Gardens, pigs, kids and more kids

The past several days have been like a whirlwind for me. Rushing around, trying to get the early garden planted. And grass and clover seed planted. Grand kids here. Worked all day Friday. Just running, running running. Trying to beat a rain storm headed our way. It's been sprinkling on and off part of the day so far. Which is fine because I really don't want a flooding downpour like we have been getting all winter. Just enough to get all the things I've gotten planted a good start.

If you can see to the left, which is how I am planting this year, there is collards, kale, mustard, radishes, lettuce, beets, onions, broccoli, cabbage and onions so far to the left of the horribly neglected grape vines. To the right of the vines, my grand daughters and daughter helped plant 5 different varieties of potatoes. 40 pounds worth. An All Blue and a Corona organic and then Kennebec, Yukon Gold and red. So that is my early crops so far. Planted and ready to grow for farmer's markets. And I am pooped! And SO out of shape it's not even funny y'all. I am hurting right now. But not really too awfully bad, like I thought I would be. Gardening gets a person in some really amazing stretches and reaches. It's the best exercise ever.

Also this weekend, I got 2 pigs. They are out working in the goat barn for me right now, mulching up the 6' deep hay mess the goats have wasted all winter. The pigs love this. Keeps them busy and helps me out. Kansas named them Bob and Joe.

Also took the 2 goat kids, Ira Joe and Ella Belle, to get their horns burned off. So that chore is done.

This will be a busy week too. A farmer's market meeting Tuesday evening, a bee keeping class Wednesday evening, and a backyard wine tasting event Saturday evening with some fellow farmers. Sounds like some fun to me!

Garden season 2013. Officially started today.

I got out in the garden today. Finally. Tried to crank the tiller. Nothing. So I had to park her in the sun to warm up. After awhile  she started right on up. And away we went! I got a good deal done. And now I have my seeds ready. But as you can see, I have some unwanted visitors at the moment. If I plant seeds now, they would be all snatched up in no time. So I'll have to wait til they go to bed later. I am swapping a stanchion for a chicken tractor, so they should be in that soon. But right now, they can be out there.

This is my Cub Cadet tiller Cadie. I got her last year, so we are going into our 2nd garden season together. I really like this tiller. Usually just one pull and she starts. I have to go over the ground a lot right now though. It was a little wet so I let it dry out in the sun a few hours, then went back over it again just now.

So I am going to plant some kale, collards, mustard, lettuce, 6 different radishes, onions seeds, Swiss Chard.  Probably a few more things. I'll wait a few more weeks to plant potatoes. I need to get more onions. But I am excited to get going! I knew once I got out there, I would be on the way.

I am also going to get 2 pigs Saturday from a friend in Alabama. I think I am ready for a few more. They'll go into the first big stall in the goat barn and mulch up the 6' of hay in there. It's so deep I hit my head every time I go out there any more. Very irritating for sure. There are 3 more stalls for the goats.

 I sent my application in for the main St. Farmer's market. I so hope I get in. It's on Wed. from 4-6 Spring summer and fall. It's a really good market in downtown Chattanooga. I already know some of the farmers.

So here I go!

Nothing like a little sting in the morning...

to get a gal going. I don't mean a bee sting either. I put a Sting CD in and cranked it up. I love Sting.

I have so much to do and just can't seem to get going lately. So I am making bread, dog food and going to make my first batch of mozzarella later today. I have a guy coming to mow the sheep pasture. All the dead ugly stuff on top so the new grasses can grow. And I have to take little Ira Joe and Ella Belle to get their horns burned off. A friend does this for me because I just cannot seem to do it myself. I can cut off a chicken head and do all that gory stuff, but can't seem to hurt my little kids. She's also going to castrate my 3 ram lambs in a few months too. She will do the cut and pull method, which I prefer over the banding. On the way, I'll drop my soil samples off to get tested. Should know by the end of next week.

It's such a beautiful day and supposed to warm up. I might go get some good garden soil too and start working on the garden. It's still too wet to plow but I can do some raised bed areas for root crops. I need to plant carrots, beets, lettuce, mustard, collards, kale, spinach. It's getting late!

What's going on in your gardens so far? Are you having nice weather where you are yet? These March winds will dry it up here. But we have some rain showers heading our way again.