Bountiful AugustIn early August, local vegetables start with full swing. Many local farmers contributed to our four course dinner in the apple orchard. The students from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts cooked four courses with supervision from instructor, Chef John. It was a fabulous dinner enjoyed by all, including many of the farmers whose farms the students worked on during that week. |
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Summer diversity The summer came slowly, ever slowly. Our last freeze of the spring was after Memorial Day. We delayed planting (because we were so busy with other things, like lambing) and that saved us.
This spring and far into June the winds were spectacular! Our seeds practically blew out of the ground. The evotranspiration rates were outrageously high. All of that stress delayed plant growth even more. One thing for sure, plants know when to keep a low profile. Fortunately we've had plenty of irrigation water this year so we can keep the water going. Back to the ducks. Because of Snowy the Pyr puppy, always curious and hanging about, the ducklings were understandably skittish about leaving the safety of their coup. We finally convinced them to leave the coup and get into the pond. It turns out their caution wasn't misplaced.
After we lost two ducks, possibly to internal injuries as she didn't lay a jaw on them, we decided to find them a new home. Our neighbor, Yvon Gros at Leroux Creek Inn and Vineyards, has a pond with smaller, more mature dogs and we are quite relieved. On a very positive note, our asparagus was served in the best Boulder restuarants this spring. This is the first year we attempted a full harvest, although harvesting was delayed because of cold weather. We're happy it found happy eaters and a way to get over the passes (Thanks, Marilyn!). |
 In early June we used two tractors to drag our hoop house forward on log rollers. Wink and Justin calibrated the tractor speeds in advance.  Justin rotatils the fallow ground now inside the high tunnel.  Tomatoes, basil, peppers, flowers and other plants growing one month later.  This year we are attempting something new — French intensive — in order to produce more feed and less weed in a smaller space. The blocks are 5'x5' and can be reached from all sides. |
We used the goose and duck coup to propagate starts. That was perfect because the wire walls were covered with plastic sheeting to keep the new ducklings warm — a heat lamp at night and duck water humidity— perfect! 
A LGD (Large Guard Dog) is quite a big dog. At 8 months old Snowy weighs 80-90lbs. She gallops, and when she gallops her big paws make quite a thump. When the ducklings ventured out of the pond a week after they took to it like "ducks to water," Snowy was ready to romp all over them as they scattered in panic. "Let's play," she seemed to say. Bad idea.