For reasons I can't fully explain publicly, Old Webster Farm has come to a bit of a crossroads within the past two days. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it could affect the future of the farm. It could affect whether or not we continue to farm, at least for the foreseeable future.
It's up to us, really. Whether we choose to keep going, or choose to do make a bit of a return to our former life.
I don't want to leave the farm. I don't want to give up on the farm. But farming over the past three years has given me a perspective that I didn't have three years ago. A feeling that I know I can pretty much do anything I decide to do...whether that's true or not, I'm sure I'll find out before long.
Well, enough of the cryptic writings. I'm just a little confused right now and felt I needed to share (as little information as possible, but still).
I'll keep you posted. Whoever you are.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
A Million Miles Away From the Farm
Tomorrow the Beautiful Old House will see visits from a plumber, a carpenter and an electrician.
Better sell LOTS of tomatoes next year...
Better sell LOTS of tomatoes next year...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Farm is Napping
Everything is snoozing away under a blanket of snow and ice right now at the old farm.
I was initially busy with a kitchen rehab in our Beautiful Old House. But when we discovered rotting floor boards under our downstairs bathroom a week ago, we decided to redo that first. Hopefully, we can do a better job of making the bathroom look less like 1987 left a lingering stench in there and help it coordinate more with the 19-teens decor of the rest of the place. Hex tiles, wainscoting, pedestal sink, etc.
In farm-related news, though, I do have a line on an interesting and relatively rare variety of turnip from Germany. Hopefully I'll be able to make that available this upcoming season.
I was initially busy with a kitchen rehab in our Beautiful Old House. But when we discovered rotting floor boards under our downstairs bathroom a week ago, we decided to redo that first. Hopefully, we can do a better job of making the bathroom look less like 1987 left a lingering stench in there and help it coordinate more with the 19-teens decor of the rest of the place. Hex tiles, wainscoting, pedestal sink, etc.
In farm-related news, though, I do have a line on an interesting and relatively rare variety of turnip from Germany. Hopefully I'll be able to make that available this upcoming season.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
Just over an hour until the Packers play, so I'll make this quick.
I've been pretty busy lately with a lot of things, and few of them connected to the farm.
We live in an beautiful old house about 3 miles from the farm. As is the case with most beautiful old houses, ours is in a state of (relatively slight) disrepair. My project for the winter will be to rehab our kitchen, and hopefully one of the bathrooms. The years 1960 through 1979 were very unkind to beautiful old houses. So, my life has been all countertops and islands and cabinet refacing.
Well it hasn't been ALL those things, actually. The past month has also been all about planning and organizing the harvest feast for Reghan's school. Last year, I ran my mouth a little and got myself nominated to head up this year's feast. So, being a small farm farmer, I turned the whole thing local. We held it at a local restaurant -- Jake's Northwoods in Sparta -- and I sourced at least 90% (maybe more) of the food from our farm and other farms in the area. Organic Valley donated a ton of milk and butter, John and Jill from Acorn Creek farm in Tomah donated lots of squash, Chad from Footjoy Farm in Cataract donated about 100 lb. of potatoes, Jillian from Small Family CSA Farm in Avalanche donated all the itty bitty punkins for the centerpieces, and Jason, the chef/owner of Jake's donated way more time and kitchen expertise than any of us expected. It was awesome and I've heard nothing but rave reviews...so hopefully we'll be able to do it again in the future. Next year, even.
Lots of good things to be thankful for.
I've been pretty busy lately with a lot of things, and few of them connected to the farm.
We live in an beautiful old house about 3 miles from the farm. As is the case with most beautiful old houses, ours is in a state of (relatively slight) disrepair. My project for the winter will be to rehab our kitchen, and hopefully one of the bathrooms. The years 1960 through 1979 were very unkind to beautiful old houses. So, my life has been all countertops and islands and cabinet refacing.
Well it hasn't been ALL those things, actually. The past month has also been all about planning and organizing the harvest feast for Reghan's school. Last year, I ran my mouth a little and got myself nominated to head up this year's feast. So, being a small farm farmer, I turned the whole thing local. We held it at a local restaurant -- Jake's Northwoods in Sparta -- and I sourced at least 90% (maybe more) of the food from our farm and other farms in the area. Organic Valley donated a ton of milk and butter, John and Jill from Acorn Creek farm in Tomah donated lots of squash, Chad from Footjoy Farm in Cataract donated about 100 lb. of potatoes, Jillian from Small Family CSA Farm in Avalanche donated all the itty bitty punkins for the centerpieces, and Jason, the chef/owner of Jake's donated way more time and kitchen expertise than any of us expected. It was awesome and I've heard nothing but rave reviews...so hopefully we'll be able to do it again in the future. Next year, even.
Lots of good things to be thankful for.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Garlic is In!
Much later than I would prefer, but it is in the ground, waiting for the wind to die down so it can be mulched.
1/4 acre. 12 varieties. 15 beds. 10,000 cloves in all. Give or take a thousand or two.
I'd post pictures, but I'm having some trouble getting any to upload. And I haven't had time to try and figure out what's wrong.
Well, back to the farm to put everything to bed.
1/4 acre. 12 varieties. 15 beds. 10,000 cloves in all. Give or take a thousand or two.
I'd post pictures, but I'm having some trouble getting any to upload. And I haven't had time to try and figure out what's wrong.
Well, back to the farm to put everything to bed.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Garlic Planting Time
Well, now's the time to beat cheeks and get the garlic in before it gets too cold for the little buggers to sprout. We've had some delays to work around -- our renter not getting his corn picked until yesterday, tractor issues and, um...farmer issues (lazi- er, procrastinatory practices).
Should be a pretty good week to do it. Only a little rain in the forecast, and if we can get the beds prepped before then, we (me) can certainly plant garlic in the rain.
Oh yeah, and don't forget to remind me. I need to buy straw this year. Tks.
Should be a pretty good week to do it. Only a little rain in the forecast, and if we can get the beds prepped before then, we (me) can certainly plant garlic in the rain.
Oh yeah, and don't forget to remind me. I need to buy straw this year. Tks.
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