Doings on the Farm May 9, 2019 @goldenoakfarm
May is really the most beautiful month on the farm, especially when it is not raining. We’ve had 3 lovely days of sun and are to return to gloom today. This is what we’ve been up to since the chicks arrived on Friday.
We had a time regulating the temperature in the room with the milkhouse heater. One morning it was 67F in there. So my husband found a analog thermostat (nearly impossible but our little hardware store had one) after blowing up a digital one.
He made an outlet for it and spent most of Sunday getting it regulated. We can now control the temperature of the room easily.
Monday we put bedding in and Monday night we lost a chick. This sometimes happens, from the stress of a monster in there pushing white stuff around. We lost another Tuesday night so we are down to 92 chicks.
They are eating and drinking at a great rate and racing all over the enclosure. They think all the structures are jungle gyms to be climbed over.
West garden – pink lily of the valley, daffodils, snowdrops
Monday I cleared gardens with the help of a TimeBank person, but that’s a separate post. We got 3 large gardens done, amended, photographed, and notes taken.
My husband spent the day moving the huge logs from the trees we took down over to the wood pile for cutting and splitting.
Tuesday was supposed to be rainy and I was going to rest and make posts. But it dawn sunny and cool and my helper was here. So we went out and mixed up the amendment for the Big garden. I have to plant the onions next Tuesday and will need it then.
Cold frame – Walla Walla onions, chamomile in back
Cold frame – l-r: borage (both trays), Canterbury bells, snapdragons and marigolds in the top tray
Then we took 3 of the 5 trays out of my living room to the cold frame and took down the large plant light stand and put it away.
We moved the small stand from beside the fire to in front of the door.
L – R: dianthus, evening stocks, 10 week stocks, toothache plant, Sweet Annie
There’s just 1½ trays of tender plants left inside for a couple more weeks.
Tuesday night a local boy who has been looking for odd job work showed up and took down the rotted chicken wire on the west side of the Big garden. This is the last side needing replaced. Now I must dig out the buried wire before installing the new wire.
Wednesday we had to move the snake fence but the grass was far too high.
We got that done. It takes a lot longer now because of the fox barrier.
There’s 3 strands of very hot wire 5’ from the netting.
For some reason, none of the hens wanted to leave the coop on this beautiful cool day. I had to chase them out into the snake to get this photo.
A couple of Buckeyes hanging around the door wondering what I’m doing, but not curious enough to come out and see….
My husband’s cousins and aunt came out to see the farm and the chicks. They got this photo of him with one.
Wednesday afternoon I finally got violets picked for the first load into the dehydrator. I also put raspberry leaves in. These are for the hens in winter.
The crabapple burst into bloom on Wednesday and that evening my husband managed this shot of the oriole eating the flowers. The orioles come every year to feast on these flowers.
And! Four days ago, we scrapped the house plans we posted previously. My husband was very sad that we would no longer have a view of the barn and farm from commonly used windows. So we redesigned the plans and now there are lots of views again. He hasn’t yet put them on the AutoCD so I don’t have a plan to post. But we soon will.
Also, finally, after NUMEROUS phone calls, we had a contractor come out to estimate the septic job. Another is coming this morning. Once we have estimates we can move on…
So it’s been a busy time here on the farm…..
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Wow, what a productive time at the @goldenoakfarm ! I love the hustle and the bustle of the farming life that you conveyed with this post :)
Really enjoyed all the photos and the narration, also :)
May does seem like a gorgeous month for your farm! Meanwhile in the southern hemisphere, we are entering bleaker months, with cloudy skies and rainy days. It sure is a lovely pick up to my days to come across such a post like yours <3
92 chicks! That's a lot! I hope they all grow up well :D
I've always enjoyed reading comments and post from the southern hemisphere, such a contrast to what I am experiencing. Beside spring is my favorite time, and I get to read about and see it twice a year. :))
I hope the chicks survive the fox family.... We've been thinking on how to deter them when the chicks go out on pasture... and wondering how many we will have come September 1st...
Not sure what I enjoyed more - all that rain or the crabapple. :) Here in Thailand we've had about 105F with under 10% humidity for over a month now - Every. Single. Day. So all you cool greenery is a breath of fresh air to me.
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