardens, but none of the gardens are prepared to be planted in. But we did get to plant cauliflower out this week.  But, on a good note, the bok choy, swiss chard, broccoli, garlic and lettuce look great!  And Thursday and Friday were beautiful, lots of sun!

To the barns...
After some extensive fencing (and, no, not the kind with faux swords), the cattle have been let out to pasture.     The latest addition to the herd, is a male calf named Yuri.
All the horses are out in paddocks and look a lot less shaggy.  Grass is also cut daily and fed to Isabelle and Frisco, the pigs.  Two of the ducks are sitting on nests.    And the chickens are laying well and go out daily and scratch around, occasionally making a mess in the gardens.

Luna also had another surgery yesterday. This time for a graft that has been sewn onto the area that the tumour was removed from. In order for the graft to take, Luna must do as little as possible. She whines, not only in pain, but for the chance to be let outside. Fingers crossed for her!

getting back into the swing of things

I haven't written in almost a month, and since then a lot has happened here at the farm. A new calf has been born, her name is Yolanda.

We now have numerous things planted in the garden, such as: beets, radish, kale, lettuce, Swiss chard, broccoli, lettuce mix, spinach, beans, and peas.  Some of this will be ready for the Windsor Farmers' Market opening day on May 27, 2011.

The pasture has grown enough to let all the horses back on it. They are enjoying their time frolicking and getting fat, paired two-by-two in separate paddocks.  Soon the cows will be let out to pasture.  Gardens are in need of harrowing and rock and grass-clump removing. 

Also, the farm dog, Luna, is recovering from a soft tissue removal surgery. She is still happy and active, but doesn't enjoy all the time she spends in the house.