On the fourth day of Christmas + Garden State

2016 brought promising progress in the garden department of Edgewood Farm.

A whole new wing with three more raised beds was added + a drip irrigation system. Val contributed the soil as per usual.

We had 21 inches of rain in one thirty day period at the start of the summer. That totally justified raising all the beds (but not the new irrigation lol).

There was a healthy first try harvest of fall planted garlic.

All the winter crops do well in our climate. This basket is full of Tuscan kale and beet goodness.

Tried to grow squash, with moderate success - it is notoriously hard to grow in our high humidity. I test drove row covers for the new crops. If the humidity doesn't get the squash, the dreaded vine borers will. Timing is everything, but at least now I can identify the moth. Hoping for better luck next year.

My hen Margie (named after a great aunt) became my bug hunting buddy. She would race to the garden gate when I called her, and follow me around as I picked pests off the plants. Her favorites were the tomato horn worms.

Not all bugs are bad...

Happy harvest :D

✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶

  ♫♪♬ On the fourth day of Christmas... ♫♪♬

  

In the Arena #159 - Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you...

Having not yet solved the puzzle of how to get Val out on the trail again, and more importantly who to do it with, I've resorted to borrowing ponies who aren't as locationally challenged. Here's documentation of some excursions outside the confines of the sandbox.

I did a number of rides solo, one solo ride with a horse I'd never ridden before, and there was lots of cantering. (!) Yes - on a couple of these rides there was no helmet on my head. Please don't judge - I haven't made it a habit.

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎

                                                            ♬♪♫ On the Fifth Day of Christmas... ♬♪♫

                       

At the Farmette #12 - Just another day in paradise...

The farmette is located on a tiny barrier island in the Atlantic. I feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. There are great views everywhere you turn. Here is a sampling from 2015...

✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎✴︎


                                    ♬♪♫ On the Fourth Day of Christmas... ♬♪♫