April – Making the cut

April 24, 2018April 24, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Fruit Trees, Uncategorized

We’ve been trying to get fruit trees planted since we moved here. We bought three apple trees a year or so ago at an Amish mud sale and we’re training them to espalier along a fence line in the back yard close to the patio. However, I still wanted peaches, pears and cherries. I always seemed to be too late to order them from the Adams County tree farm (seriously, I think you have to order them five years ahead of time — they are ALWAYS sold out). Then I found out about Kauffman’s Fruit Farm. They sell bare root fruit trees in the spring. We picked them up a few days ago — six tall twigs in a big trash bag.

We’ve been preparing space inside the garden fence to protect our new “orchard.” And I’ve been reading the book “Grow a Little Fruit Tree,” that basically says plant the tree and then chop it off at knee level. WHAT!?! The premise is that where you cut it becomes the main trunk, and then the branches grow from there — giving us an orchard that is accessible without climbing ladders or trees.

Chris dug the holes and held the twigs straight while I filled in the dirt and tamped them down all snug in their new garden space. And then I took the garden clippers — and ruthlessly cut each one down to almost nothing! I sure hope this works.

And if it does, there is just enough space left for two apricot trees – which we’ve ordered already for next spring.

DSCN8455 — We brought home a sack of long twigs.

DSCN8462 — Chris dug nice deep holes for the bare roots.

DSCN8461 — We made sure they are standing up straight and filled in the holes.

DSCN8463 — And we cut off the tops of the trees so they are about knee high. The cat seems to know there will be no climbing up these trees today (or ever!).

April – (5-2)+6=eggs

April 16, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County, chickens, Farm, Homestead, Uncategorized

We started out with five hens when we moved in to our farm. Our builder gave them to us as a house warming gift and we’ve been nurturing them — and enjoying the eggs — ever since. But apparently they are getting old. We’ve had two of the chickens die over the last several months, I think from old age. Apparently laying an egg a day can really wear you out.

After a trip to tractor supply, we ended up with six baby peeps — two Red Sex Links, two Barred Rocks and two Ameraucanas. Right now, they live in our living room — under a heat lamp and keep us entertained with their peeping.

Arianna came to visit them and couldn’t believe her eyes! Chickens in the living room! In a house where we have NO indoor pets. Even our cat is an outdoor barn cat — which is a good thing, because I don’t think an indoor cat and six peeps would get along well in the living room!

Once they grow a little bigger and get their feathers, we will introduce them to the “old” ladies in the chicken coop and they will all have to learn to get along together. Until then, we have peeps in the living room!

DSCN8451 — One trip to Tractor Supply and six chicks later…

DSCN8452 — They are settling in to their box in the living room,

DSCN8450 — With a heat lamp to keep them cozy.

March – Precious Drops of Liquid Gold

March 27, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Farm, Farm to Fork, Homestead, Maple Syrup

We’ve tapped our two maple trees – but I think we started too late. Nevertheless, we got four gallons of sap. It looks like pure water and taste like… water. I expected at least a hint of sweetness or a tint of color.

We set up the outdoor burner, connected the propane tank and got out the turkey roasting pan. I poured two gallons in and started boiling, adding more sap as evaporation would allow. Six hours later, after sitting outside in the cold on the patio, I had two quart jars of lemonade looking liquid.

The next night I emptied those two quarts into a pot on the stove in the kitchen. I figured by then most of the evaporation had already happened, and cooking it down further wouldn’t make my kitchen “that” sticky. I boiled and simmered and boiled and simmered and kept measuring the temperature. As more evaporated, I moved it to a smaller pan, and then to an even smaller pan. And I kept boiling and simmering and taking it’s temperature. Finally, after about three more hours of undivided attention – lest I burn the whole batch, I had SYRUP! Yes, I tested it with the hygrometer and did some fancy math calculations that involve a chart and testing the temperature vs. the Baume scale and the Brix scale – but it was officially at the syrup stage!

I very carefully poured it into ONE of the 8 oz syrup jars (I bought a case of twelve, just to be optimistic) — and it filled it about two-thirds of the way. Yes, four gallons of sap gave us about two-thirds of a cup of syrup. But it’s really AWESOME syrup. It’s thick and rich and tastes like maple syrup! And the kitchen smells like a Waffle House. I can’t wait to make some waffles to go with it!

DSCN8421 — Cooking down four gallons of sap.

DSCN8418 — Yes, there is snow on the ground – but it’s time to boil the sap.

DSCN8432 — All we got was two quarts of boiled down sap.

DSCN8435 — And the put it in a little tiny pan and cooked it some more.

DSCN8440 — Until we got about two-thirds of a cup of REAL syrup. The phone is to give you a perspective — this is not a very big jar — and it’s only half full — but boy will it taste good on our waffles!

March – Another Hobby on the Farm

March 14, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County, Farm, Homestead, Maple Syrup, Uncategorized

Chris gets a big green tractor, I get some blue plastic tubes. But it’s okay – I’m as excited about my new project as he is about his.

We have two very large Maple trees on the farm and I wanted to tap them and make Maple syrup. I went to the aptly named “Tap My Trees” website and ordered the ten-pack of spiels (the things you put into the trees) and blue tubing so the sap can run into milk jugs. Then I’ll need a turkey fryer (or at least the burner part) so I can boil the sap outside, until it gets close to the syrup stage. Then I can bring it inside to “finish it off” and use the hygrometer (which I also bought) to tell when it’s at the right sugar content to make awesome Maple syrup – from our own trees – on our own farm. Of course, this is all in theory.

I’ve been waiting for those spring days when the temperatures are above 40, but the nights are below freezing. This week seems to fit – so Chris drilled two holes in each of two trees. We hammered the spiels (the drain-type things) into the drill holes, attached the blue plastic tubing and put the other end of the tube into empty milk jugs. Now we wait — and collect the sap every night.

It can take 12 gallons of sap to make one quart of Maple syrup. That’s almost as bad as the ratio of collecting those green black walnuts husks, shelling them and collect a few little shelled nut meats. But I guess anything worth having – is worth putting the work into it. We will see how this goes — pancakes, anyone?

DSCN8400 — We hammered the spiels into the tree and connected the tubing to some milk jugs.

DSCN8409 — For that precious sap that we collect every day until we have enough to boil it down. Fingers crossed.

March – Starting seeds in a snowstorm

March 7, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County, Farm, Garden, Greenhouse, Homestead, Uncategorized

Maybe I’m rushing the planting season given that we’re expecting upwards of 16 inches of snow – but it’s not snowing inside my greenhouse and the pepper and tomato seeds need to get started. I have a laminated chart that I refer to every year and it says to start peppers and tomatoes before March 8^th for my growing zone. So I’m tucked away in my little greenhouse, planting my Italian red peppers, Amish paste tomatoes, Big Boy slicing tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes, grape cherry tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes. The flurries are just starting and it’s warm-ish inside. In a few more weeks I’ll start the squash, broccoli and loofah sponges. The loofahs are this year’s experiment – but it will be fun to watch them grow… if spring ever gets here. I’m done with this snow!

DSCN8396 — Starting the peppers and tomatoes because my chart says it’s time even as the flurries are starting.

DSCN8411 — And now it is accumulating – they say 16 inches are coming. Good thing my tiny seeds are warm and cozy inside the greenhouse.

February – Damn Mice

February 26, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County, Farm, Garden, Uncategorized, Wildlife

Bruce – you were right — those damn mice moved right in once we insulated the basement. We’ve kept traps down there, and we would catch a mouse every once in a while – but it didn’t seem like a big deal. Until now…

I noticed that they are eating my squash! Damn mice. They climbed right into my wood crates, chewed holes, and cleaned out the inside of the squash. Thank goodness they didn’t eaten them all! I grabbed the rest of my good squash and rushed them to safety in the house. I scrubbed them good – with soap and water — just in case a mouse had walked over them. Then I roasted them, pureed then and packed them into freezer bags. Hah! No more squash for those damn mice.

Now, I hope the mice will go for the cheese in the traps – given that their supply of squash has been squashed.

DSCN8251 — This mouse trap will get more action now that all the crates are empty.

February 2018 – A Special Delivery

February 5, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Farm, Homestead, Tractor, Uncategorized

The special delivery from that unexpected BIG purchase at the Farm Show is here. We frequently have trucks showing up to deliver things – the barn, the chicken coop, the greenhouse. They have to maneuver backwards up the driveway and then navigate the hillsides of our uneven farm to deposit their cargo in just the right place. This time, they just rolled our delivery off the flat bed – right into the middle of the driveway – along with all of its accessories.

Yes, Chris is the proud new owner of a John Deere tractor. I thought we already had one – it’s green, it says John Deere, and it works. But apparently THAT John Deere was only a lawn mower. THIS John Deere can do so much more. It’s bigger – in fact so big that it has a roll bar (that instills confidence right away), a ballast box, a front end loader and a grader (for our very long gravel driveway) — and it’s Diesel! Apparently that’s a big deal.

There was one happy farmer out there this weekend trying out all pieces and parts and making room for it in our garage. Already we are starting a list of things it needs to do – like uproot stumps from the meadow, scoop the horse manure out of the barn, and probably dig a foundation for a new barn to house this monster and all of its attachments (just kidding – I hope)!

DSCN8231 — Yep, another toy — here it comes.

DSCN8235 — Check out that roll bar – and yes, it does come with a seat belt and head lights.

DSCN8239 — Check out all those accessories! Chris says they are called “implements.” I guess he will be busy.

January 2018 – Baby, it’s COLD outside!

January 18, 2018 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Farm, Homestead, Uncategorized, Winter

It’s been a COLD January, except for a few days ago when it hit 60° and then plummeted again – like a tantalizing taste of spring only to be thrust back into winter. Our house is made of sturdy stone and while it stands up well to wind and rain, the stone gets cold. The walls are cold, the floor is cold – and I’m cold!

I don’t know why we didn’t think about this before, but we decided to insulate the ceiling in the basement to help keep the 1st floor warmer. With the cold weather we’ve been having (like 0° F), it has been as low as 41° in the basement, and that cold has been seeping up through the floor boards.

But not anymore. We installed 12 rolls of R-19 insulation up into the ceiling of the basement. Now we’re keeping an eye on the temperature in the basement to make sure it doesn’t get so cold that pipes freeze, and keeping an eye on the temperature in the house – to see if it makes a difference. I think my feet feel warmer already.

DSCN8221 — The floor joists had no insulation, and it gets cold in the basement.

DSCN8223 — So we bought 12 rolls of R-19 insulation.

DSCN8226 — We feel warmer, now I hope the pipes won’t freeze in the basement!

December 2017 – MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2017 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm Chester County, Christmas, Farm, Homestead, Uncategorized

We had a little Christmas miracle this morning — a white Christmas. It wasn’t much — just a dusting, but it brought the peacefulness and magic of a special Christmas. And Santa’s reindeer weren’t far behind — grazing in the bushes just behind the picket fence.

Merry Christmas!

December – MORE fences

December 21, 2017 Jeanne at No Rhyme or Reason Farm After, Before, Chester County, Farm, Fences, Homestead, Uncategorized

We have one fence for keeping things in – and three fences for keeping things out. The fence for keeping things in works well. The fences for keeping things out – not so much. Between deer, rabbits, ground hogs and birds – my gardens seem to be fair game for anything roaming through the property. “Oh look!” they exclaim. “There’s a fenced in garden. Let’s go have dinner there tonight.” And they do.

But not next year. We’ve rabbit proofed our six foot tall fence with chicken wire around the base of it to keep the rabbits out. And we’re stringing fishing line across the top of it to keep the birds out. We’re putting up another six-foot tall fence to protect my fruit trees, raspberry bushes, blueberry bushes and strawberry plants – with enough room left over to plant potatoes and squash and whatever else strikes my fancy when the spring seed catalogs come out. And we’re putting up a picket fence where my “pumpkin patch” will reside.

Now everyone just needs to follow the rules. If you’re supposed to be inside a fence (like Pono), then stay in. If you’re supposed to be outside the fence, then stay out. I’m hoping for a bumper crop next year.