Archive for May, 2011
May 17, 2011 – First Tomatoes in the Ground
It’s rather a long job, but one that only needs to be done once a season. The first couple of rows of tomatoes are in. It requires laying the weed barrier down, hauling the stakes and cages from storage, cutting out the milk cartons, spreading the straw, planting, and putting the stakes and cages up.
But it leads to practically no weeding this bed the rest of the summer and offering the tomatoes a more constant supply of moisture. These are the best-looking beds on the farm at the moment – the rest still need some work, but this photo shows tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, fall raspberries, and blackberries in the distance.
one year ago…”Garage as Test Case”
May 16, 2011 – Paw-paw Flowers
I noticed these bizarre Chinese-lantern looking things on the Paw-Paw tree this week. This is the first year flowering for this tree, but I don’t think we’ll get fruit because the partner tree did not make it and the replacement is too small to flower.
Unless, perhaps there’s another in the neighborhood we don’t know about that can cross-pollinate this one.
one year ago…”Peonies and Ants”
May 15, 2011 – First Annual Edibles
The first annual edibles came out of the garden (asparagus is a perennial) today – a bit later than usual.
Radishes, lettuce, and spinach are ready for consumption. Scratch expensive organic salad mix off the grocery list for a while!
one year ago…”Eight Year Old Boy ‘Records’”
May 14, 2011 – Emma’s College Visits Begin – Gustavus
As the last few days have been cold, wet and miserable, it’s nice to get out and start Emma’s college search. It was off to St. Peter Minnesota to Gustavus Adolphus today. Although she’s not sure what she’d exactly like to pursue, it seems most likely that some science-related pursuit with a side of music are in order. So, the list of colleges to look at is slightly different than the first daughter’s.
Almost as soon as we stepped out of the car, Emma was very happy to see a fire pit with comfy Adirondack chairs! She appreciated having these chairs sprinkled throughout campus.
More Emma on campus, after a lunch.
The view from campus down towards St Peter and the Minnesota River valley. We have a few more Lutheran colleges on hills to visit (Luther and St. Olaf) among others over the next few months before getting serious with one and starting to date one.
one year ago…”Closing Out the School Year”
May 13, 2011 – Claire’s Back
Now that Claire’s back, we get to shake up the menu a bit by adding Indian dishes to the rotation.
Tonight she made naan, a bean-carrot fry, a spinach potato curd curry, and a type of rice pudding. We’ll let her cook anytime! It gave me occasion to try out a whole new series of puns, some of which have very small audiences. First, it’s the early 90′s band “4 Naan Blondes,” or the pile of naan that have sight, smell, and touch, or “Naansense,” of the newspaper headline after the 747 takeoff was aborted after encountering a pile of naan on the runway “Naan Stop Flight.” The family has had enough groaning, so I’ll stop there!
one year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #208″
May 12, 2011 – Thingamajig Thursday #257
Here’s this week’s thingamajig Thursday.
Also check out the last thingamajig answer.
As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Look for the answer in the comments after next week’s thingamajig is posted.
one year ago…”Fern Brings New Goat to High Hopes”
May 11, 2011 – Linda to Advise in DC Next Week
Linda received an invitation to DC from a branch of the National Academy of Science and HBO to participate in a discussion about obesity and farm policy. The agency is the Institute of Medicine and here’s a bit of description from their web site.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public.
Established in 1970, the IOM is the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was chartered under President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Nearly 150 years later, the National Academy of Sciences has expanded into what is collectively known as the National Academies, which comprises the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, and the IOM.
Here’s a brief description of the event from the IOM:
More after Linda returns…
one year ago…”Spring Bee Renewal”
May 10, 2011 – Unintentional Demolition!
After yesterday’s granary demolition, I’ve got a story of a not-so-happy demolition. Motored up to St. Paul to pick up Claire after year one at Macalester was over. She’s got about a month at home before heading to DC for her summer internship with the USDA.
So on the way home on I-35 in southern Minnesota, one of the electronic signs warns “Accident Ahead – 3 miles. As we approach the site we can’t make out what has happened – I say – “It’s to big for a rolled over semi.” Claire offers, “It’s a billboard.” When we reach the scene, it is half of a modular house impaled sideways on a guard rail on an interstate overpass. The truck and trailer were short ways down the road. The house had evidently blown off the trailer.
I can imagine the call they needed to make to the homeowner, expecting to move into their new house in a few days – it could have gone at least a couple of directions.
“Sir, the good news is that half of your house is in place and bolted to the foundation.”
or
“How do you feel about moving to a great location just outside Faribault Minnesota at a site with easy access to the interstate?” Sorry, no pictures.
one year ago…”Frosty Mother’s Day”
May 9, 2011 – Demolition Man
Unless you are a builder, professional building imploder, or have a special on some cable network, most men don’t get too many chances to demolish a building. I’ve been working on the old granary out in the pasture off an on since last fall. A lesser man may have found a match, but I have spent the time salvaging as much of the wood from the building as possible. The granary was probably dragged out to the pasture in the early 70′s and has been deteriorating ever since.
Some of the floor joists from the 2nd story floor are seen leaning against the fence. I
I’ve removed all the wide boards from the interior, all but three of the 2nd level floor joists and some of the supporting wall 2x4s. The building finally reached the point where it wasn’t safe to keep working on it.
So now decision time comes. How to get the building down safely and try to prevent as many of the wall studs and roof rafters from crushing? After a few days of walking around and in the granary and ruminating, I came upon a plan that required the tractor and a long chain. At the end of the day, the building fell just as I had planned – down.
Actually, it fell about as perfectly as I could have wished. First, I ran the chain around the bottom of the short wall on the north side and pulled the bottom of the wall out with the tractor. Next, I repeated the same step on the opposite short side and almost as the last wall stud was ripped out, the building leaned to the east – the east and west walls fell due east and the roof stayed intact and rested on the east wall and exposed the west wall.
Now I have a few weeks of additional salvage. I’ve got a plan for some of the wood, but that’s for another day.
May 8, 2011 – Just Peachy!
Now that the cold spring weather has broken, the buds that were just waiting, are hiding no longer.
The peaches are blooming profusely.
Too bad, the fragrance doesn’t go along with the the photos.
one year ago…”Ecoheartland Film Features High Hopes”
May 7, 2011 – All Farm Grill
Tonight was another “all farm” grill. The asparagus is finally big enough to cut.
Partnered with some slow-grilled smoked turkey, makes for a happy spring meal!.
May 6, 2011 – Maybe Spring’s Here Now?
Spring might be here. After the long, cool wind-up, I’m not yet holding my breath.
I can’t recall the maple helicopters being so brilliant red in year’s past. Maybe it’s the cold?
Usually by mid-to late April the apple blossoms are about ready to avail themselves to the bees.
one year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #207″
May 5, 2011 – Thingamajig Thursday #256
Here’s this week’s thingamajig Thursday.
Also check out the last thingamajig answer.
As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Look for the answer in the comments after next week’s thingamajig is posted.
one year ago…”New Chicks Arrive on the Farm”
May 4, 2011 – Polecat
Not a polecat in the traditional sense of the word (skunk), but instead a our black cat Ora, checking out her domain from above.
Actually, the cat is also monitoring Linda as she gives a supplemental feeding to a couple of the bottle lambs from the set of quads.
I wonder if the cat might not be licking up any spilled milk after the feeding is over?
