Farm Tour

This page is incomplete. My intention is to have a photo tour with explanations mixed with a sort of “glossary” with pictures to explain what things are and look like. For now, as I come across things that I hope to explain and expand on I am setting up the page so the links at least work.  Click on the pictures for a bigger, clearer version.

To check out some areal photos of the farm click here

Around the Farm

The Barn – Is the center of activity these days, though it is in tough competition with the greenhouse.  The cattle, horses and laying chickens all live in the barn, as well as three barn cats.  The barn has three levels.  On the bottom level is where the all the animals live.  To the right you can see the four horse stalls that are occupied by Sharlene, Nate, Pete and Peg (from left to right).  I’m they would object to this unflattering photo of their back sides, since they are still a bit out-of-shape, it still being spring and all, but internet is still a bit spotty down in the barn.  Behind the horses is where the laying chickens roost, though they roam freely around the farm, mostly picking at hidden treasures in the various manure piles they find.  Then past the horses is where the cattle are.  They have a large indoor area, as well as an outside yard that they always have access to.  Pictured to the right are some new calves we just bought from our Amish neighbor, which we will finish on our pastures this summer.

The Cucumber Hoop-house – We have two hoop-houses, and they are one, 100 ft hoop house divided into two separate ones.  They sit over a piece of the garden and provide insulation from extreme cold, as well as protection from wind and harsh rains.  It is sort of like a luxury hotel for plants.  To the right is a picture of the inside of the hoop-house.  The orange ropes hanging from the roof supports are lines that cucumbers (or tomatoes depending on the population of the hoop-house) can climb up, increasing production per square foot, as well as making picking much less back-breaking.  I would also like to add that it was no small task getting these beds weed-free and planted to neatly.  I will soon have a garden page up with a map of all the planting we have done, the whats, wheres and whens, but for now: you can see in the picture rows of radishes onions and corn salad in the right-hand bed, then two double rows of peas to the left, then an empty bed except for a thin row of parsley with a bed of mixed greens at the end, then a mix of brasicas, and the final bed of lettuces to the right.

Greenhouse – where we start so much.

The Mow (pronounced like now, not like the verb to cut grass) – the upper part of the barn where hay is stored.  The picture to the right is what is left of this years hay stacked in the eastern section of the barn. We pull the bales from the top down leaving the step formation so we can always get to the top. Sometimes the stairs have hidden holes in them.  To the right is a picture take when I’m standing at the top of the hay (as pictured to the left) and you can see how much hay we’ve used over the winter.

The Shed – Where farm equipment, machinery and tools are kept.  The picture to the right is taken facing northwest down the lane towards Creekline Rd.  Inside, as pictured to the right,  can be seen the new round baler in the foreground to the right, and the gravity box is to the left.  Just to the right of the baler is the box-stall where the chickens currently chirp, eat and sleep.