June 13, 2020 A Wet Week

The past week was proposed as the week when we got all the things to put the roof up next week. Needles to say it, but we didn't quite get there. Farming and Rain took up most of the time between working on the new Farmhouse.

I did go out and haul in one whole unit of the siding we have chosen for the house. We also bought one whole unit of OSB boards to sheath the roof trusses as they go up. One of the trusses we had come in a few weeks ago was damaged in shipping, but a guy from the truss company came out and we fixed the truss inthe rain.

We ordered the metal hurricane straps from Amazon and they said it would be the end of next week before they would come, but they came today so we're back on schedule. I will go get the remaining roof stuff Monday and Tuesday, the roof ought to go up on Thursday and Friday.

Our hope was to pick Strawberries Monday and Friday, but the rains were very heavy, so we worked other projects instead. We did pick about three bushels on Wednesday, but a lot of the fruit was a bit moldy and much of it was a bit on the small side. We kept the good ones, but made the decision to begin thinning the plants out and keeping only those plants which produced marketable fruit. All of our plants are ever-bearing varieties, so we should improve our total yield while reducing the labor needed to get the job done. There certainly are some very good berries out in the Produce Stand for sale every day, so come get some.

The weather is very cool this week, loads or rain, but the next week promises to end in glorious sunshine and much higher temperatures. So it will soon be time to build and grow again.

April 6, 2020 A Funny World

The first week of the picking season gave us plenty.

The World is an odd place this week. Protests everywhere, COVID19 in full swing and nobody seems to take much notice. But not at Creekside Farm. Things at the bottom of the Apple Valley don't change very much. Even the weather stays fairly consistent.

This week the weather was wonderful. A bit breezy at night, never below fifty degrees and never above seventy-five. Warm enough to sprout seeds and ripen Strawberries, and that's what happened. We picked Strawberries three times this week, taking about three bushels of fully ripe berries and selling two at our Produce Stand. We moved the stand down to the end of the road and people came by bearing cash money. We still have a bushel to sell and hope people will come buy them soon. We'd hate to see them go to waste. We will deliver the excess to the local food bank on Monday so there will be no loss.

"Der Gortn fun Dukki Dileyts"

The gardens are all flourishing, making us wish we had more time to plant. The Garden of Ducky Delights was heavily planted in wildflowers and white clover, the seeds are mostly sprouted and will grow rapidly once the heat sets in. We have so many seeds in which haven't come out to play yet. Our Marigolds are doing well and we have a flat of beans sprouted, but no corn so far. We have pumpkins and sunflowers sprouted, but no peppers or tomatoes yet. All we need is heat.

The new Farmhouse actually looks something like a house now.

Our son Jack and I finished wrapping the house in sheathing, making it ready for a roof. We went out to buy siding, but still need some things for the roof. We're hoping to put the roof on soon, but have to bring all of the parts together first. We'll get the parts staged this week and put it together the week following after. We will then have the whole thing inspected. Once the roof is on the house will be ready for wiring, plumbing, insulation, and drywall.

The week went so quickly, so much got done. But there is a great deal more to do.

The Produce Stand is selling Strawberries, so come out and get some.