Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas Card

Just thought we would share our Christmas card. Merry Christmas!

Tree Time


 We all have those traditions that really make it feel like Christmas. Those baking cookies with grandma, caroling with friends, cocoa and movies snuggled up on the couch kind of traditions. For me that tradition is the getting of the Christmas tree. I don't mean just going up to the attic or the barn loft and dusting off the artificial tree. I mean choosing that one beautiful tree among all trees that will be the center of all the decoration for this season.
In our family the tree choosing starts a few weeks before the 25th. We all meet at my parents. My father sharpens up the ax while the mommas bundle all the babies. I say babies but our babies are much bigger this year. Then we all head out across the field and to the woods. Once we're to the cedar thicket we meander in and out among all the trees, some too skinny in my opinion some with two many holes or bare spots and Daddy always says at least one or two choices are way too big to fit in the house. In the end we all stand gazing at the one tree that has caught our attention and each person says yea or nay. This is the tree! Usually at this point angels from heaven are shining down while singing.
It is now time to cut the tree. While this task always fell to my Father, the last few years he has passed on the actual cutting of the tree to a younger generation. Our Growing Boys are now the fellers of the tree taking turn with the ax as we all watch with pride ready to yell TIMBER.
 
Our lovely little tree is then packed back out of the woods and across the field to the house where it will be trimmed and propped up in the stand.
 
The lights and decorations are hung with care as children play about. We discuss how beautiful the tree is and how it compares to last years.
Usually there is food but always there is the warmth of family
and the fondness of tradition.

 
(This is the tree at Growing Boys Farm, not the same tree as pictured above. I forgot to take a picture of the finished tree from my parents, but this way you can see our tree!)

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Growing Boys with a Camera

The Growing Boys were mulling about in the house wanting to play computer games the other day when I decided to send them out with the camera. I always like to see what they see. What things do they notice through the lens that I might over look. This is one of the pictures that came back. I think it is of the dead bugs trapped in the high tunnel but the colors really grab my attention.
 And...we are still bottle feeding calves.
 

Black Friday Shopping



As one might have guessed I am not a big fan of Black Friday shopping. Don't get me wrong I'm all for getting a great deal and I also would like for the American Economy to be on the up swing. However standing in a cold line for hours to end up fist fighting the lady next to me over a 75% off electronic device does not sound like my idea of fun.
This year we did awake from our turkey induced comma and head out on Black Friday at least the Daddy and the Oldest Growing Boy did. Mostly the drive to go shopping was the need for a water trough. Who knew that the first 3 stores would already be sold out by 8am of water troughs? I guess that was the other hot ticket item this year. Finally at the 4th stop they found something that would work. It's not exactly the galvanized metal one I had imagined but it was a very nice a water trough and a water heater! We were tired of filling endless 5gal buckets of water and packing or pulling them to the barn only to have them frozen and still undrinkable. Since the lower field is still not completely fenced the calves have no access to the creek yet and even when they do we will still need a water source when dividing up the pasture. The other awesome thing about the water trough is that it is fed by the rain barrel that is fed by the gutters on our barn that came from the old roof on our church. I love it when all the parts of a project finally come together even if we did have to shop Black Friday to make it happen.
Photo by Jenneil Harbert www.photographybyjenneil.net

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

New Projects

Every year we try to add something new to the farm. I'm sure at some point we will hit our limit but for now it still seems exciting to try new things. Last year the high tunnel was new and exciting but now that we have a few growing seasons under our belt it was time to look for new projects. Projects, cattle, livestock,  that's what we could call them but the Growing Boys decided to call them Ribeye and Lightning. The two beautiful baby angus bull calves came from family friend's farm. They weren't really ready to take on bottle calves but we knew two little boys who were just itching for the chance.
Ah, Bottle calves. Now that's an experience every tween age child should have. First there was the stall to be built, then fencing to be done. Every morning gallons of water have to be packed and bottles must be made and fed twice a day. Since the boys can't do all this by themselves it made for a little extra work for the grownups here at Growing Boys farm as well. The plan is to raise the calves for beef and hopefully in the end have some extra meat in the freezer and that will make all the work worth it. I don't think I washed and fed this many bottles even when our boys were little.

The other project for this summer was a sort of livestock as well. Although they have become more of  Daddy's babies than any ones. We decided bees would be a natural choice to have around for pollination. A little honey would just be an added bonus. Some friends who tend bees graciously helped us to catch our first swarm and then move them to the Growing Boys Farm. The bees have been busy all summer, yep they were busy bees. We even snuck out a little taste of honey.

  Now as winter is near and the bees and bulls are settled in, I think we will try to spend a few more days cozied up by the fire and a few less days out working on projects.

Friday, May 17, 2013

On All the Bare Spots Plant Seed

Planting, planting, planting. That's what we have been doing lately. We have planted tomatoes inside and out literally 12 different varrities. Sunflowers have been planted as well as the yukon gold potatoes, candy onions, several different varrities of squash, lettuces, herbs, three different types of watermelons, incredible corn, greesy grit beans, blue lake beans, green peppers, fooled ya peppers, and lots of different flowers. Pretty much you name it and we have planted it this season, at least it seems that way. Sometimes I think I just like all those little packets of seed.
Whew at the end of the day we have almost planted every square inch of tilled gound on two farms but what a sense of satisfaction for the Growing Boys Crew.
Now we are in the lull between planting and harvest...oh whait I hear the weeds popping through the ground. I should probably grab a hoe and head back to the garden.



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Springtime on the Farm

It's no surprise that sprintime brings with it a multitude of chores to do around the farm. Planting season is upon us or maybe it's hatching season or for some it's calving season. Whatever season springtime is a busy season. For that very reason the Growing Boys Crew had to divide and conquer this past weekend.
  Daddy and the little man stayed home to handle the Opening Day of Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market and the Tour De Farm event which both went very well. Then there were the 25 baby chicks to pick up and get settled in, the greenhouse to tend to... etc,etc. Momma and the older kiddo headed out of state for a good friends wedding and some time with extended family. The trip was a nice break from daily farm life and a chance to dress up in something other than overalls... although I do love my overalls. I think we can all figure out who got the best end of the deal this weekend.

 

 Our family spends a lot of time together so it was quite an adjustment to be away for a few days but "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and we are very glad to be all back together on the same patch of ground.
Now that we are back things are in full swing. The apple trees are in bloom. Beehives have to be painted and set up because the bees will be arriving soon. Baby chicks have to be watered and fed severalllll times a day. These chicks eat more than a teenage boy. All 350ish tomatoes will hopefully be planted soon if the weather will cooperate.
Oh springtime, did I mention that it's my favorite time of year! By the way, does everybody have this many pictures of their chickens, or is it just us?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Baby Carrots "Ha! get it Baby-Carrots"

 


When I was talking about writing today. The Little Growing Boy ask "What about?" and I said "Baby Carrots". To which he said "Ha! Get it Baby-Carrots?" Yep I get it. Little boy humor can be so funny somtimes. Just incase you're wondering that's where the title came from. 
When our boys were little and it came time to start them on "baby food", I just like most other new moms headed off to the grocery store to stock up on all those little jars. Those EXPENSIVE little jars. Pretty soon I realized that I could make the same thing using a little blender that I already owned and the food I was already cooking. Now several year and a few babies later I'm blessed to be making up a few more batches of "baby food". Yesterday I decided that whle I had use of the amazing new baby bullet (a steal at only $14) I would cook up some peaches, apples, and carrots. You guessed it Baby Carrots.
The baby carrots from our high tunnel are finally big enough to pick and man are they delicious, crip, sweet, fresh...I could go on but you get the picture.  The boys and I picked a few, cooked them untill tender, ran them through the baby bullet and voila baby food. Which by the way my sister's little one gobbled up faster that I could shovel it in. Some of the food was placed in the fridge for eating now and some was put in ice cube trays and froze for later. No extra seasoning was added to the food ie salt, sugar, butter.
It doesn't get any better than delicious, local, natural baby food!


 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Close to Home

 
This week the weather is not cooperating. Blustery does not even begin to describe the blizzard happening outside this "spring" day. The Growing Boys and I need to be planting tomatoes and sunflowers in the hightunnel and all the salad greens are ready for the outside gardens.... Maybe I should just be thankful for one last day to sit by the fire.
 
Today while folding laundry I decided to check out an interview with Brandon Shaerd of Farmstead Meatsmith during the Healthy Living Summit. So many things he says hit close to home for me. He talks about wanting to be with his family not working so far away from home and commuting each day. He talks about the idea that our work could be with our family producing the things that our family needs close to home. I think the quote was something like "bring your sustenance close to home". I like that a lot..so much that I'll say it again "bring your sustenance close to home. Now I know growing your food at home is not for everyone and I'm kindof thankful it's not because then nobody would need to come visit us on Saturday mornings at farmers market but man I enjoy being here on the farm with our crew working day to day to produce healthy and beautiful things. I hope that as you enjoy one last day snuggled up inside that you are also feeling a sense of purpose in the life you are choosing to live and if not that you make the necessary changes and choose to live a life with purpose.   
 
"The ability to produce for yourself is prosperity" Brandon Sheard
 
On a side note all these photos were taken by our youngest Growing Boy. I'm a proud momma, our boys are beginning to turn into young men with thoughts and talents of their own. We are very blessed by them both even when things get crazy and wild.

Monday, March 18, 2013

The Flood and the Mouse

Today at Growing Boys Farm we have a guest blogger. This post was written and photographed by our oldest son, Dalton.
It rained alot. Some times it floods where we can't get out because the creek goes under the drive way. Today the creek did not flood the road so bad that we couldn't get out. The creek was close to our fort and my brother and I were worried about the fort being wahed away in the flood . We make lots of forts when we have free time.

In our high tunnel we have a mouse. It eat's our seeds. My mom is distressed by the mouse, she said "if it eat one more sun flower seed she's gowing to snap". We put down glue traps all though we did not get it. It's too smart, so it thanks.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Mape Syrup and Sour Cream Waffles

 Here on the farm the maple sap has all been collected and boiled down into syrup. Our first experience or should I say experiment with maple syrup went well. The collecting each morning and afternoon was very enjoyable, tracking through the woods with buckets in tow enjoying the quite solitude of nature with only womans best friend by my side. Or there were other days when we all went together as a troop with laughter and noise ringing off the trees. Either way blessings surrounded us as we gatherd the sweet goodness that was just there for the taking. The spare fridge, coolers, buckets and tubs overflowed with sap untill finally there was not another empty container to put it in. Our makeshift fire pit did a nice job of holding in the heat of the wood fire which heated the sap untill it bubbled and boiled turning a rich golden color.  Boiling down the 60 some gallons of sap to make ony 2 1/2 gallons of syrup took a long time but was well worth the effort. Below is our favorite waffle recipe. Thanks to our Nini and her circa 1942 GE waffle iron we all ate waffles with syrup till we almost bust.

Sour Cream Waffle Recipe
5 eggs from free range happy hens
1/2 cup raw sugar or 1/2 cup raw honey
1 cup cultured sour cream or yogurt
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup all purpose unbleached flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Heat up the waffle iron. Combine eggs and sugar, whisk untill blended well. Add sour cream and butter, whisk untill blended. Add flour and cinnamon and whisk again. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron and cook untill the light goes off, or the bell dings, or they look done. Pour hot maple syrup over waffles and enjoy.

 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Maple Syrup...or Sap

It's sugering time here at Growing Boys Farm! Yep we're making maple syrup...hopefully. Our interest was peeked last year as we helped friends boil down their sap one coooold spring day. Since our place is surrounded by maple trees we figured why not give it a try? We read several web sites, several books, and talked to others who have done it. After compiling the information, we headed to the local hardware store to purchace supplies, because you know it would be just too easy for us to order the kit. In true Growing Boys fashion we had to DIY engineer our own system to save money. Long story short the fellas tapped the trees and the sap is flowing. Hopefully there will be picture of hot waffles with maple syrup in the near future.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Coffee, Bread, and Thoughts

School is done for the day and it's not yet time to start supper. So here I sit at the kitchen table with my coffee, my delicious bananna bread and my thoughts, or maybe a better word would be my plans. My plans for the year to come. It seems that the seed companies have given us the nudge to look toward the future with there abundance of seed catalouges that are coming in the mail. A nudge to see one more planting go into the ground and a hope for one more harvest. As I sit thinking with seed catalouge at my side I think not only about the year to come but also about the year that has just passed. I think about the plants and the friends, the work and the laughter, the endless weeds. I wonder if it's worth all the effort and if I was pleased with the outcome. I have food stored away, wood for the fire, two healthy children, and the love of a wonderful companion so of course it was well worth the effort put in. I would not trade these things for a thousand days spent battling the johnson grass (which is the most evil of all the weeds). Then I wonder if the Lord was pleased with our efforts and our stewardship of what he has given us. I think of how grateful I am to have a quite moment to drink coffee, eat bread and think. What are your thoughts for the new year, or the new garden? What seeds must be ordered or what work must be done to make your harvest a good one? Or if your not planting let your farmer know what you would love to have out of the garden so he (or she) knows what to plan for this year.

Pigs

Growing Boys Farm is trying our hand at pigs. Well, actually some friends of ours are growing the pigs for us on their farm since the Growin...