What's New On The Farm

It has been such a whirlwind of activity over here and I thought I would

catch you up on all the behind the scenes farm "happenings". 

We finally found the perfect old chippy gate to go between our front and lower garden. 

We were going to have one made, but then I was out looking for a kitchen

island and stumbled up this gate and it was JUST the size we need and included the hardware.

I still haven't found the "perfect" island yet but now we have a gate

 and it keeps the chickens off the patio. 

Which is a HUGE blessing because chickens poop everywhere.

We planted edibles in our front hedge last fall and they are growing great.

Now we are adding more beds out front with bunches of edibles.

Found this cute old wooden crate at For The Love of Old.

Planted it with some rosemary and geraniums

(I like to put those plants together because they like the same amount of water)

put it out front on my bench an added the house number plaque we had made

 years ago in Oaxaca City.

I have now resorted to planting fruit trees in the front yard. A weeping Santa Rosa plum,

a Catalina Plum and an heirloom Plumcot--a cross between a plum and a apricot.

They will all work as pollinators for each other and in the future,

I will make this whole area one big bed.

We have planted four more peach trees and by doing this we have extended our peach season out

to May, June and July. That is a lot of peach pie and jam...yum! 

Our 13 year old apricot tree is blooming...which is a good sign..

because fruit trees only last 15 years or so in the desert.

The little tree to the left is a baby apricot tree, so when my big one

dies, I have more to take its place.

Here are our baby "Desert Gold" peaches

SO excited for peach season!

Our rocket arugula is flowering and going to seed.

I will harvest the seeds, save them and plant again in the fall.

This has been a strange year weather wise for us...

the espalier apple hedge did not lose it leaves.

I am hoping we had enough chill time that it will produce fruit.

All our raised beds are planted, from lettuces, to root veggies,

alums and now pepper, tomatoes and chilies. 

We should be good till mid June and then we are going to let them rest till September.

Here are the "baby" Amerucanas we got in October all grown up!

They should all be laying their blue eggs starting this month.

My last great find was this tool box I also found at For The Love of Old

and planted geraniums in it.  I don't do many annual anymore but I like them in

pots on my front porch and back patio.  To add a little splash of color.

For The Love of Old are going to be vendors in our March 24 Flea/Farmers Market, btw.

So excited to have them with us and to see their treasures.

I'll be posting more about the market during these next few weeks.