Peach Canning Class; NEW CLASS-Learn To Paint; Another CSA Delivery; Flowers Blooming

If you wonder what we have been doing, you will need to read the previous post.  Fortunately, we did accomplish a few of those projects.

The Peach Canning class was so

darn much fun.  We had almost all new people attend and it was a full house or should I say a full sorting shed kitchen full.  I might add that our farm has a terrific group of farm supporters that attend almost every one of our classes, even attend repeat canning classes.  But this time, we had some new people with skills that ran from very beginners to people who wanted to learn how to can peaches but had done some other types of canning.

We canned two batches of cut up peaches and while those jars were being "canned" in the cookers; we made two batches of peach jam.  At the end of the class, all the jars were divided up so that our fellow canning friends were able to go home with 3 jars each representing their evening work.

Our CSA delivery went well this week with our members getting: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, egg plant, strawberries, peaches, plums and a watermelon in their baskets. We also received several flower orders from our CSA members along with a special flower order from Colorado!!! 

A friend of a local business woman who wanted me to send her a special thank you arrangement.

Not to just have a busy farming week, we had to complicate our lives by having new bedroom carpeting installed.  Have you ever had carpeting installed?  Know what that means?  Everything has to be taken out of the room, including the closet!!!  Now that is work. 

Since the room was empty, it was a good time to paint baseboards and window trim, clean walls, wash windows and screens; dust everything when you put it back.  Love the smell of a freshly painted room with new carpeting!!!

NEW CLASS COMING:  This class is going to be fantastic.  It is an Art Painting Class and we are going to have it in our farm gardens, under our 100 year old walnut tree on the lawn.  The class will be instructed by a retired art teacher, Jeanette Odle, all painting items will be supplied; plus our farm will be hosting not only our farm, but a light brunch for people who attend.  The date is:  Saturday, August 23rd, 10-12noon.  You will go home with a completed canvas, promise!!! And it will be so much fun and you will be amazed at what you learn and how quickly you will learn to paint.  Cost is $45 which includes everything.  Space is limited so if you are interested, email, telephone or Facebook me.  Pre-registration and payment will be necessary so sign up early!!!

Hard to Keep Up With Everything

This is the time of year that it seems to be really hard to keep up with everything. 

The weather is hot so there is the extra watering.  We had a surprise rain storm one night, goodie!!  But that meant all those weeds in the open spaces started to grow. 

After one crop is finished, we like to disc up that section and let the soil rest, so the carrots and beets and onion section was open dirt.  Well it now has weeds.

Everything seems to be growing well, producing like crazy.  Goodie!!!  But that means you have to pick the produce quickly or it is too ripe or too big, too soon.  I can't miss one day.

The bugs are out, the ground squirrels are out, and they are eating the cucumbers.

Speaking of cucumbers, it is time to re-plant so I can have a later crop towards end of summer.

Peppers plants are so full of peppers, they need staking or stringing.  Speaking of peppers, the shade cloth needs to be spread over it as it is so hot, they are getting burned.

The flower gardens look beautiful but one row looks like they need watering but they all get the same drip tape watering.  Upon close examination, there is a break in one of the lines (probably from weeding with the hoe) and most of the row isn't getting water.  That needs fixing.

In the dahlia patch there is too much water, I put too many drip tapes and they are not liking so much water, I need to remove and plug 1-2 rows of the drip tapes.

The weeds are high around the base of the pomegranate and fruit trees, we need to weed wack or weed eat around them-all 250 trees!!

Speaking of the trees, we flood irrigate the trees a couple times a summer and it is time to do that which requires digging trenches, tractor work for Frank.

The pumpkins got planted in 4-200foot rows.  The plants are up and doing well, but so are the weeds.  They are up as high also and need hoeing.  I really hate using black plastic weed cover on rows as horrible on environment, extra work and $$$ when you put it down, a mess at the end of the year to pull up but BOY is it great to not have the weeds.

I need to do some personal canning.  I need to schedule a canning class as everyone is asking for one.

Speaking of classes, I have a "Learn to Make Healthy Smoothies" class set for August 7th, 6-8:00pm if interested.  Great way to use fruits and vegetables to help with various health issues. Sign up if interested.

Classes mean I need to clean up my sorting shed, where I put together our CSA baskets, but also give the canning and various summer classes.  It seems to become a catch all for boxes, baskets, jars, bags, produce let on counters to be put away.  Add that to "the list" to clean it up.

While I am out there, I need to put together some produce to put out front of my self service fruit stand.  People keep coming by but I can't sell produce if I don't have it out there for them!!

Lawns need to be mowed.

Hydrangeas need to be cut so they may get another bloom before fall.

Chicken house needs to be cleaned with new straw put down.  Speaking of chickens, I need to get more feed, I am almost out. 

I have had 3 calls already before 9:00am people wanting to purchase our chicken eggs.

It is Sunday morning, no resting today. Farmers do not have weekends off. 

Off we go to try and scratch a few of these items off of our "to do list".  This is what I would rather do, a wonderful afternoon nap in the shade. NOT!