The Day I Was A Real Farmer

I will admit the last two weeks at Farm Hands have actually been kind of boring for me. I mean, being there is still beautiful and relaxing but I was tasked to man the barnyard. This involves wandering about answering people's questions and making sure no one steals eggs (or chickens) from the chicken coop. Seriously. I've been told it happens. So this week when they told me I would be helping the farmers bring in the wheat I was ready for it. They cut the wheat and bundle it using this crazy looking old contraption that bundles the wheat into shocks. They are large, loosely tied bundles of wheat and they get stacked in piles leaning together so they can dry in the sun. Once dry, they have to be picked up and stacked which is what we did. When I got to the field, the farmer gave us a speech about how to handle a pitchfork. Well, I can handle a pitchfork if it involves, say, moving hay the floor to a wheelbarrow. But using one to throw a big shock of wheat to the top of a stack while not impaling the guy catching it? Well, that's a bit more intimidating. The first several rows we stacked by hand and that was just the warm up. After a while, the stack got so high that I couldn't possibly throw them up by hand. I had to master the pitchfork. The first shock fell short, but the second one made it up, barely. Once I caught on, I wanted to do a happy dance every time one made it up. The farmer kept going on about how we were the best help he'd had for that job in 5 or 6 years, but I didn't feel too proficient. By the end, we were just exhausted and the stack was so high it was all we could do to just get the bundles to the top of the stack. The good news is no one got impaled, and I am not as sore as I anticipated I would be this morning. Oh, and we didn't lose a single shock off the stack on the way to the barn! There was another Farm Hands dad helping and we decided that we both were real farmers for the day. Like, real pitchfork-wielding ninja farmers...or at least that's how it felt!

The Farm

We joined our CSA again this year. We go every Tuesday morning to pick up our share, and do the U Pick crops. It is always so much fun, even though the kids have taken to complaining that it's farm day again!!! Then they go and roll in the dirt and all is well in their worlds. Oh, and they pick ground cherries...lots of them. I don't really care for ground cherries but they love them and will sit there and pick them up, unwrap and eat them.

Tyler grazes indiscriminately, sampling green tomatoes, unripe berries, and the semi-rotten tomatoes that fall from the vines along with everything else. I try to keep an eye on my basket because once he finds it, he will plop down and help himself to whatever looks good to him. He won't really eat cherry tomatoes at home, but he will eat them at the farm. Go figure!

Eureka! I've hit the jackpot!!

Beautiful little helper, isn't she?

Sungold Tomatoes: deeeeelicious!

Between the farm and my garden, I feel like eating in the summer is such an extravagance. I can eat as many fresh tomatoes as I want, for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I want. Even though we are rolling in tomatoes right now, I will miss them when they are gone. For now, I will enjoy my produce drawers full to the top with lots of yummy produce and try to fill up my freezer and pantry before summer runs its course.

Weekend Of Awesomeness

I dream of having a nice family portrait someday....with all three children cooperating, at the same time!

**Please excuse the ridiculous formatting of this blog post. Blogger is getting on my nerves tonight, and I don't have it in me to keep trying.**

Fly, Henry, fly!!

Henry 'the Love Machine' getting a little too much lovin'

And again...

I caught James jumping over Henry. I photographed him, then told him NO MORE!!

I must say, my sister really outdoes herself in the Auntie category. Can you tell she loves my kids, just a little bit?? :)

We had a fabulous weekend! We kicked it off with a potluck at the farm. They took us on a wagon ride around the fields, and afterward we walked over with some friends to see the animals. James proclaimed, 'Look! There's the sheep with the big testicles!' Our friends looked at us and said, 'Did he really just say that?' Yes, yes he did. My apologies if their son picks up on that term. At least its anatomically correct.

On Saturday the whole fam was together all day long. It was awesome! Rach and Phil, Nate and Nikia and Mom and Dad. We basically sat in the backyard and watched the kids and the dogs play. We ate some really good grub and enjoyed each other's company. Now that I think of it, the only thing lacking was the absence of off-color discussions. Mom didn't have to brandish her fork at us this time. We'll have to remedy that for next time. We can't have Mom thinking we've completely grown up, now, can we??

Can you handle the cuteness?? I can't. I'm keeping that bathing suit for her, forever and ever.

Playing in Grammy and Chappy's magical backyard

Why look! There they are! The magical grandparents.

Henry 'The Love Machine' (Rachel and Phil's dog)

Strawberries

This morning was week 2 of our farm share. I can't tell you how much I love everything about the deal. This morning we got there early, before the weather warmed up. We picked our 5 quarts (!!) of strawberries, saw the pigs, checked in on the goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks, then swung by to admire the cow. Then we went back and picked up our share of veggies. I got another bunch of turnips and a bag of spinach, among other things, so I am a very happy camper!

Farm Day!! And Random Pictures

Tyler and the Saggy, Baggy Diaper

Dew on a Radish Leaf: Amazing!

Before he was sick, James decided to give himself a mud bath

Our CSA opened this week! It was so exciting to drive out there and be at the farm again. We got to pick 3 quarts of delicious strawberries, and brought home a bunch of spring greens and veggies. Last year, I got hooked on Hakurei (?) turnips, which I am growing this year. I don't know what it is, but they are so good. We got a bunch with our share and I ate them on the way home. Mmmm! We have been experiencing near record heat lately, 96 degrees yesterday and very humid. Today is finally back down in the low 80's, which feels wonderful. We've spent the entire morning out in the yard. Woo!

Pictures

Its a beautiful fall day today. I really feel like sitting out in the sun and reading a book. But, alas, here I am inside with things to do. Without further ado, here are a few pictures from the week.

Here are the kids working on their leaf turkeys. It turns out that the boys are a little bit distracted when it comes to art lessons, because all they can think about is PLAY! WRESTLE! RUN!! James was mostly cooperative and Noah had to be enthusiastically encouraged (does that sound better than 'forced'? ;) Emma has officially earned herself the title of Glue Stick Destroyer. And Amanda, being the star pupil, produced not one, but two splendid looking turkeys.



Every few weeks we go and visit the animals at the farm. I am in love with the chickens, especially the one pictured below. I really want one like that, but I have heard that those kind require extra care due to the spectacular feathered fro they have. As soon as the snow flies, or maybe sooner, I will start solidifying my plans for chicken ownership.

And in case you need a little deliciousness on your Friday, check out Tyler after he happily plowed through the chocolate bar our neighbor gave him after James saved the day. Ain't he cute?!

Mud

We haven't had much rain all summer. In fact, I am hard pressed to remember the last time we had an actual 'rainy' day. So when we went to the farm yesterday, I knew that the puddles would be calling my kids. Thankfully, I brought rubber boots, towels and extra clothes. Tyler even got in on the fun, although I forgot to take a picture of him. James broke in his new(ish) Carhart pants by coating them with a very thick layer of mud. (Note the original color of the pants at the waist) Katie mostly got her backside covered, and Tyler added a splattering of mud to his face, as well as the obligatory 'what does this sloppy brown stuff taste like' beard. You'd think after 87.5 mouthfuls of dirt over the summer he would learn not to eat it. Oh, well. Builds character, right?

In other news, to quote James, he is 'obsessed with' Little House on the Prairie, farming, and Lincoln Logs. Here is a picture of one of his villages.

And here is a lovely shot of my two exceedingly handsome boys, just for fun!

Tomato Obsession

I think I could easily become obsessed with tomatoes. This year I tried several colorful varieties, including Green Zebra, Orange Banana, Violet Jasper, and Yellow Pear. Our tomatoes, combined with those from the farm make for very colorful salsa.

Family Fun

At the farm

Things have been crazy around here. Jeff took a day off and we went to the farm together. Sunday we went to a local farm and picked 40 pounds of peaches, which I canned**. Ugh. I officially hate canning peaches. But I digress. We have also been replacing the floors in both upstairs bedrooms. Its a major pain, having things packed away and the kids sleeping in random places and waking each other up. But as my friend Candi reminded me it seems like we always have something like this going on. And she's right. We bought our first house in 2004 (?), did some serious renovations, bought a new house and did some not-quite-as-serious remodelling projects, and then remodeled our first house again after our tenants trashed it. So I think we have had more than our fair share of home projects. The floor is looking quite nice though!! I am so happy to have nice floors up here, as opposed to the hideous crumbling tile. Here I am rambling on incoherently. Yikes! I better go before I really say something stupid. (No comments from the peanut gallery...:)

**That is, I canned everything my children didn't devour. They have been eating their weight in peaches everyday. (The peaches are no Palisade, Colorado peaches, but good, and are pretty small)

At the orchard

Farm Day

Tuesday is the day we usually go to the CSA. Today we had a lot of fun. We met some goats, walked on the nature trail, and picked up a whole lot of delicious food, including blackberries and yellow watermelon! The kids found a little 'cave' in the sunflower field to take a break in.

Katie ate her weight in cherry tomatoes. I am not sure if we brought many home after she was finished raiding the basket. Tyler brought home more than his fair share of dirt, and cheeks stained with blackberry juice. James went all Bear Gryles on us while on the nature trail, picking up a big log to use. After telling him he could not keep it to make a raft, he decided to make a lean-to shelter instead.
I am so glad we bought a share at the farm, not just for the food but for the experience of it all.

An Experience

We just got back from quite the morning. We drove about 45 minutes to a blueberry farm in South Jersey. At one point I thought I had mistakenly drove myself right into Fort Dix Army base. There was razor wire everywhere, soldiers in fatigues with big guns, but it turns out the road goes through part of the base and back out. When we arrived at the blueberry farm it was quite a site. The sign said closed but the owner had told me over the phone that 'we open before you even wake up!' (8:00am...ha, ha! I have kids. We're on to second breakfast by then...) It was a ramshackle affair, with several old trucks, tractors and an air-stream trailer. There was a radio playing somewhere among abandoned automobile carcasses, and an ancient metal water cooler sitting in the shade near a notebook. There was a really old red truck, with a sign stating that blueberries were $1.25 a pound, that a coffee can full weighs 4 pounds, and please don't waste!!! Also, it said to visit the 'webb site.'

Now, when I spoke with the farmer via phone, he referred to it as his 'patch'. I think 'empire' or 'dynasty' would be better terms. There were fields all around, and even across the highway. As I was trying to get my bearings, another car pulled up with a random assortment of individuals speaking a language I never could figure out. They, apparently, had been there before. As I was talking to them, up pulls Fred himself on his tractor. I would guess he is pushing 80. He is quite a character. The other people must be regulars because he said something like 'oh, its you again.' Everyone began to take these rusty coffee can contraptions off the truck and tie them around their waists. The older lady asked Fred to tie hers on. Apparently she is looking for a little Fred love, although Fred is a married man. He gave her a hard time about it and asked her where her husband was. She said he was 'gone.' She asked him to tie three buckets to her (in her heavy accent) which clearly she didn't need. Apparently she always asks Fred (not her companions) to tie her buckets on. All the while he is heckling her about it. Then he turns to us and fires off numerous questions: What are you going to do with those babies? Are you going to take them with you? How are you going to pick anything? They may be better pickers than you. Why are you dressed for the beach? This is a FARM! A FARM! You are dressed for the beach. Look at you! What about the baby? Oh, I can't tell you what to do, now can I? Do you have sunblock? Where is your hat? You're dressed for the beach, not the farm! It was quite amusing. He then turned to the other group and told them to 'take care of the babies. Help her with the babies. Oh, you're gonna have to walk. You help them walk. Its a long way.' So, off we went, the foreign people and I, schlepping my kids with numerous rusty coffee cans tied to our wastes with ancient ropes. Fred yelled after us, 'Does someone have a cell phone? A cell phone?????' The people alternated between talking to us in English and amongst themselves in the mysterious foreign language. For the record one of the ladies names was Carmela, and they called her Carmelita too. After about 45 minutes of 90 degree heat, my kids were done being patient and I had managed to pick 2.5 coffee cans full. (for the record, the foreign people were so busy chatting it up that I picked more than they did, by myself. ha!) I headed back with three very filthy children hanging off me, and three cans of blueberries tied around my waist. We passed Carmelita and she helped me on the way back. When I set Tyler down to dismantle my blueberry carrying apparatus, she picked him right up and cooed over him. Strangers picking up my kids usually is not my thing. But she seemed nice. Anyway, out comes Fred from the middle of nowhere. He immediately takes my blueberries and puts them in the shade so they don't get hot while I am paying. He charged me $8.75 for the whole kaboodle. I was pretty happy with that. After packing my filthy kids up we headed off to the CSA farm to pick up our share. They used the time I was picking green beans to accessorize with another generous layer of mud. Now we're home, somewhat cleaner, with the air-conditioning cranked up. I've had enough excitement for one day, thank-you-very-much!

Rain! Vegetables! Milestones! And other randomness....

• It is raining here. We haven't had rain all month. Its been very HOT and very DRY. So rain is nice. And, that's one day I don't have to water my garden.
• Speaking of garden, the Squash Monster has taken up residence in my garden. Every time I turn around there are new full-sized squash to pick. Right now I have 7 Patty Pan Squash, a Zucchini, two Cukes, among other things, stashed away in my fridge. And that is only because yesterday I used three big squash for a huge batch of Zucchini Yeast Rolls. Zucchini, its taking over the world.
  
• Part of my overabundance of zucchini came from our CSA share. I thought, for kicks, I'd post a picture of our weekly share. Crazy, huh?

(Please note Tyler's Blueberry Beard)

• My firstborn, who was just born last week, or so it seems, has dispensed with the training wheels on his bike and is catching on with amazing speed (if I do say so myself). Jeff took his training wheels off, held him a couple times and he was off. Now he can get going himself and can ride clear across the patio, or through the yard. He still has a ways to go, but I am amazed how quickly he is catching on!
• Tyler is turning a year old next week. How did this happen??? Jeff is lucky they don't sell babies at the grocery store, or I'd be coming home with another one every year or two.
  
• And apparently, I am not the only one who has had horrible experiences with the USPS as evidenced by the comments. Jeff even showed up to make a comment, and considering he never reads the blog, I am impressed.
  

Farm Fun and Craftiness

This summer we joined a CSA farm. Basically, you buy a 'share' of what is grown. Of course, given the nature of farming you are not guaranteed a definite amount of stuff. However, the farm is very diverse so if one thing doesn't grow well there are lots of other stuff that will. Each week you get to pick up your share, and there are also 'pick-your-own' crops that you can pick a specified amount of. For example, last week was snow peas/shelling peas/snap peas. We were able to pick 3 pounds of them. Also, there are always fresh herbs. Everything is organic which is a nice plus. So far, I am very pleased. The cost of the CSA works out to $20/week, and I go home with more produce than we can eat (which is a lot). I have been freezing stuff like kale, spinach and peas. I have canned several batches of strawberry jam in addition to the copious amounts of strawberries we have eaten fresh. I can't decide what I like more about the whole set-up: all the food, or enjoying the farm experience with the kids. They love helping me pick stuff, and playing around the farm shop. There is a huge walnut tree that fell and the kids think that that tree trunk is the best playground. There are also pigs there so they like to visit them. The last few weeks I have realized that I need more bags to carry our stuff home in. Last week alone, we got 3 pounds of snow peas, cilantro, dill, lemon basil, purple basil, two huge heads of lettuce, three big zuchinni, a bunch of beets, a bunch of salad turnips, a large bag of spinach and kale, a bunch of green onions, and a head of chinese cabbage. (I feel like I am forgetting something) So, even though I have several bags, they are inadequate. When I saw a tutorial for these, I just had to make them for the kids. This one is the first one, and Katie claimed it. James has requested a blueberry bag, so that's next up.