...then it's not in your food, and if it's not in your food, it's not in YOU! How true this is....and it IS all about your soil's health. This year, rather than throwing on all manner of organic supplements, I am being more strategic. And that starts with sending in soil samples for testing. Logan Labs, based in Lakeview Ohio, does a terrific job in sending you a complete analysis of your soil, and all within 3-5 days! Now to decipher it...
Brodhead...the spring break capital of the world?
There are literally hundreds of these Dark-eyed Juncos under our bird feeders, devouring anything that the woodpeckers let fall. Why all the sudden activity? Although they've been here since October, they seem much more active, perhaps getting ready for their April journey home to the woods of northern Canada where they will breed. Is it possible that they are the original "snowbirds"? (image courtesy of Wikipedia)
Itching for Spring!
The longer days and milder weather are making me long for spring! Hyacinth bulbs growing in water has me wondering if that would work with lily of the valley? Filled the Wordian case with herb seedlings to see if they would thrive. The grow lights in the barn, as seen in the background, are providing spring-like conditions for onions, leeks, kohlrabi, celery and a variety of herbs and flowers.
Lime basil....
or Ocimum americanum has a zesty lime flavor and aroma! It is delicious in salads, salsa, and fish and chicken dishes...and the plant is more heat tolerant than sweet basil. I started this one from seeds obtained from the Seed Savers Exchange. These plants were started earlier than normal, in order to be ready for Operation Jason....a plant give-away at Calihan Catering on May 11, to honor the memory of a friend and former employee.
Right on schedule!
These trays of onions and leeks look right on schedule. If the weather cooperates, they'll go in the ground the first week of April.
Hard to believe...
that we'll be planting onions in just 8 weeks!
Operation Jason has begun!
To honor a friend and former employee of Calihan Catering, we want to celebrate Jason's memory on May 11 with plants from the farm. Seedlings have already been started in the greenhouse, and a carload of flowers and vegetables will be arriving for all our employees in the hopes that they will be planted and enjoyed throughout Chicago this growing season.
It's an exciting time....
...as the first of my seed orders arrives! High Mowing, Seed Savers, and Hudson Valley Seed have received the remainder of my orders this year. I have to limit myself to just four vendors, or I'd spend all winter with my nose in seed catalogs and no orders placed!
The countdown has begun....
...and it's time for those New Year's resolutions. At Walnut Hill Farm we are hoping to fill our bee hive, add more raised beds, develop our "secret garden" complete with pond, finish the Cornell (Lab of Ornithology) course and be able to identify all 66 birds who might frequent our feeders, make great compost in our new bins, and keep everyone up to date on our Instagram account. Happy New Year to all and may each of you be showered with special blessings in 2018!
Hats off to the workhorses of the garden!
There are nearly 7000 species of worms on our planet, but the two that we want in our garden are the burrowing and feeding kind. Often referred to as Nature's plow, the burrowing worm aerates the soil, creating horizontal pathways underground. The feeding worms thrive on decaying organic matter and leave rich worm castings behind, providing a wonderful natural fertilizer. The worms pictured above are red wigglers. They live in worm bins in the greenhouse, consume half their weight in kitchen scraps each day and double their population in 90 days! Their favorite foods are the melon rinds and avocado skins, but they'll eat most everything we toss in. Hats off to these hard working friends of our farm!
Merry Christmas!
This fall we planted our "forever" Christmas tree!
How does it know?
How does it know just when to open? This Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti found in the coastal mountains of Brazil. This one spends most of the year on a bottom shelf in the greenhouse, neglected and ignored. But each Christmas, as if by magic, its blooms unfold, creating magnificent color for our holiday table!
Keeping deer out of the orchard...
has been a real challenge this past year. We have been using an inexpensive solution of 25 lb. fishing line strung at 1 foot intervals between 8 foot stakes. When the deer strolls into the line, his automatic reaction is to back up. But not before breaking a line or two. Last weekend I spent hours restringing the "fence." Although the barrier has never been completely "breached" it does require regular attention. Perhaps a real fence is the answer?
Christmas came early to Walnut Hill Farm...
...when Conrad delivered an "insect hotel!" When filled with lots of natural materials, creating nooks and crannies, this bug mansion will provide deluxe accommodations for the beneficial insects, who, in return, will provide pollination and pest predation. Can't wait to "decorate" it! Merry Christmas, Conrad, and thank you!
Delicious addition to our salads all winter long!
A passive hydroponic system in the greenhouse produces a variety of microgreens in less than 2 weeks! This Spicy Micro Mix from Johnny's Seed includes a colorful blend of red and green mustards...and it pairs beautifully with their Mild Micro Mix of Mizuna, Cabbage, Kale, and Kohlrabi.