As we transition from the last days of Spring into warmer days of Summer, the work is just beginning on the homestead! Here’s a bit of what my week held…
Our orchard is complete for now with 23 fruit and nut trees in place. Apples, pears, cherries, plums and hazelnuts are included and it has taken us three years to get the orchard to this point.
Next week, look for a post about “How to Properly Plant a Fruit Tree”!
It takes about 3 years to render fruit from a fruit-bearing plant. About a half-dozen of our trees are third year, another 6 or so are second year, so I am very excited about what we’ll have to can and preserve this summer and fall! Lord knows that I’ve worked myself silly trying to keep them covered through “frosty” nights!
Our meat chickens are growing like crazy, here they are at about 4 days old….
and now at 4 weeks old. Isn’t that crazy how fast they grow?? Three more weeks until they will be processed.
Predators have been our greatest challenge with this batch of birds, we lost 3 more this week alone. Very frustrating as there is NO predator proof chicken tractor/coop. You have to remember that the predators have all night long to figure out a way into your coop. And when they give up, the hawks wake up and begin plotting. It’s a tough battle.
This meat chicken experience has given me a new appreciation for what farmers do. From trying to keep these birds alive for 7-8 weeks, protecting them from themselves (they like to escape as well as pick on teach other) and their antics, fixing/repairing coops/tractors, feeding them, etc., I have thought to myself these last weeks how grateful we should be that chicken isn’t $20 a pound! It’s a BIG job!
How easy it is to just show up at the store and buy our food. Until you get really close to the origin of our food, you cannot understand what a blessing it is that it’s available for us to merely purchase.
Construction on the barn continues…and continues…..a few of you have asked about the progress of the summer kitchen, so I thought you might like to see it’s current state. We’re getting there!
We hope to have the barn project complete within 45-60 days, it’s been quite a journey. I must say, however, that we’ve learned so much. We are truly looking forward to getting back to the “business of living”!
Introducing “Flappy”, one of our Golden Comets. I just love these girls. She’s one of the hens that comes to greet me first when I come out to feed. So cute.
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How was YOUR week? I would love to hear about it!
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Have a blessed weekend!
You too, Clint!
That’s a busy week! Fridays are supposed to be my “easy” days, but it seems they are jam-packed with things to do. No worries though, I feel fulfilled. No doubt you do too. Enjoy your weekend, Kelly!
Daisy, I hope your weekend is productive as well!!
It looks good!
We had a bad, bad frost last night and probably lost a lot of the year’s fruit–at least the pears and Manchurian apricots.
Our chickens are not even ordered yet this year; it’s amazing how big yours are already, and how high your grass is! Climate is a huge factor.
Enjoy your barn building and your summer kitchen.
Annie Kate,
You couldn’t be more correct about climate! This time last year, we were dealing with 12″ more rain than was normal for our area and nothing was planted until almost June!! Crazy!
I’d love to have a fruit orchard! Maybe one of these years. We’re also trying meat birds for the first time this year, amazing how fast they grow! Have a great weekend!
Hey Nancy,
Certainly, these meat birds have been an education! Orchards take time, yours will come!