All posts by ginnyd

THF version 2017 – Big plans, rough start

March 4, 2017Thoughtsginnyd

I would have said rocky start, but we have not actually done anything with our rocks this year, yet. Ron has some seriously big plans for 2017. Not only continuing his expansion of his mushroom forest, but for our 3 acre field as well. Lavender is among the new additions. Starts have already been ordered and we will be planting them this spring. Along with calendula, an herb with a lovely yellow flower that is highly prized for its medicinal qualities. That is actually going to be my baby. Along with a few other herbs.

Part of his expansion plans include other varieties of mushrooms. He has heard the phrase “what else you got” from several sources. When we chopped up the fallen tree last fall, he decided to put it to good use it for oyster mushrooms. This was a new process for us. Unfortunately I forgot my camera that day and while Jo used her Ipad to take some photos, they were accidentally deleted. Partly my fault as I did not get them from her immediately. Lesson learned.

We cut each 4 foot sections into smaller slices, then we restacked them after spreading a generous amount of the spawn in between the slices. The fun part was getting the stacks back together and steady enough not to fall over. You will notice our attempt at a support system on the one stack. I am looking forward to seeing how our efforts work out. Though, again not planning to eat them.

On January 4, 2017 Ron posted an ad on our Tiny House Farm Augusta NY FB page. This year we need to find another source for our mushroom bolts. His post was very specific. Giving sizes needed, acceptable types of trees, that they needed to be straight and even more importantly, distance restrictions. In order for us to comply with the Certified Naturally Grown regulations our source has to be within 50 miles of the farm. He also stressed that he needed the logs delivered. This to reduce the stress on us.

Most of you will not be surprised to hear that he got all sorts of replies – from people in Albany and Rochester, those who had trees but no way to get them cut down, or who had massively big trees to get rid of.

He did connect with a couple who are about 4 miles from THF and have lots of ironwood trees to get rid of. This will be a change for us as while these trees do make great mushroom bolts, but they, as the name indicates, are a much harder wood. We shall see how our grinder does with them. Ron also had a back up source who agreed to provide 200 sugar maple logs. Emails were sent back and forth. And any of you who have dealt with Ron, know full well that he was very specific and wordy about what he was looking for. Turns out the guy could not read. When Ron contacted him last week to finalize things he was shocked to find out that Ron was expecting sugar maples only and delivery. Gotta love people. According to Cornell’s studies and based on firewood prices, 150 bolts would be worth $180 dollars. We are offering just about double that and you don’t have to chop and split it. All very confusing that people want to sell us their logs but on their terms, not ours. But Ron is extremely persistent and will find someone.

Which brings me to the point of this post. On April 1 we will be holding our 3rd annual mushroom inoculation event. Looking for any and all volunteers to come and help us. Having repeat attendees is a good thing as they will know just what to do, but we are hoping to see some new faces this year. Ron is all about spreading his knowledge around. And free labor.

We will get started at 9 am. Of course Ron and I will be out at THF hours before that. Our fabulous tent will again keep the work stations and workers nice and dry and a burn barrel will be at the ready in case it is colder than expected. Breakfast, lunch, coffee and tea along with snacks will be provided. Along with lots of good conversation, exercise and fun.

There will be no rain/snow date. If a blizzard hits, we might have to postpone. But knowing Ron, he will expect me to be out there with him no matter what. There may yet be a divorce in his future.

Another one of Ron’s whimsy additions to THF. More to come.

Ron’s adventure tour

February 12, 2017Forest Gardenginnyd

He wants me to start this post with mention of banjo music. Just to set the right mood. Back in October we look a week off and headed down to Winston Salem NC to visit my sister, Patty and her husband Doug. Extra bonus was a visit from our sister Mary who drove in from Springfield, MO. The three of us had a wonderful time together.
I had told Ron up front that he and Doug were on their own for this trip. And he did a lot of research to find places they could go. Diners made up the majority of his list. He checked out Yelp for recommendations and made himself a list. I didn’t even bother trying to put a $$ limit on his spending. When it comes to food, with Ron and Doug, there are no limits. The boys like their food.
Ron also had plans to get himself some more ginseng. During his more recent rounds on Youtube, he had discovered a forest farming guru named Robert Eidus. He is the owner of The Eagle Feather Organic Farm located in Marshall, NC. And his home/business is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains bordering the Pisgah National Forest. In boonies to be sure. And about 3 hours from Winston-Salem. Something Ron had not included in his calculations, but he is never one to shy from a challenge. And would never cancel on such a flimsy reason.
To make it worth their while, Yelp was pulled into play again and he found barbecue heaven in Asheville at the Bonfire Barbecue. Their menu listed a ghost pepper sauce too. Doug didn’t even try to talk Ron out of it. He was quite simply, all in.

As we heard the story later, they exited the main highway and all they could see was mountains, trees, and ever narrowing roads. They were driving Ron’s bright red, stand out Transit with orange New York State license plates. How the local peace officers never pulled them over is still a mystery to Ron. Maybe the locals thought they were another version of the pickers from the TV show.

Official directions were:

Turn left at the traffic light, at Lower Brush Creek Road (Gas Station on right). Go one mile to a Stop sign make left onto Sharp Hollow Road. Go approximately one mile to a Stop sign (Barnard Road) and make a left. Follow the winding road over one mile to the French Broad River.

Cross the bridge and turn left, onto Anderson Branch Road. Drive 1.4 miles and then make a left onto gravel road at Indigo Bunting Lane (there will be a lot of mailboxes on the left). Drive up the one-lane gravel road 3/10 of a mile, around a field on your left, and turn right into our driveway. There is no sign. Look for a trailer and farm gate on the left. There are cross ditches along the gravel road so please drive very slowly.

Sure.

Narrow roads turned to gravel, gravel turned to dirt. Even a goat would not attempt to make it up to Eagle Feather Organic Farm. No pictures to share with you as, once again Ron didn’t listen to me and had no camera.

At the top of one hill, there was one sign, a plastic tote lid with directions in magic marker, stating, you’re almost there. With a pack of wild dogs in tow, Doug and Ron edged their way up the “road” and finally to the farm. A goat would have been winded by this jaunt.. Did we mention the Transit doesn’t have 4 wheel drive?

Finally there, and of course, no one is to be found. Tried calling, but of course no cell service for either phone.

Gentle knocking on the door, nothing. Standing around, feeling stupid (he did call ahead for appointment) unwilling to give up, they pounded louder. Some form of life began to stir.

Robert was a very gracious host, full of knowledge and a very eager salesman.

He explained the workshops and tours he offers that further teach and address the natural ways of growing such beneficial herbs as Ginseng, Goldenseal, Black Cohosh, Gotu Kola, and Echinacea, while maintaining a sustainable environment. As the plants are grown in their own habitat, the use of tractors and many other such cash crop farming methods are not necessary.

Doug, sat there listening, polite as always. A true Southern gentleman. Ron, like a deer caught in headlights, nodded in agreement.

Loaded with ginseng seeds and goldenseal roots for planting stock, Ron was in his element.

Reading his mark, Robert further explained for growing ginseng in wooded areas you will need to make a soil amendment that provides a ratio of 75% composted pine bark mulch, and 25% composted bacteria (which can be horse, chicken, turkey manure, veggie compost or worm castings). Convinced, Ron pulled out more cash. I have one word for him – Sucker.

On the way back, barbecue was on the menu. One of the best stops EVER!!!

A few months later the 3 of us were out at THF planting the ginseng seeds in their new location. Mixing the compost and soil to the right consistency, filling the wood frames (reused from last year), scattering seed and tamping it down. Then covering with leaves.

Ron got his hands on a few window screens that we used for extra protection. We have lots of squirrels at THF. A few of our rocks to hold them down, and we were done for the say.

See the brass bed frame in background? That is the start of Ron’s whimsy additions. We brought that back with us from Winston-Salem. A find, courtesy of Doug.

On our way home, we stopped to cut down our Christmas tree. We always go in the Transit so we can fit the tree in. But as it only has two seats, Jo ends up in back with the tree. Ron tends to forget that she is back there and will take a turn a bit faster than he should.

All part of the adventure of living with Ron.

Ron’s long term plans for THF

January 26, 2017Forest Gardenginnyd

Before winter set in on THF, we had a few last items to get done. Ron is still determined to have native and endangered plants growing everywhere he can plant them. Looking to encourage other to grow them too, he wants us to be a source for the plants. Ron has already applied for a NY State nursery license. We already have a few patches of ramps growing wild and last year we planted more along with fairy wand, black cohosh, jack in the pulpit, and ginseng. Sadly we didn’t have great success with any of them. Well, we did get quite a few ginseng plants and Ron transplanted them into individual pots for long term growth. But the squirrels got to the boxes and trashed them thoroughly. We might end up with a few that come back, but no guarantee.

Ron so not a happy camper. He had worked hard trying to get all these plants to grow. With the jack in the pulpit, all the work was done at home. The stratification process added months to his time line and took up valuable space in my refrigerator. They did well under the grow lights in our cellar but once we took them out to the backyard, they were on their own. And nature certainly took its course. After the battles we have had trying to keep our veggies safe, we should have been prepared. This time we left the pots on a rack that was a foot off the ground. Not a good move. The rabbits or squirrels or deer had a field day with the new growth. If we do this again, it will be time to break out the moat and surface to air missiles.

This is me, clearing a spot for more ramp planting. Pretty easy, we just clear a spot, scatter the seeds and then cover again with the leaves. Ron ordered his seeds again from the Ramp Farm in Richwood, WV. A place he really would like to visit. This is a long term plan as it will be 5 to 7 years before we have a crop. That will give me lots of time to come up with ideas on how to use ramps. Two years ago we did harvest some of our wild ramps and gave them a try. Obviously more research needed. Last year, we just let them be.

Ron, once again in his best role. Supervisor and delegator of tasks. To give him is due, he is labeling the flags so we will know where the seeds were scattered and what plants we are hoping for. This will soon (?) be a lovely patch of goldenseal. Ron ordered the seeds from Haw Pond Medicinal Herbs in Princeton, WV. Hopefully they grow better than the fairy wands did. The boxes were moved to be reused for something else. They did not produce the results we had hoped for last year. So we are going old school and trusting that nature works best. But, we did leave the pile of dirt alone, just pulling the box frames off. Maybe we will get something this year.

So here we are. All seeds planted and covered again. Now we just wait to see what happens. One more reason for me to be anxious for spring to get here. Though I am not altogether ready for the work that spring will bring. Ron and his plans. I can foresee many more tired days in my future. Guess I need to stock up on the wine.

Ron’s Pink Pussy Willows – Part Duex

December 10, 2016Our 3 Acresginnyd

Last year Ron ordered and we planted pink pussy willows along the banks of our creek at THF. The instructions were quite clear – weeding was essential. Yeah; we kinda skipped that part. But I hold Ron responsible. I told him we needed to weed, but he would have none of it. Just wanted to get them planted so he could move on to the next project. The result is what you might expect. Not a total loss, but at least half of our plants did not survive. Come spring 2017 we shall see if any of them are still alive.
His plan was to grow them to sell for Valentine’s Day. In a small flower vase with our red twig dogwood branches, he is convinced it would be a winner. Doing more research on pussy willows I have discovered that Palm Sunday is also known as Willow Sunday in the Eastern European Christian Churches. Instead of more traditional palm branches, pussy willows are blessed and then taken home the same way palm branches are. Palms not being something easily grown in the colder climates of Europe. This gives us another market to explore. Utica, NY has a strong Polish community as does Syracuse. But Buffalo, NY is very big into an “interesting” Polish tradition. Dyngus Day celebrates the ending of lent and beginning of Easter. On the Monday after Easter, boys who wanted to attract the attention of their favorite girl would throw water on them and hit their legs with pussy willows. The girls would throw dishes in return the next day. These days water pistols are used instead of buckets and apparently everyone is considered a target.

So this year, Ron decided to take another shot, ordering them again from the Vermont Willow Nursery but taking some precautions. This time, when he got them in he planted them in large potting containers. We kept them in our backyard under our pine tree so we could keep an eye on them. They were up high so our rabbits were not able to eat them.
By May 18th we had buds or leaves showing on almost all of our cuttings. This is looking promising. By November they were strong and ready for planting.

I thought we were going to plant them in the same spot as last year. You know, with willows liking water so much. But Ron wanted to plant them in our field, next to our elderberries. We can keep a better eye on them and it will be much easier to control the weeds. So out came the rolls of weed cloth again. Once again we had to work around the wind. Luckily we have “rots of rocks” laying about the place that we used to tack the long sheets down. We marked off the spacing and Ron got busy cutting slits in the cloth. Then Jo and I dug the needed holes. Not so easy. The rocks, of course were and issue but we had also forgotten to bring an actual shovel with us. The ones we had on site were too big. We found a cheap little trowel and made the best of it. Because the field had been planted with winter wheat, it was a bit easier to do the actual digging.

Did I mention that it was cold? And the wind was not making it any warmer. My elderberries to the right of us are still looking pretty good heading into fall. We didn’t have too much damage from our deer. Fingers crossed that they continue to stay away next year.

The trowel tended to bend every time we used it and we took our gloves off as they got in the way. That made for colder fingers but we worked quicker as a result. Ron had to get involved with his pry bar when we hit another big rock. Which happened more times that we liked.

Cannot really see the bushes that well yet. Especially against the growing wheat. But in a couple of years, they should be lovely. We hope. I have always liked pussy willows, but have never seen the pink ones. I will give the man his due. Once he has an idea, he seldom gives up. I am looking forward to spring. Will Ron’s persistence pay off? We shall see.

Now we’re lumberjacks???

November 12, 2016Mushroomsginnyd

October 21st and 22nd were rainy days. Our area got over an inch of the stuff and then it was very windy. On Sunday we were finally about to get the last couple of steps done with our garlic planting. As we packed up and headed out, Jo spotted this.

A huge tree down on the other side of our creek. At the base it was at least 24 inches in diameter. After the first what the heck, I could see the wheels start turning in Ron’s head. He had already told me that he was planning to try growing other types of mushrooms. He had already done a lot of research and decided that he would try oyster mushrooms and grow them in totem fashion. You need a freshly cut log and that is what Ron now had.
Now we just needed to figure out how to get this particular log cut into chunks we could handle.

On October 29th we finally went out with chainsaw in hand to tackle it. Now that it is fall, we cannot get the early starts we are used to. We now have to wait for the sun to come up and the temps to rise. But we lose so much time. Getting out there after noon means “half the day’s wasted”. Of course Ron tends to say that when it is 7 am and we are not up and heading out the door already.

The first thing we had to do was figure how just how this was going to work. The tree was down, but caught on two other trees. In order to cut it into the needed chunks, we needed to get it safely onto the ground. Ron had his thoughts but I had my own. Luckily he listened to me and decided to start from the lower end. First we had to cut down lots of little trees and pull others that had already fallen down out of the way. They were tripping and snagging hazards that had to be dealt with.

Ron got busy with the chainsaw and soon the tree was down. Unfortunately a good bit of it was not usable as the bark had been pulled off during the fall. We had to look each log over carefully and then get out the measuring tape to be sure we got a 4 foot section.
Once the final cuts were made, Jo and I got to work.

We decided the best way to get them up to our wagon, was to flip them end over end. This was easier on the two of us and worked quite well. Gravity being our solid friend. Still, it was hard work and we burned off lots of calories.

I really need to talk to Fitbit. Why don’t they have chopping down trees and hauling logs listed on their workout options?

I got something out of this for me too. A wood chopping stump. The one we had been using for the past few years has rotted into a pile of wood chips. Now we just have to get this home and into our backyard. Thank goodness for our trailer and 4 wheeler. Otherwise, Jo would be in charge of rolling this up to the car.

We have five logs ready for us to cut into slices and then re-stack making a mushroom spawn sandwich. That will be a story of its own.

We didn’t cut the entire tree down, leaving about a five foot length behind. You can just see it behind all the brush and trees. It was too dicey to try and cut it down. There is a gully right behind those broken stumps. And lots of small downed trees. Not the safest place to be wielding a chainsaw.

I was a bit worried about what was going to happen next. Thinking that the whole root ball would swing back and then drop into our creek.

The following week, we were delighted to see that it had in fact swung back upright. Now Ron is trying to decide what he wants to do with it. Maybe a bird house on it? More ideas are swimming around in his head. He is very much into reusing what we have. Especially when we have to work hard for it.

“There is no such thing as a little garlic.”

October 25, 2016Garlicginnyd

Arthur Baer may have said that, but Ron has taken it to heart and is doubling down on that thought.

Ron and I took a week off from Tiny House Farm and headed to Winston-Salem, NC to visit my sister, Patty. I was on my two weeks vacation from work and just decided that a family trip was needed. As Ron and brother-in-law Doug are best buds, he was all in. As a bonus, older sister Mary was able to join us from Springfield, MO for a few days. Such a good time we had. But that is another story.

We got home on Thursday, Oct 13th and were very glad to be there again. The visit was great, but home is best. We still had a number of things to get done on the farm before the snow flies and even more at home.

Saturday, the 15th was garlic planting day. Ron, Jo and I were up early and got busy splitting the garlic into individual cloves. We were planting 3 different varieties so we had to tackle each one at a time and keep them separated.

This was actually hard work and by the time we had 800 cloves of each variety ready to go, our hands were feeling it. You have to peel most of the wrapper off and then use your thumb to break the head apart. Over and over again. Then we bagged them up, 100 cloves to a bag. As Ron has expansion plans for next year, I can foresee a garlic splitting party in 2017.

Then it was time to pack everything up and head out to THF. This was a two vehicle trip with Ron hauling not only the garlic but his fabulous planting template. He had numerous sessions of thought and planning and then he spent a long afternoon building it.

Brother-in-law Don was already out there and we got everything unloaded and were ready to go. It was 10 am and a bit chilly, but the sun was shining which makes all things better. So odd that we are not getting out to the farm by 6 or 7 am. These later starts are throwing us out of sync.

One box for each row. 800 cloves in each box. This is going to be a long day.

Ron and Don used his dipple to make holes in our lovingly prepared rows. Then Jo and I got busy with the planting. Of course it was not as easy as it sounds. Some of the holes were just the right size and the clove dropped in and were ready to be covered. Most of the time, we had to dig out the hole a bit.

And so it began, we dibbled and planted again and again and again. Moving along each row until the end was reached. I dearly wish I had remembered my knee pads. Because we had picked up so many of the rocks, it wasn’t a matter of hitting those but the constant kneeling that was getting to Jo and me.

And then, two hours later we were done with the three rows. But not with the garlic. We still had a lot waiting to be planted. So Ron got our tiller up and running and we (shudder) tackled a fourth row. This was just going to be a down and dirty row. Tilled up and rock picked until we had enough loosened soil to plant the remaining garlic. Needed to be at least 3 inches deep. At first we were tossing the rocks into the wheelbarrow so we could dump them into the pile. But that was taking too much time. So we just picked up the bigger rocks and tossed them a few feet away.

This was the easiest way for me to pick rocks. Working my way up and down the row while watching for Ron and the tiller. I did end up with lots of dirt in my boots though. Had to stop and empty them out every time I stood up.

Four hours of seriously hard work and we were done. Yea team. We do good work. Now we just have to get each row covered with straw and then with the manure. Then we can sit back and wait for Mother Nature to do her thing. We have from now until next summer to come with up a plan for not only our soon to be huge crop of garlic scapes, but the garlic itself. I can only roast and freeze so much. I really don’t want another freezer in the house.

On Sunday we were all hurting. All that kneeling just did in my legs. It was Wednesday before I stopped feeling the ache when I stood up.

Final steps were going to be taken on Saturday, but Mother Nature said no way. It rained, no, it poured all day long. No way we were going to be shoveling manure that day. At least Jo and I weren’t. Ron, when he has a schedule to keep, I wouldn’t put anything past him. So our plan 3 from outer space was to get the straw and wire laid down on Sunday. It was chilly and very windy that morning and Ron wanted to wait until it hit at least 50 degrees. That took until noon to reach. Then we loaded up and headed out. The straw we had left under a tarp at THF were not going to do the job. Only two of the bales survived, the rest was wet and moldy. And there was not enough of it.

We did one row and then headed home to grab some cash and find ourselves more straw. Ron and I headed to Wagner Farm on Rt 365 in Rome, NY. I had to drag Ron away from the owner; another Ron. They would have been there for hours talking farm talk if I hadn’t. Finally we were back at THF with the 12 bales we needed.

Two bales for each row and then two more for the space in between. We unfurled each row of the wire Ron bought and Jo and I walked the length of them to flatten them out. Then we carefully maneuvered the 50 foot lengths up the row and laid them down. This will keep the straw in place over the winter. We are looking to prevent ground heave and later keep the weeds down too.

And there we are. Four rows of garlic planted and protected. Now all we have to do is get the manure and shovel that on top. The benefits will eek their way down through the straw and, fingers crossed, make our 2017 crop just a lovely as 2016 was.

Far warning to all family and friends. Next October we are having a garlic planting party. Save the date, you will be expected to show up.

Ron Bought The Farm

but Ginny & Jo are paying for it