A Name  July, 2012  by Mary

Our farm was advertised as Woodland Springs, but has also picked up the name Hobbyfarmhoneymoon from our journal.  Recently, Todd suggested that maybe the name should include "Berry Farm" since we have been harvesting quite a variety this spring.   The berry picking started with the June strawberries which were ready in May, and we just finished picking and processing gooseberries.  Our raspberries are almost ripe, and the blackberries are ongoing.  In the wild, mulberries have been abundant, and the elderberries will soon be ready.

This variety of food we have is the answer to our dream.  http://hobbyfarmhoneymoon.yolasite.com/dream-planning.php  I was just as excited to freeze rhubarb this spring as last, and was delighted to learn that Nancy had made horseradish again and was using chives in a recipe while we were there.  I can't wait until next spring to have lots of asparagus.  There is also Todd's beautiful field garden with the corn, potatoes, pumpkins, squash and green beans, and Nancy's kitchen garden full of tomatoes, peppers, and onions.  The list goes on and on.  It is the ''farmer blood" I've inherited, my mother's stubborn independence, and a love for growing things.  

I need to give credit to those always willing to do what it takes to get these different crops.  My mother would never have had willing men to put netting over berry beds, or stake up the asparagus that was trying to cover the strawberries.  But whenever something needs doing, "my men" stop their preferred jobs and get it done.  Nancy and Erin are always willing helpers, too.

Back to the berries.  We are not giving up on blueberries, but they are barely surviving.  Although I did as instructed, a soil test showed we need to do more.  Larry raked up a large bag of pine needles from under our neighbor's trees this week, and we are going to soak them and make "tea" to pour around the plants before we add more needles as mulch.  But I am concerned that it is just too hot on our farm for blueberries, and wish we had planted them in partial shade.  I remind myself that not everything is suitable to our soil and climate, and not everything will grow and flourish.  But I don't like it!

Applesauce: One day it was 112 degrees on the tree shaded, screened-in porch.  I don't know how hot it was in the sun, but the plant life suffered.  Many  blackberries that were ripening at the time, had brown, dried areas, and some apples have sunburned spots.  Just how long would apples need to bake on a tree before turning to applesauce?!    

Gooseberries:  Easy to pick - tedious to clean. I'm looking forward to gooseberry crisp!


The extreme heat dried up many berries,
and turned them brown.

Blackberries:  The three thornless bushes have produced abundant large berries, and more are setting on.  
We may decide to replace some of the thorny bushes with something else, as the berries are smaller and more difficult to pick.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The drought
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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