There is nothing sadder than to hear the total silence of your hive. Our bees did not survive the winter. After completing a “postmortem” we have identified the possible causes. A colony weakened by Varroa mites tops the list. We are determined to try again and this year we will have a more robust IPM plan in place. We really feel like we failed them!
Winter...
has encompassed the farm. The snow cover is beautiful, but the below-zero temperatures are not! But in 6 short weeks, things will look very different. For now, I am busy in the greenhouse starting onions, leeks, shallots and celery.
Hydroponics....
make growing lettuce so easy! In just a few days, seeds planted in rock wool cubes begin to germinate and are placed in the hydroponic tanks of circulating water. In just a few weeks, you have healthy plants…and a few weeks after that, you harvest!
It's not only our plants....
that benefit from the increased daylight each day. Our hens appreciate it too, as it increases their egg production! Just look at January - only 15 eggs from 17 hens! The literature indicates that production peaks around the date of the summer solstice.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year to all! It's the Year of the Snake. The snake represents calmness and introspection -- traits seen as important for "guiding one's life with wisdom and grace!" We celebrate each year with making hundreds of egg rolls to put in the freezer! How are you celebrating?
It's National Seed Swap Day...
and time to sort through those way-too-many seed packets and share with others! And these are just a fraction of the many tomato varieties I have in my seed vault! Some friends and family aren’t able to set up seed-starting stations of their own, so I am happy to start the seedlings for them. I take requests up through mid-March! It’s so exciting - germinating is soon to begin!
-1 degree outside...
and still harvesting lettuces from the greenhouse every day. Is there anything more satisfying (and delicious!) than harvesting your own food? These beautiful greens were grown hydroponically.
What plants are doing...without us!
This is such a fascinating book, but I think I need to reread it several times over! It has so much information…too much to absorb at one time. Every time I have seen a tomato hornworm that has been parasitized by a wasp, I have assumed that it was just luck that the wasp saw a juicy caterpillar in which to lay her eggs. Apparently, though, the tomato plant made it happen. Plants are able to communicate with other plants and organisms by releasing tiny molecules (VOC’s), often associated with distinct smells. This can alert the wasp that the plant is in trouble and being invaded by hornworms, so the female wasp responds by laying her eggs under the skin of that hornworm. As the eggs hatch the larvae actually feed on the hornworm’s insides. The larvae eat their way out of the caterpillar and spin cocoons which look like grains of rice attached to the caterpillar’s back. Eventually adult wasps will emerge from the cocoons and the weakened hornworm will die. Scientists are learning so much about these odors, but aren’t sure how the signals are received and interpreted. They have even discovered evidence that certain plants will be more hospitable when planted near “kin” as opposed to “strangers”…even in overcrowded conditions. For those of use who plant intensively in small spaces, this has major ramifications! If you enjoy plants and wonder what their lives are like, find a copy of this book…and prepare to be AMAZED.
National Dog Day today...
and we celebrate all the dogs in our lives. Last week we welcomed a new pup to the farm…Walnut! Responds readily to “Wally” and is enjoying learning all the in and outs of Walnut Hill Farm. Rescued from the Clark County Humane Society, she was one of a litter of eight. Not sure of her heritage, but a DNA kit is on its way which may help us understand her background. Whatever she is, she is a cutie! Welcome, Wally!
Family reunion....
…in New Buffalo. I travel all summer with my Oru kayaks in my car (these are origami-type fold up kayaks) just in case I find a new challenging body of water. The family used them exploring the Galien River Marsh Water Trail. Such an abundance of wildlife - egrets, eagles and deer. Kayaking along the river is so quiet and so at-one-with-nature! I am always in awe after each adventure.
Tomato time....
…and these are just the cherry tomatoes! What a colorful variety this year…and with the dry weather, no splitting! Beam’s Yellow Pear, Red Cherry, Indigo Blueberries, Sungolds, Green Tigers, and those little ones are Spoon Tomatoes - perfect for garnishing almost any summer dish.
Prairie Dock...
…or Silphium terrabintinaceum is everywhere. Yesterday we encountered entire fields filled with these tall willowy plants. Last year we had just one, this year there are almost a dozen! The name “Silphium” refers to an ancient Greek plant that produces resin. Resin was once highly sought after for a variety of uses, including as an incense for use in religious ceremonies. The species name “terebinthinaceum” means “like turpentine,” referring to the odor of this plant. (U.S.Forest Service) This is a very tall perennial plant, with a nearly leafless flower stalk, sometimes over eight feet tall. Not only does the plant extend high into the air, it also has a long taproot that grows deep into the soil. This adaptation is beneficial because the prairie is often hot and dry, and the deep taproot allows the plant to reach water. This feature also helps the plant persist despite grazing and mowing. With so much energy reserves stored underground, sending up new shoots is not that costly for the plant. Although definitive studies are lacking, this is believed to be among the longest-lived species of the prairie.
Monarda
It’s everywhere I look this year! Don’t know why bee balm is so plentiful…perhaps all the rain? Monarda is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The genus is endemic to North America. Common names include bergamot, bee balm, horsemint, and oswego tea, the first being inspired by the fragrance of the leaves, which is reminiscent of bergamot orange. (Wikipedia) Indigenous Americans regarded bee balm as both a medicinal and a culinary herb. The leaves were brewed into teas, which were used to improve digestion and to treat coughs, colds, fever, anxiety, pain and discomfort, and melancholy. A pharmacy…right outside my front door!
All dogs go to Heaven....
but Pickles took no detours! She was simply a great pup. Always alert and wanting to assure our safety, she will be deeply missed.
R.I.P. 2012-2024
Corn pollen...absolutely amazing!
I took out my Foldscope (an origami-type microscope made of cardboard, costing less than $20, developed for medical professionals working in third world villages, and with lenses that go up to 140x magnification) made a slide with some pollen I shook from the anthers.... and took a picture of it!