by Briscoe White | Feb 8, 2010 | Exploring, Life on the Farm, Miscellaneous |
Once again we have survived a winter storm. Even though we were covered up with snow, then rain and sleet, and then some more snow we feel lucky. Because even though temperatures were down in the teens, the wind only blew for a short while. For us, this means the power lines did not go down. What a luxury! We do feel lucky!
All the little plants growing towards their ship dates never suffered temperatures below sixty degrees, though we did have to use both gas and wood heaters at times. This is a winter that doesn’t quit!! Those of us that stay on the farm during storms get used to an isolation that takes a few days to wear off.
Another storm is due tomorrow, so I guess we will stay in survival mode a few more days. It is hard to think about gardening right now. The ground is frozen and covered with ice, most days it is to cold to be outside for long. But as growers we know that spring is only a few weeks away, and if our customers are to be ready to plant we have to get these plants through to spring! So, Mother Nature, bring it on again. We will last it out knowing it will be over soon! Hope springs eternal, and I am sure hoping for spring
by Briscoe White | Feb 3, 2010 | Exploring, Life on the Farm, Miscellaneous |
We always believed our LP gas heaters helped us heat our greenhouses without much environmental damage. Over time we became convinced that burning wood is environmentally better than burning gas. It is hard to believe on the surface because the gas heater makes no exhaust you can see, they do not smell and do not need cleaning. The wood burner on the other hand is smoky and smelly, but is a fraction of the cost for gas. We also must tend to the wood stove several times through out the day, someone has to add those hundred pound logs.
Being tree lovers, we recognize different species as we throw logs to the fire. These trees were cut and on the way to the lumber and chip mills but purchased by us. Knowing they were cut anyway makes it bearable. The carbon released is already in the environment and therefore better than that released by fossil fuel. We also learned that LP gas escapes the system from the well head to pilot light, each molecule has twenty- four times the greenhouse effect as a carbon molecule. So we switched to wood heat last winter. It is a lot cheaper, but a lot of work. And we do hope, a more environmentally friendly option.
by Briscoe White | Feb 1, 2010 | Exploring, Life on the Farm, Miscellaneous |
It is hard not to comment on the weather when discussing the garden. Everything about it is weather dependent, including when the gardener wishes to garden. But when one has a greenhouse full of young plants like we do here, severe weather can become a real challenge.
The Growers Exchange greenhouse crew has pulled through yet another terrible winter storm. We burned several cords of wood and didn’t lose a single greenhouse! These winter storms isolate us and sometimes cut us off from the rest of the world. This last storm required four nights of vigilance to keep the young plants safe. There is always a chance that a large greenhouse may be affected quite badly by the storms, such as damaging or caving in the roof, depending on the severity of the storm. There are roof replacement Raleigh services, as well as many others in various areas, that can help replace a fully damaged roof, so your plants can go back to being their thriving selves.
The strangest part is when it is over and you drive off the farm into the real world, which is going on like the storm never happened. Sometimes I wonder if it is better to not be affected by weather or if all the stuff we go though is worth the effort. I realize, sad as it is, that some of my best adventures have been during these storms. They almost seem fun as they fade into history, somehow all the pains and tribulations are forgotten. When winter is over, we are all set to plant!
GIANT icicles outside of our offices.
by Briscoe White | Jan 25, 2010 | Miscellaneous |
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by Briscoe White | Jan 18, 2010 | Growing, Herbs, Miscellaneous |
I have a little experiment going in our greenhouse using some really cool towers that let us grow vertically. The towers are a series of stacking bowls which allow for 6 plants on each level. We have been experimenting and looking for a crop we can grow in these towers; it turns out herbs work great.
What we want to do is be able to cut fresh herbs in winter, vertical growing lets us use more of the heated greenhouse space. Mints work great, but we worry they will become pot bound soon. Peppermint is most popular followed Spearmint. Chervil still demands some shade, even from winter sun!.
Oregano has a lot of variations: Italian and Greek, also Marjoram and Zataar. Parsley: Italian for cooking and curly for a garnish. And for our furry friends, we grew Catnip, as most of us have at least one. Herbs do not grow as fast in winter, so we wait for sunny weather and see how fast the plants grow. Being an experiment, we are not sure how well herbs grow in winter.
by Briscoe White | Jan 15, 2010 | Exploring, Life on the Farm, Miscellaneous |
The Growers Exchange keeps a small laying flock out behind the office. We have a flock of mostly Rhode Island Reds with a couple of Sexlinks, Wyandottes, and two Speckled Sussex roosters. A mixed lot for sure, but very reliable egg layers. The staff takes turns collecting and taking home our egg bounty.
The few miscellaneous breeds mentioned above are actually the remnant of our last flock. The Rhode Island Reds were raised as replacements this past summer. As the accompanying photo shows, it is not just us interested in our laying flock.
This young Great Horned owl was inside our chicken coop this morning. I caught him in a crab net and released him outside. He is recovering his dignity in the picture. The good news is this young owl was very easy to forgive as he didn’t hurt the chickens! Usually, the chickens are not that lucky. Fortunately it is not often one of our neighbors finds a way in to the chicken coop. Proving again that “ good fences make good neighbors.”
