Farm report
Until last night, everything was going just perfectly at Black Water Farm. The garden was going in ahead of schedule, the trees we planted were doing well, lots of fruit set on trees and bushes (and, apparently, our first grapes). It's been dry, but that's far better than last year.
We're looking at a couple of major projects. One is to alter our fencing to provide a secure pasture for goats. We need to set up a gate and build a back and side fence to protect the garden and orchard. The other is opening up a new plot for field crops. I was out yesterday with the tractor and plow. The new plot is way too big to break with a tiller, but too small for a plow. I had to keep lifting the plow and turning around. No weights on the front wheels, and inexperienced plowman, no disk; it wasn't pretty. Now I have a decent patch covered with slabs of sod that my back blade won't remove, that I'll doubtless carry off by hand.
As for last night? First, there was frost. Not a biggie; I figure I have maybe 6 plants I could have lost. Most are in Wall-o-waters. I'll find out when I get home. Worse, something hit the pullet coop and killed most of them. It sounds like a weasel, from the description my wife gave. Looks like I'll be ordering more chicks tonight. Rusty picked up a few Araucanas.
Comments
Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: May 14, 2007 09:44 PM
That's two attacks in how many months? You might want to expand the fencing project.
Posted by: Jeffrey Quick
Posted on: May 15, 2007 12:21 PM
Fencing doesn't do a lot against weasels. Maybe if it was chicken wire buried underground, or electric. If kept in a coop without holes, they'd be safe...but at that point, I'd save the trouble and buy my eggs. Everyone was on lockdown last night, and made it through safely.