Lambing season has officially ended. We now have eleven lambs: three sets of twins and five singletons. There is so much cuteness I'm having trouble breathing. Everyone (the ewes) did a wonderful job...the births were normal, and the lambs are healthy and robust. It's been a little touch-and-go with the last lamb, who was born to a first-time mom, barely a year old herself. We've been calling her Teen Mom. Babies having babies! She rejected the lamb initially, but with some coaxing and TLC, she's making progress.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
April Updates
Where do I even start?
Okay...how about the weather? Two weeks ago, I applied sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and shorts for the 80 degree summer day in mid-March. A small group of people went swimming after chores. We had a barbecue. The daffodils bloomed. Sheesh. Last week it became more seasonable with temps in the 40's and 50's. We covered the new garlic shoots with Remay to protect them from freezing cold temps. And finally, on March 31, it snowed! Next week I expect frogs and locusts to fall from the sky.
We have been very involved in the task of pruning fruit trees and bushes. Who would have thought that pruning blueberry bushes could be so meditative and deeply satisfying?
Blue Ox Farm
Expert pruner Brad Maloney gave us a day-long workshop on the art of apple tree pruning. We worked on some of the trees at Maggie's, and in the afternoon he took us to New Salem Preserves to practice in their orchards. I felt like a kid again climbing these trees. Some of them are up to 100 years old, and each tree has such a unique character.
Sonia, our awesome Extension Agent, took us grapevine pruning at Cold Spring Orchard, which is the U. Mass research center.
The ewes are about to lamb. We're officially on "lamb watch" for the next six weeks...each day (and night), two students check the sheep every two hours for signs of labor & delivery. And I thought I had seen the last of OB call! We're eagerly anticipating all the cuteness.
On Friday we all piled in The Farm School van and took a field trip to visit four different farms in New York and western Mass. We visited Roxbury Farm in Kinderhook, Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, and Camphill Village in Copake, NY. For me, the highlight was the healing plant garden at Camphill...I'll definitely return there to learn more about it. We spent the night at gorgeous Blueberry Hill Farm in Mt. Washington, Mass, where I felt like I was staying at a B&B. The Austin family has owned this farm for generations and runs a pick-your-own operation in the summer. There, we enjoyed a fantastic home-cooked meal and a bonfire; in the morning, we woke up to snow on the ground! But that didn't stop us from pruning their blueberry bushes before heading back home.
The greenhouse is looking greener and greener all the time. The alliums are tall and lush, and the lettuces already seem ready to eat. Brassicas, including cabbage and kohlrabi, were seeded last week and are amazingly robust-appearing. Happy April!
Okay...how about the weather? Two weeks ago, I applied sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and shorts for the 80 degree summer day in mid-March. A small group of people went swimming after chores. We had a barbecue. The daffodils bloomed. Sheesh. Last week it became more seasonable with temps in the 40's and 50's. We covered the new garlic shoots with Remay to protect them from freezing cold temps. And finally, on March 31, it snowed! Next week I expect frogs and locusts to fall from the sky.
We have been very involved in the task of pruning fruit trees and bushes. Who would have thought that pruning blueberry bushes could be so meditative and deeply satisfying?
Expert pruner Brad Maloney gave us a day-long workshop on the art of apple tree pruning. We worked on some of the trees at Maggie's, and in the afternoon he took us to New Salem Preserves to practice in their orchards. I felt like a kid again climbing these trees. Some of them are up to 100 years old, and each tree has such a unique character.
Yoo hoo! 
Sonia, our awesome Extension Agent, took us grapevine pruning at Cold Spring Orchard, which is the U. Mass research center.
The ewes are about to lamb. We're officially on "lamb watch" for the next six weeks...each day (and night), two students check the sheep every two hours for signs of labor & delivery. And I thought I had seen the last of OB call! We're eagerly anticipating all the cuteness.
On Friday we all piled in The Farm School van and took a field trip to visit four different farms in New York and western Mass. We visited Roxbury Farm in Kinderhook, Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, and Camphill Village in Copake, NY. For me, the highlight was the healing plant garden at Camphill...I'll definitely return there to learn more about it. We spent the night at gorgeous Blueberry Hill Farm in Mt. Washington, Mass, where I felt like I was staying at a B&B. The Austin family has owned this farm for generations and runs a pick-your-own operation in the summer. There, we enjoyed a fantastic home-cooked meal and a bonfire; in the morning, we woke up to snow on the ground! But that didn't stop us from pruning their blueberry bushes before heading back home.
Roxbury Farm 
The healing plant garden at Camphill Village
Josh takes a break from blueberry pruning
The greenhouse is looking greener and greener all the time. The alliums are tall and lush, and the lettuces already seem ready to eat. Brassicas, including cabbage and kohlrabi, were seeded last week and are amazingly robust-appearing. Happy April!
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