The hoophouse in happier days
Now that the skies have been blue for a week, it is official: I am enjoying the farm again. The old excitement of the coming spring takes on steam as the grass rapidly greens, the maples begin to bud in the deep woods, the plums leaf out in the orchard. When friends we hadn’t seen in a year visited yesterday, for the first time in months I was not embarrassed by the winter face of the farm.
Last weekend I planted a small new vineyard of wine grapes (Chambourcin and Cynthiana) on the back side of the old orchard. High hopes that in 3-4 years’ time I can produce a decent enough red wine to see me through any apocalypse. Meanwhile, out in the hoop house, after a weekend of prepping last month, I planted 80 feet of cole crops — lots of collards, early maturing cabbages, and Brussels sprouts. The 160 feet of onions and garlics planted in the fall in the north garden were up 4-8 inches. Life is good.
On Tuesday, I took an overnight trip for my off-the-farm job. When I returned Wednesday afternoon, Cindy and I sat down for late afternoon coffee and a chance to catch up. This time of the year, as spring gathers momentum, it is more important than ever for couples who farm together to spend time discussing what needs to be done, what has been done, what has happened while one was away.
As Cindy started recounting the previous 24 hours, I sat back in my reading chair and took a sip of coffee … then spit out my coffee, choking, before stuttering and spewing, “The Goddamn F-ing Sheep Did What???!!!”
Apparently, the aforementioned GDFS! had broken through a fence and spent the previous night in the garden and hoop house. Where, in mere minutes, they denuded both of every tender shoot in the ground. They then proceeded to party all night, overturning planting tables, kicking apart drip hoses, ripping through the double-layered polyethylene walls. In short, having a grand old time before dawn arrived and Cindy restored order.
I replanted this weekend, repaired, and cleaned up their party. Because? Such is my inexhaustible faith and optimism in life when the skies are blue and the temps are mellow. So, once again, I am at peace with the world. At least until the sun comes up.
I have also thoroughly enjoyed the sunny days this past week. The farm fields I pass on my way to work are greening up. I bet we got more accomplished this weekend than we did all of February. Naughty sheep!
It is a pretty joyful time, to be sure. At this time of the year we see more livestock out on the roads, in front yards, in hay fields, etc. etc. They are tired of their winter pastures, literally pushing the boundaries. So, our flock of fifty sheep didn’t really surprise me. And it was my fault for not securing a panel tightly enough when I used it recently to bring in compost. Still, those GDFS!.
Ah, the Complicatosauruses strike again.
Animals are in second place I think when it comes to that role.
First is gadgets. Like looking at pictures of someone building a trellis for fruit trees and feeling mightily relieved that one’s own trees have learned to stand on their own one feets. And then pitying him as something inevitably either snaps or had not been purchased at the hardware store.
I’m aiming for maximum distance between the sauruses and me this year. Only doing the bare minimum of crops. Trying to break no more than that one digging fork. Applauding the apple blossom and Madame Field Mouse’s sons and daughters.
Being content with bushels of tomatoes and peppers and bamia.
Fortunately the garlic and the onions are popping back up after their “haircut” by the flock. I put in another double row of onions in the hoophouse and another of cole crops. So, we should be off and running again. But I will keep an eye out for the Complicatosauruses. They do tend to emerge from the mists of time to destroy and devour.
Cheers,