Last Farm Blog

So I know I did not blog a lot this past summer, even though I promised I would. As you can imagine, my summer has been a whirl wind! Since my internship has ended, it seemed only fitting to to give the farm one last farewell. So here is my encomium to the Farm...

Thanks to the interns, pets, and of course the amazing Farmer Dick; I had one of the best summers of my life! Even with all the summers filled with camps and fun trips to other countries, this one has been by far the best. I learned so much; some dealing with agriculture and some not so much. The first week of leaving the farm, was really sad. I felt so homesick, I had even started calling the Farm my home. For six months I had lived there, cooked there, made friends, laughed, cried, and jammed with some of the neatest people I have met. So I guess, in some way, this post is a tribute to them along with the farm. You always hear about studies that say the more you laugh the younger you get. Laughter does good like medicine. Well if that is the case, I should end up being a very healthy very young baby. I have tlaughed more hardily there, than any one place. I can remember he good times that we spent on top of my camper, just talking with the other interns and having an all around good time.

When I had first found out about this opportunity to intern on an organic farm. I was so excited, but in some ways, I had mixed emotions. I had only met Dick (the Farmer) at market. What would it be like to live with him the entire summer? I have to admit, there was some apprehension about it. But it was awesome, there was no TV, no internet, for the longest time I didn't even have a radio. This is part of the reason I only posted twice. But I kinda liked it that way. Even since being home, I've watched very little television. I loved all the cows, the horses, donkey, dog, cat, chickens, and people. Oh by the by; all the previous chickens got eaten, so the old ones are no more. But I incubated some more from the old chickens fertilized eggs. So, we have more now! One of the interns, found a puff mushroom that was over 8lbs! it was bigger than both of our heads, and probably heavier too....hehehehe. jpk.

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Farm Update

It has been a long time since I have posted in a long time, but I am now home and decided I would change all of this. So since the last time, I have done a ton of work and have an amazing tan! The Garden has grown so much it keeps getting bigger and so do the weeds. We are growing everything; carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, yellow summer squash, peas, yellow purple and green beans, swiss chard, beets, romaine lettuce, red butterhead lettuce, leeks, red and yellow onions, kale, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, red white and blue potatoes, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, sweet corn, kohlrabi, basil, herbs, and all sort of things that I have forgotten. So as you can tell, there is a lot that we have and that I take care of at the farm. Here at Flying J Farm, we have something called CSA. Now some of you may know what a CSA is or may even belong to one. CSA is an acronym for Community Supported Agriculture. CSA members basically join into the farm life. They pay in advance and each week they pick up or we deliver several bags of fresh organic veggies. We have about 11 CSA members of which 4 come and pick up at the farm. Whenever they come over to the farm to help us out and pick up their veggies, it is a blast. Since most of the families have young kids, we are always doing games like wheel barrel and water chugging races. Afterwords we take hay rides, go to the lake, and take horse back rides! It is a lot of fun. Along with that, I make lunch for everyone at the farm from things that we grow.

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Farm Update

So I though, I would give you all an update on my life in the farm. Since I don't have internet access at the farm, so I have to wait until I come home for a visit. Thus you will have to wait till I come home to visit and see how I am doing. So as usual it is AMAZING. I live in a little piece of paradise, my trailer home; on a 300 acre farm. There is an amazing Golden Retriever dog, named Jewels; who sleeps outside my trailer to greet me in the morning...love that dog, and she is so adorable.
So I thought I would take you through some of my chores. On one of the rare sunny days that we had here in Ohio, Dick, the proprietor of the farm decided that is was time to plant potatoes. I guess, when you start seeing the dandelions bloom. It means the soil has warmed up enough for the potatoes to grow! So there is a tip for all of you people. One of the other part-time interns came in, and together we cut 600 pounds of potatoes! That's a lot of potatoes, if you couldn't tell.
After the potatoes, I water the greenhouse 1-2 times a day. for all of you who LOVE plants and would kill to have a greenhouse, then I will have to start watching my back. I have the pleasure of watering a HUGE greenhouse, and stay in the 70ish degree weather whenever I want. These are some of the plants that are in the greenhouse.
I also feed the 23 chicken, 1 rooster, and collect the eggs. Usually we get anywhere 15-18 eggs each day, and sell a dozen for 3 dollars. When I broke one of the eggs they weren't yellow, they were orange! It just goes to show that the things grown on the farm are soooo much better for you! There are also cows, lots and lots of cows.

Till the next time I have access to the internet!

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Spring Update

So, just as an update on the who camera issue, I did get the Nikon D90. My dad got for me as a going-away present. I have had a lot of fun experimenting with it and the 2 lenses that I got with it. I am really liking the fact that I can adjust the aperture on the camera. I do, though, have to buy a micro lens. I can get into fairly close to the objects, but not as close as I would like. If you have any suggestions on one I should get, please let me know.

Okay, so now for what I was going to tell everyone. You may have wondered why I said my parents got the camera for me as a going-away present. Well, this whole summer and part of fall, I am going to be leaving my home, garden, and birds for a farm. I will be interning on a all organic cattle and produce and am extremely excited. The farm is called Flying J Farm, and is located near Johnstown, Ohio. You all should come and visit me. I am terrible with directions, so don't even try asking for them. Instead, just go to his website, and get the Google map. So that is all the excitement for me right now. I will be leaving next Wednesday, so wish me luck. I don't know how often I will be posting, since I would think I will be pretty busy, but I will try my best to keep you updated on my adventures on the farm.

The tulips are blooming right now. Not all of them, not even half, just the early ones. Two different types of tulips are blooming. They are Flaming Purissima, and Darwin Tulips. I couldn't find my tags for the Darwin tulips, but could for the Purissima. The Purissima grows 18in tall and blooms in early spring. They are pale pink with vainage of dark pink. Really beautiful.

P.S. A lot of people have asked me where they could get the copper looking bird feeder in my post on Safflower Seeds. I originally got it at Park's Seeds for $9.72. But they must of discontinued it, because I cannot find it on their site. I did a quick Google and found the same on on the online store, Birds-n-Gardens.

~Next post on Rain Barrels~

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