First Freeze
October 25, 2011
Today is a sad day. I find it too bad that after a long absence from the farm journal I return with such an opening. It was and has been a busy through late spring, summer and so far this fall. In the middle of busy days, something I enjoy is left undone, and too often, it was the garden. I never felt like I got enough time in the garden. That is why, though this day comes around every year, it is a little sadder than most years.
We had a heads-up the first fall freeze would occur last night. Over the weekend, we pulled what peppers, green tomatoes, and other vegetables there were left out of the garden. However, with the end of the yearly garden (though we have potatoes still in the ground and still need to harvest what is left of them) is the end of fresh vegetables for another year. Sure, some of our friends live on land a little higher (in elevation) than ours and we might get another butter-squash or two, but there is a lot of cold between now and the next garden.
Yet, I reckon, even thought there is a bit of sadness with the first freeze, it was not hard and deep, which allow a few more days…maybe weeks?..of those flowers who seem to power through these early frosts and continue to give beauty and in their color a reminder of days that have been and of days to come.
A History of Willows
July 2, 2010
Years ago folks came to the Farm from Pacific Grove, California. We spent time with them at another farm that had a number of different types of willows. We trimmed branches, brought them back to the Farm, and placed them in five-gallon buckets of water. Most of the willows on the Farm are from that day. Now, each year we take a moment and trim our own willows, place them in a bucket and then transplant them once their roots have developed and the weather is good for transplanting. It doesn’t take much time and we figure it must help in our carbon footprint!
Are you interested in estimating your carbon footprint? Try The Nature Conservancy’s footprint calculator at http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/?gclid=CMyMh8SpzaICFQxubAodDhxkwQ.
© David B. Bell 2010
Bean Plants
June 28, 2010
We got a late start but our beans are up. The ground where they are planted is marginal and we wonder how they will do. By planting multiple bean types, we hope to get an idea of what might do best in the soil of this area of the farm. So far Pinto’s and Red’s are doing well with about eighty percent germination. We will wait and see how others are doing after we give them a little more time.
© David B. Bell 2010
Of Rainbows and Wheelines
June 22, 2010
We bought our wheelines a number of years ago at an auction in Moses Lake. The lines had been out in the “back forty” for who knows how long. We broke them down and brought them to the farm and have put them back together again as we have needed them. Last Friday we assembled four for the field with Sudan, Emmer, and Wheat. We took them to the field, hooked them up, and turned water on. We found out how lucky we’ve been.
Three of the four pipe have holes. Not just a few holes, but enough to make the wheeline look like some type of water show at Disneyland. Little pin holes, large holes, and cracks threw water upward, sideways, and downward. Turning the water on in the late afternoon with the sun in the western sky meant we had a multitude of rainbows mixing and dancing with one another up and down the wheeline. It was quite a sight, and I imagine I should have taken a picture of the wonderful event, but I have to admit, I didn’t see a lot of beauty in the moment.
Yesterday we pulled in a few, replaced the pipes, and got them back in place. We’ll work on getting a few more replaced today.
© David B. Bell 2010
Sudan Grass and Water
June 18, 2010
Summer solstice is just a few days away and morning sunrise is still seeing temperatures in the mid-forties.
Today we are planning to plant a few acres of Sudan grass. These acres are lacking in organics and are a bit high in alkali. Sudan does okay in alkali ground (not great but okay) and grows quickly. Over the course of the summer we’re thinking we might take one cutting of grass and then turn the next growth into the ground to increase organic content.
To water the grass, though, we need to assemble two more lengths of wheeline. Yesterday we pulled two lengths of pipe and two wheels out of the grass and weeds and started to put them together. These are old lines and most everything needed replacing. Some parts were on hand and others meant a trip to town. We now have everything we need (I hope) and expect to finish the lines today.
Plant grass and start water, not a bad way to live out the day.
Beans in the Ground
June 15, 2010
The never ending spring seems to have made the turn towards summer. It is hard to find anyone who isn’t welcoming the sun and a little heat. Folks may tire of the heat before long, but for the time being, warm days are being welcomed in the valley.
I borrowed the seed planters RicOrganics bought last March to plant beans. No one knows how long it has been since they were last used and it took most of half a day to get them up and running. But they worked just fine and today we have Swedish Brown, Anasazi, Orca, Red Pearl, and Pinto beans in the ground.
Yesterday we reset the mainline. Today we water!
From Pasture to Beans?
June 3, 2010
This year is the year to turn over the south end of the pasture. The grass has never been good in this area. And before planting grass again we thought we would try dry beans. If successful, once the beans are harvested the remaining plant will be turned into the soil. Our hope is to increase the amount of organic material in the soil to better create an ecosystem for future bugs and root structure. The rain, though, has kept us out of the field until now.
The ground tried up enough get in with a springtooth. As teeth pulled up soil and grass, much of it rolled over leaving an inch and a half by six-inch clump with a smooth slick edge on the soil side. Perpendicular passes turned most of soil up at a depth of about six inches. However when the tractor tire passed over a clump of grass and soil that had been pulled up; the clump would mash out like a pancake under the tire rather that breaking apart. Today we’re to have a southwest wind at 6 to 8 miles per hour and a bit of sun. The wind and sun may dry out the soil out enough to work it ready for seed. However that depends a lot on whether or not we get the rain called for this evening and tomorrow.
© David B. Bell 2010
Alkali and Salt
April 20, 2010
The landscape of the Farm has multiple soil types. For such a small area, the soil changes often. Some of the areas are great for growing hay, and then, some of the areas are high in alkali and salts, not so great. A few of the alkali and salt areas are located in or near our hay fields I would like to bring them into hay production sometime in the future. Alkali and salts are not the only problem though. Where the alkali and salt have existed, for who knows how many years, little vegetation has ever grown. Which has left the soil not only high in alkali and salt, but with little organic material.
There are at least two trains of thought when considering seeding these areas. One is to know what plants you want to grow in the soil and then work to change the soil—additives, soil builders, etc.—until the soil will support the plant. Another thought is to know the soil and then find plants that will do well in that type of soil. I want to do both.
What I would like to do is to seed plants that do well in alkali and salts. Let those grow and then turn them into the soil. The hope is if we do this for a few years the soils humus will build to a point that the soil will open up and the alkali and salts will flush out with watering. After a few years of working the soil with plants that “like” it, I hope the soil changes (using plants as the additive in this case), and I can grow hay in the areas now full of alkali and salt.
I had some time with my neighbor the other day who has the same problems, but has been farming (and farming this soil) years longer than me. Over the years, he has used Sudan Grass in these areas. He is clear that where the alkali and salt are very high, the Sudan doesn’t grow there either. But slowly with time, the edges are slowly playing out and crops are closing the alkali and salt areas. However, like he said, this takes years and there are no guarantees. He also suggests taking some time to see what other seed is “out there” that might do well in alkali and salt.
So I am searching for a seed that enjoys alkali and salt. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
Emmer, Camelina, and Hard Red Spring Wheat
March 22, 2010
This last week, Eric and I had the opportunity to get up to Quincy, WA and pick up Emmer and Camelina seed. The search for this seed has gone on all winter long. Finally, after many emails and phone calls, Eatwell Farm in Dixon, CA turned us on to Lentz Spelt Farm in Marlin, WA—just down the road you might say! It took the better part of a day, but we came home with 120 lbs. of emmer and 2 lbs. of camelina seed—enough seed to plant a half an acre!
Emmer, an ancient grain, has its roots as an ancient grass. Folks believe that as a wild grain, our ancestor may have consumed as long ago as 17,000 years. Glutton free, emmer becomes a wheat-like flour that can be used for bread and pastries, though it preparation is different.
Camelina is also an ancient seed. High in oil content, camelina has considerable levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. This seed is used in salads, roasted, and as a binder for baking.
In addition to the emmer and camelina, we wanted enough Hard Red Spring Wheat to plant an acre. We were able to get the Hard Red from Connel Grain in Toppenish. Hard Red is traditional wheat, high in glutton, used for bread making. With the Hard Red, Emmer, and Camelina, we will begin our learning curve in growing small-scale grains.
