I no sooner got back from my trip/vacation to the BlogPaws conference, unpacked and got (more or less) caught up on everything, when I realized I still had a lot of work to do. May was winding down and June quickly approaching, so the vegetable gardens needed to be planted!
We received our official certification from the state, so I needed to get to work to try and be sure we have some things to sell from the farm! I had planted a few early vegetables and herbs before I left, and started a few seeds inside (like Sam’s catnip…and the Dadz kept all the seedlings alive while I was gone!).
We had to scramble to prepare the vegetable garden areas. I had hoped to get them ready last fall, but too many other projects got in the way. Hopefully what we have will work for this year, and we’ll refine them for next year.
I spent the last two weekends, and weekdays when I could squeeze it in in-between rain showers, getting the gardens planted. Vegetables, herbs, and even some flowers went in. Most were started from seed, though I did pick up just a few flowers and herbs from a local garden center to be sure I got everything I wanted.
As I said to my hubby when potting up herbs and putting them next to the chicken yard “there’s no reason the chickens should be any less spoiled than any of the other animals around here!”. They now have their own pots of fresh herbs. I put them outside the pen so they wouldn’t completely eat them right off (as it turns out, they spent just as much time pecking at the dirt as the plants!).
Life on the farm moves on, radishes are already sprouting out of the ground, and it will be soon enough that the chickens will be officially free-ranging, if they have anything to say about it anyway. We also may even start seeing eggs by the end of July! By the way, the chicks are now officially known as “pullets” – young female chickens.
And life goes on as normal, keeping the dogs entertained and Samantha happy. Luckily, we’ve still been able to have daily play time most days in spite of all the rain. I need to get focused on getting more walks in too, and now with the gardens planted I should have more time for that. Once we get the current crew all up to date with their vet appointments, stay tuned for some possible new additions to the farm!
One other tidbit, Samantha wanted to send out a huge thank you to everyone, with kisses and purrs, for all her birthday wishes! She’s been enjoying her catnip and eating like a little pig lately! We may have to start watching her weight again, and I see that as a good thing.
One last photo for today. Even though we don’t have a real barn on our farm, I love our “pole barn”, with the old tools displayed, my new wooden flag that I found in Myrtle Beach, and now my potted flower that my hubby gave me for my birthday. I think it’s picture perfect, and now all it needs is a farm sign (not in the budget right now, but hopefully some day)!
I love that barn! You are really getting it all together aren’t you?
So happy to know you’re doing what you want to do! Wonderful…
Your pullets look great, and are so big!
You sure have been busy. Love the flag. I guess the chickens have decided it is time to free range. lol
Why should they be any less bossy and stubborn than any other animals around here? LOL
So many great tidbits. Congrats on your name and registered with the state. Love the flag and that shed is nice.
Sounds like you guys are well on your way to achieving your dream! Looks great!
Thank you! Even if we never do everything we want, I’m super happy with what we’re doing so far.
that pole barn is too cool!
Oh, your Barn looks wonderful, Jan and Tom!!! Great job, so love it!
Look how cute your chickens are! Congrats on the certification and can’t wait to see what else you do this summer 😉
We love the pole barn! We hope you get a great yield from your garden.
Thank you! Now that we’re finally getting some warm weather, hopefully things actually start growing!
I think that is sweet that your chickens are going to be spoiled too.
So much good stuff going on! i’m so glad to hear Sam is doing well … between the chicks and the catnip, she found the spring in her step. Speaking of the chicks … HOLY CHICKEN! They are getting big! I laughed at the “escapee.” But my favorite part is that picture of Luke and Cricket … Cricket almost seems to be looking up at Luke with pride and affection. It’s a beautiful picture!
I love that photo of Luke and Cricket too. I’d been worried about what their relationship might be like with Sheba gone, but it’s been better than expected, and I think they make a very cute pair. Many years ago, we had a different pair with a beagle and a Lab mix and they were such a great combination!
Congrats on the certification from the State! The pole barn does look great! 🙂
Your pole barn is super cool and it sounds like your busy season is starting!
I love how you have your pole barn decorated! It looks great and I’m sure you are going to have an aweo=soe garden.
Mom says please forgive her, she forgot to send you happy birthday wishes! We hope you had a great day. My guess is the goats are coming right? And that is really exciting about the state registration. Do you have any farmer’s markets in your area? The ones in our neighborhood the farmers come from as far as Wisconsin and Michigan. Love Dolly
Oh, no problem on the birthday wishes. I’m getting to the age where I’d rather just skip it anyway. LOL
No, I will tell you it’s not the goats. We’ve had second thoughts on them. The friend that recommended them ended up re-homing hers! It’s just too much to try to add something big at this point, since we’re not sure what our finances will be like.
It will be smaller, and pretty fun, if it works out!
We do have some farmer’s markets in our area, a few actually. I’ll probably start out small with just the one in our town and see how it goes there first.
Congratulations! And it looks great!
Ever neat! My peep gardens organically, too, but she’s not official or anythin’. Not official, like you.
And she’s STILL PLANTIN’ stuff. She thinks she’s gonna get the cosmos into the ground today. We’ll see. She has other more important things to do. Like uh… PLANTIN’ MY NIP. MOUSES!
What, she didn’t plant your nip yet? That should have been first on the list! MOL
It’s very cool, and I’m so excited for you. Especially about the ‘new addition’. I can’t wait to see what you do.
OH! And I forgot to bring those recipes for jams to you in Myrtle Beach. I will link them to you in an e-mail.
Oh, I did think about the recipes after I got home! Whenever you get to it is fine, no rush, and I appreciate it!
First of all, CONGRATS on becoming “official’!!
More additions to the farm? Like Monika said: “… tantalizing teaser …” I can’t wait either!
Love the “pole barn” and the wooden flag! Actually, I love all the pix! That chicken girl needs an appropriate name, like maybe, “Sassy”? ????
Sassy might be appropriate for her! Only now I’m not sure which one she was. LOL
Is there more than one trying to get out of the pen?
It’s been at least two different ones, both Golden Comets, I think…but I can only tell one of the four apart from the others.
Today it was one of the yellow ones (Buff Orpingtons) that got out, and she wanted to get back in, but she didn’t want me picking her up to put here there (ultimately she let me though)!
Your place is looking amazing. How much fun it all is. So much work ahead, but I’m sure it will be rewarding.
Oooh…additions to the farm?! Such a tantalizing teaser. Can’t wait!
I don’t mean to tease, but we’re kind of waiting to see if it will all work out before saying anything. 🙂
Things are coming along beautifully! I love the name of your new farm, and congrats on making it official! Your escapee chicken seems like the adventurous leader of the pack – I see another gal on the ground watching…and learning… 😉
Thank you! So far they’ve stopped trying to escape so much. I’m sure they’re just plotting something….like a big mass escape all at once. LOL
I love the pictures today. I didn’t realize chickens could get that high off the ground! Sam looks so content with that catnip–sometimes I’ll pick up a little container of parsley when the grocery store has the plants and Soth loves to snack on that 🙂
They say chickens fly better when they are younger than when they are fully mature. We’ll see. But I’ve also read they roost in trees, so that seems kind of contradictory? (pretty much everything I read about chickens is anyway, so no surprise there).
Oh, parsley, that’s a good idea too. I think Sam would love to munch on that.
our chickens got names too and I always looked for treats for them… I think they are a part of the family and they deserved to get even a christmas gift …9 different seeds&veggies to make sure they lay a lot of eggs in next year (it didn’t work lol)
Wait, are you telling me my bribery is not going to work?? 😉