Mushroom Innoculation
We have inoculated maple logs with oyster mushrooms and oak logs with shitake mushrooms hoping that this will be a produce item we can offer in the future. This process consists of creating an array of holes in freshly cut logs of the appropriate variety and filling those holes with "mushroom plugs" which contain the spawn of the chosen mushroom strain. Then we seal the hole with wax and allow the logs to be colonized by the fungus over the coarse of the year. By next spring/summer these logs will bear the fruiting bodies of these fungal colonies.
Flax at the Farm
We aren't a start up Flax factory, but we are experimenting and learning about the agricultural tradition of growing plants like flax for fiber and processing them in small batches. This year we had a decent sized group together working to process the flax we grew in 2017 into these beautiful bunches of fiber you see in the photo. Cynthia will spin this into flaxen thread on her specialized spinning wheel and that thread can be used to weave linen napkins, cloths, sheets, towels...
Preparing the Gardens
This has been a very tricky spring for getting the gardens prepared for planting. We have had a few small windows that have been dry enough to get on a few of the gardens and we took full advantage. Disking with the horses has allowed us to spread the compost and amendments that our soil tests and intuition have indicated a need for. With a balanced pH, nutrient levels, and living organic material, these gardens are primed to feed incredible plants all year long.
Ducklings!!!
After our two female Ducks (whom we raised as ducklings last summer and Harbor named Penny and Meadow) started laying eggs, we collected 10 of them and incubated them. 8 of them hatched 28 days later and now we have 8 ducklings! They think Harbor is their mother and follow her wherever she walks outside and like to perch up by her neck. We will grow our egg laying herd with some of the females and Cynthia is talking about some french duck roast in the autumn.
Last Sleigh Ride
We've had some great snow in limited windows of time for using our bobsled this winter. As this snowpack begins to fade, we had our last group ride of the year through the hayfields and around the farm. We offer sleigh rides throughout the winter when conditions allow for it. Contact us any time if you'd like to set one up for yourself or as a gift to a friend.
Chicks Hatch on the Farm
We incubated 12 eggs that we collected from our own hens about a month ago. We used a Brisnea incubator, which maintains proper temperature and humidity for the eggs. Last week 11 of them hatched, and 10 of them are alive and thriving now. They will become new additions to our egg laying flock once they are big enough to incorporate.