Wintertime is the time of year when a lot of the outdoor activities on the farm begin slowing down. It's a great time to take stock of the past year, learn from it and use the time to plan for the year ahead. We purchased the land almost a year ago now, but it seems like just yesterday. It was a whirlwind for a while, just trying to get our hands dirty and see what we could figure out. I think we're just starting to know what we want to do moving forward.
A lot of this past year involved planting things we were unfamiliar with in different areas around the farm to see what would work, and what wouldn't. The Spring was fun, just planting anything we could find on discount or looked interesting. Then July was hot and dry, everything got fried. We couldn't water fast enough. Of all the months this year I think July was the hardest for me. The Gardenias and Azaleas all lost all or most of their leaves. More than half of them might not make it. The deer discovered our apple trees and had them for lunch. The goji berries lost their leaves, and they never came back, although I have hope that they'll return in the Spring. The loofahs took off like a rocket, and then fizzled.
August was a relief because while it was still hot at least we were getting some rain. Then in September it was still hot and still raining, the same for October, and November and December. So warm! So much rain! We winterized our garden in the middle of December preparing for the first frost which was coming later that week... it was 75 degrees and sunny that day. That which does not kill me (or my plants) makes me stronger. I've had to learn a few lessons this year in strength for sure, patience and I think I've even gained a little tiny bit of understanding. I also think it's time to call an expert.
Our vision for the farm is not your typical mono-culture plant 100 rows of Crop X, harvest, use cash to repeat. We want a sustainable homestead, working with Mother Nature, instead of against Her. Using living systems to improve our water security, soil quality and overall sustainability with each season. With that in mind I made a call this week to Shades of Green Permaculture Design Inc. I have a consultation set up for next week so that they can assess the site and help us shape our vision for the future using their wealth of experience and training to set us up for a lifetime(and beyond) of success. I can't wait to work with them! 2016, here we come!
A lot of this past year involved planting things we were unfamiliar with in different areas around the farm to see what would work, and what wouldn't. The Spring was fun, just planting anything we could find on discount or looked interesting. Then July was hot and dry, everything got fried. We couldn't water fast enough. Of all the months this year I think July was the hardest for me. The Gardenias and Azaleas all lost all or most of their leaves. More than half of them might not make it. The deer discovered our apple trees and had them for lunch. The goji berries lost their leaves, and they never came back, although I have hope that they'll return in the Spring. The loofahs took off like a rocket, and then fizzled.
August was a relief because while it was still hot at least we were getting some rain. Then in September it was still hot and still raining, the same for October, and November and December. So warm! So much rain! We winterized our garden in the middle of December preparing for the first frost which was coming later that week... it was 75 degrees and sunny that day. That which does not kill me (or my plants) makes me stronger. I've had to learn a few lessons this year in strength for sure, patience and I think I've even gained a little tiny bit of understanding. I also think it's time to call an expert.
Our vision for the farm is not your typical mono-culture plant 100 rows of Crop X, harvest, use cash to repeat. We want a sustainable homestead, working with Mother Nature, instead of against Her. Using living systems to improve our water security, soil quality and overall sustainability with each season. With that in mind I made a call this week to Shades of Green Permaculture Design Inc. I have a consultation set up for next week so that they can assess the site and help us shape our vision for the future using their wealth of experience and training to set us up for a lifetime(and beyond) of success. I can't wait to work with them! 2016, here we come!
