Tucking in the baler

Today, George and I moved the hay baler into the metal garage.   This is always a tricky procedure, because it has to go in slant-wise, backwards, in order to fit.  The person (George) driving the tractor can't see what he might be about to hit, like the side of a building, so has to rely on someone (me) making hand signals from the ground.

I tend to drop my arms when I want someone to stop, and George expects arms to be raised for a stopping signal.   This can cause minor difficulties.

But, the procedure was a success, and we had a few inches to spare when we fit the farm tractor in beside the baler for the winter.

Mulch hay

We still have hundreds of bales of mulch hay available for sale.  $3/bale at the barn, in good weather.

Broc

The thing I really like about broccoli (broc) is it keeps on producing.  After the first heads have long since been processed into meal sized bags and put in the freezer for the winter, the plants keep making more.

Most of the remaining broc is used fresh in meals here.   But, I always let some keep maturing to yellow flowers.    There are bees that flock to the broc flowers in late fall, long after most wild flowers have gone by.   Have to save some for the bees.

Firewood and cool temps

 I took these pictures three days ago, but I'm still hauling and stacking.   Keep saying "good exercise" to myself.   Will probably be glad this chore is done when it is snowy this winter.   For now, I'm a little sore.

Saw the leaves at right hiding among the greenery.

Now, these are kind of pretty.   But, I need at least another month of warmer weather to get the rest of the garden into the cellar.   The garden went in very late due to the wet spring.   A lingering fall would be helpful.   Forecast says 42 degrees tonight.

Mulch hay beds and green beans

This is a re-building year for the hay beds, after having to "let them go" last year.   I just finished three long beds.  

Given we're rebuilding, the layout is changing to one that makes it easier to mow, and gives winter squash vines more room to grow.

The beds in these pictures are 6 ft wide and 65 to 70 feet long.   They will sit this year, and some of the winter squash will be here next year.


In the two smaller beds I turned and planted this spring (not pictured), fewer weeds came up than in my regular in-ground beds.  That was a surprise.  Maybe the seed rotted?  I'll have to try this again.

August is string bean season.  I have blanched about 40 pounds of beans for the freezer.   But, we got a new chest freezer recently, so next year I may do more.   They are so much better than frozen beans from the market, in the winter.

Mulch hay

Mulch hay for sale.  2017 cut.   Stored in barn or under an overhang.   Please contact us to schedule a  time to come by, so we can be sure someone is available to help.