• This is our second year growing strawberries and they are coming in now. We’re trying some new things in addition to three varieties of potatoes this year.  We’ll have tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, broccoli and kohlrabi in addition to some herbs and flowers. We’re looking forward to selling at the Cape Charles Farmers market in July, but if you’re local, find us on facebook to make an appointment to stop by and pick up some farm fresh produce.

• Glenn Hard Red Spring Wheat or Triticum aestivum was a new crop for us in 2017. We planted it, not just as a cover crop, but for it’s high protein content and for it’s reputation for milling and baking. We put the grain drill and the International 82 combine to work with good result. Paul built a machine for separating the chaff from the grain and all that’s left is to grind the wheat to bake the bread. Our friends at the Black Narrow Brewery (the first on Virginia’s Eastern Shore) in collaboration with Manor Hill Brewing used our wheat, not for bread, but for a delicious brew, starting us on a whole new venture. They created a moderately hop forward farmhouse ale.  Oyster yeast from Chincoteague, Virginia combined with raw Virginia wheat (read Turtle Pace Farm Wheat)  flaked wheat and pilsner malts.  The hop bill consists of two unique hop varietals from the UK, Archer and Jester.  The result pours a hazy golden color with a fluffy white head.  An incredibly aromatic nose displays a touch of banana, citrus fruit and spice.  The flavor profile is creamy with more citrus fruit and a slightly earthy finish.

  

• Root crops are us in 2017. We have planted Beets and Turnips in addition to Red Norland and White  Superior Potatoes. The surprise harvest has been the turnips. They are plentiful and delicious.
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• 2017 has been a Berry good year so far- Spring started off with cold and rainy days that quickly turned hot and dry. In spite of the bunnies and voles, we were able to harvested a small crop of tasty Chandler Strawberries.With a little help from our friend the scarecrow, we were able to save the blueberries and the blackberries from the birds.

 

• Potatoes – We planted nearly one acre of potatoes early this spring. No herbicides or pesticides have been used. Instead Paul uses mechanical cultivation and we walk the field to remove the occasional Colorado potato beetle. We proudly delivered our first harvest of potatoes to Quail Cove Farms today.

      

   

We’ll  be at the Painter Flea on occasional Saturdays this summer. Stop by when you see Dad’s 1931 Model A Ford.

Thank you Perennial Roots Farm for including us in your CSA this year!

• Orchard – We’re starting with four varieties of apples, peach and are developing a collection of nut trees, beginning with an almond tree. No need to plant a pecan, there is a mature pecan tree on the property as well as two native persimmon trees and dozens of mulberry trees. For a delightful review of what we have done with those mulberries, check out Becky’s blog post on a past harvest day.

• Chickens – We added three Buff Orpintons, three Arauacanas and two Barred Rock chicks to the farm family this spring. The chicks moved into their new home allowing them to find fresh bugs and pasture with safety from the Cooper’s Hawks and other predators.  We let the girls out to free range whenever we can.

Months have passed and as it happens in a batch of chicks, one is a rooster. Here is Rodney,  strutting his stuff in the treehouse and our sweet Ameraucana with her first egg.

    

•   Bees – After completing several pollinator lectures and a Beginner Beekeeping Workshop we decided to add bees to our farm. We will locate the hives in close proximity to the new orchard this summer.

• Berries – At present our berry patch is in the garden. We added 3 varieties of thornless blackberries to the existing blueberry, raspberry and strawberry patches. I think this little fellow has found his way through the fence into the strawberry patch this year.

• Rosa Rugosa – This year we started a rosa rugosa hedge to rim the garden. Far from being just a decorative touch, we plan to harvest the rose hips and try our hand at Rose Hip Tea and Jelly. The petals will also be used for potpourri and perhaps some Rose Petal Jelly. I’ll be trying out lots of recipes including some of these from the website-Eat Weeds. Stay tuned for the results.

• Sweet Potatoes – The small, white potatoes are harvested and we’re ready to plant Sweet Potatoes. Thank you to Quail Cove Farms for bringing us Hernandez and Burgundy slips. The rare hydra creeper on the Farmall A makes it easy for one person to keep up on this vintage two seat planter.

• In the Garden – Combining perennials such as asparagus, horseradish, rhubarb, and self-seeding parsnips with herbs and plenty of annual vegetables, the garden is a pleasant place to spend early mornings on the farm.

This summer has been hot, how nice it’s been to have a shady spot to take a break from weeding.

There’s still plenty to do this fall with a second crop of squash, fingerling potatoes to dig and

hot peppers to string.