anonymous

First, Happy Summer Solstice. Did you know that the sun let out a big eruption of a solar flare today? The longest day of the year has come in with a major hot flash!

I tell you what, I was going to blog a little about goats today, but I got an unexpected surprise.

I talk about my old farmer neighbor friend often here. He usually comes over here when he sees Rusty. They talk about dogs, farming, hunting and gardens. I eaves drop, because I love the stories. I absorb what I can. Once in awhile get a word in or a question.

Lately though, we have seen more of him. I am glad. He lost his wife to cancer not too long ago and I was worried he might give up and follow her. But he hasn't. He hunted this fall and has kept a garden which is way in the back on his property. I never have had opportunity to go up there. Rusty has, because he is a guy. I don't feel upset about that. My neighbor is an old fashion, old man from a different era, when the men-folk talk about men-folk talk. The women gather and talk women-folk talk, (and cook, clean and tend to the children.)

I think somehow when I gave him the plants there was a turning point. He has seen me out in the garden working. I talk about my experiences, and how I see things. I saw him smile when I was talking about how much I love Earl, my pet donkey. I have chipped away at something. He sees me now. He still would never come over to chat unless Rusty was here.

But this evening while I was out pulling weeds, I heard his truck pull up. Rusty wasn't home yet, but my neighbor had told me on Sunday that he would give me all of his romaine lettuce for my ducks, goat pig, (heck even Earl loves romaine leaves.) So he pulls in and I walk up yo his truck. He asks me where I want the lettuce, and I tell him right there by the truck. Well he is pulling out these mega-lettuce heads. He grew these from the little weed-like plants I gave him, not that long ago. I was so delighted. I couldn't believe how big they were! As I am praising his lettuce yield, Rusty pulls up.

So my neighbor, says you want to come see my garden? I say, YES! I go inside grab my cameras and then we all piled in his truck and drove up.

I gasped when I first saw it.

It was huge. HUGE. The hugeness included how big the plants were, not just the actual garden plot. The plants I gave him. Giant. They make mine look like sickly weeds. Now, he told me I can't give away his gardening secrets. So I am keeping him anonymous and I wont share his secrets. After all, I was invited to the men's club. I don't want to blow it.. Here are some photos I snapped off.

monster cabbage, from my seedlings

onions

fennel

pepper

broccoli and my foot - look how large the broccoli is! My seedling as well.

The unknown neighbor cuts me two grocery bags of full broccoli.

secret

I have more photos of a cabin he built. I will share some views from there in my next blog.
Time to sleep! I am pooped. I will this edit tomorrow. Maybe.
~crow

chicken tractor

I gave my old knees a good workout today. Having more plants still in containers, I asked Rusty to till me another garden. He says I keep him busy, pushing for more garden space, and then more. I am addicted to planting things! I can't help myself.

Also, I asked him to build me some chicken tractors. I would build it myself, but it would take me two days. It took Rusty about an hour and a half. For those of you who are not farming, a "tractor" is a mobile chicken pen and housing. People use these tractors for young chickens, for backyard chickens in suburbia and city plots and some people use them for gardens. I know another farm that puts young ducklings in them. Which is pretty smart. Ducks poo like crazy.

We have decided to use the tractor in our garden as part of staying a pesticide free farm.The chickens love to scratch and peck and eat bugs and grasses. This eliminates the need for pesticides and cuts down on weeding. I am all over that! The chickens then poop in that area, and it acts as natural fertilizer. Every day, you move it along. The tractor in a garden setting needs to be pretty narrow to be able to fit between the rows of vegetables. Another benefit of a tractor is the chickens need less feed which cuts down on consumer waste. Additionally, the chickens, and eventually their eggs, are more healthy. It might not be exactly the same as free roaming, but it is pretty darn close. There is a shelter attached, so the chickens can get out of wind and rain and feel secure, always having a place to duck into if something scary happens, like when the mower comes by. Also, hawks can't swoop down and grab your babies. Perks all the way around. Permaculture is based on this sort of farming/living structure way of being mindful of the every day.

I was having some sort of camera operator issues, so this photo is a tad blurry. I am too tired to go up and snap another right now. So here is my first official tractor for my chickens and garden.

chicken tractor in the garden

two Brahmas - look at the hairy legs

chicken tractor in the weeds

two chicken butts

green pepper plant - random shot

photographer issues and carrots

tonka enjoying the chick-weed, cabbage, carrots and the cool earth

new garden - Earl - tiller

Today, I planted a row of romaine, (Yes, I still have more) a row of broccoli, two rows of two varieties of tomatoes, and three rows of pole beans. My idea is to plant in waves. This way we get fresh veggies longer. It helps if you are canning too, to get some breaks. Besides canning for part of our year's food source, I am also selling some. I need to recover my cost of planting, a new tiller, etc... then I will be donating some to needy families. People get non-perishables from food pantries, but these families need fresh vegetables, as much as my family and I do. It is a win, win, win.

Another great day here in Wild and Wonderful WV!
~crow

soul garden

It as been so hot here in the mountains. The Summer Solstice has yet to arrive and we have been near 90 degrees. I spend my days making sure the animals are comfortable and have fresh cold water to cool them, shade and frozen water bottles in the hutches.

Yesterday late afternoon into evening, I went out planting again, pushing past my swollen knees, the still sweltering heat, and my mind begging to quit. But I didn't quit. I planted three more rows of tomatoes and weeded the bush beans.

I find that when I do push past the discomfort, It is the predominately the mental I have to overcome. The "I can't do this" tapes, instead turn it into, "I am doing it" album. I get into a new zone in my being. With the body and mind now working together, something quite beautiful happens.

Digging into the earth, loosening the soil with my hands, I ready the tomato's new home. Touching the earth brings me to a grounded place. Literally and figuratively. As the sweat is dripping from my face, slightly stinging my eyes, I work in the heat that I now consider my personal sauna. The earth is still cool, deep under the top soil. Dark organic clay dirt, the kind you might make use for a facial. I run it through my hands playing with the dirt like a child, then placing a precious plant, which I grew from seed. Each plant, is filled with the love and nurturing from the sun, water, soils and my hand. They each have a network of tiny white baby roots reaching for more. I carefully place each in a hole and crumble the cool moist earth around it with both hands, giving myself a dirt manicure.

My higher self watches and I witness an extraordinary earthly creature, along with the others, potato bugs, earth worms, and the robins happily pecking on the far side of the garden.

I have talked about this before, but I stands repeating, mostly for myself.

Who I am is holy.
Where I am is holy.
What I do is holy.

An epiphany in my little farm spa and resort. On my natural mountain high.

hole-y plastic with tomatoes

~crow