Developing Medley Acres

This year we decided to try planting a pumpkin patch for pick your own pumpkins this fall, along with a zinnia patch, sunflower patch and sweet corn. We also planted a large number of heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and perennials from seed that we hope to be able to sell later in the summer as well.

Dan invested in a few more tractor/farm implements, including a planter and a plow, and has prepared and planted the 5+ acres we had previously leased to a local farmer… we now have fields of timothy, clover, and switchgrass for cover crops/habitat, and we’re adding our garden fields of pumpkins, sunflowers, and raspberries. Its finally dry enough in the fields to be able to get out and do some planting! We’re hoping for a long fall to make the growing season long enough to make all farmers’ plantings worthwhile this year…

Here are some pictures from the homestead over the past couple of weeks (including today!). Many of the photos are courtesy of our daughter Eva.

grasses in the field

puff dandelion

clover

grass

flower

sunlight and field

zach and miriam in dad’s clover field

nibbling on clover

eva hanging out in the dirt

chewing clover

dan roto tiling the pumpkin row

team work getting the seeds planted

miriam putting in the seed

pumpkin seed – grow!

dad and zach getting the technique down

pumpkin row

getting rocks out of field

hauling rocks

checking out what is growing

raspberries – wild

snowy river the rooster

hens

gretel who needs a hoof trim

heidi the goat

lane of grapes

flowering bush

purple flower

dan’s planter

dan’s planter coming home

our wild asparagus

wild asparagus – kids LOVE it

local second hand shop find – pottery bird feeder

apple blossoms

apple blossoms

new raspberries

jen harvesting nettle

basket of nettle

nettle

dried nettle

only half a jar to go

mr wolf “the bee guy” at his hives on our property

bee guy – putting up solar fence to keep the BEAR out

view from my “mom coop”

front yard view from porch