May 28 - BZ Buttercup and Candystick Delicata starts transplanted into mulch.
Folks!
Here's a chronicle in pictures of some of the goings on here at the BZ Farm starting in March 2022 and updated when we can.
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May 28 - Tomato starts transplanted into hoophouse.
Ovewintered rye cover crop, just about as tall as Chrys. Flowering now. We're going to try a method described by Maine organic farmer Eliot Coleman in the April 2026 issue of Acres USA magazine whereby you leave the covercrop in place long enough to set seed in late summer, then mow it down and allow it to reseed for yet another overwintering cover crop. Till it in the following spring and let it decompose for warm-season crop planting.
Remember those ugly over-wintered cabbages? Well here they are in full bloom. This will be pir Penn State Green Ballhead Cabbage seed crop later this summer.
Pickling cukes transplanted. Some bush Butternut squash will also go in this bed as a trial crop.
Transplanting peppers into mulch in the hoophouse. Note the drip line under the mulch. We use drip line that has the emitters within the tubing. We like this kind because it is durable and can last well over ten years (1/2" Emitter Tubing: 1/2" poly tubing with pressure-compensating emitters pre-installed every 9, 12, 18, 24 or 36 inches. It is great for long rows on hilly or flat terrain and is commonly used in orchards, vineyards, hedgerows and landscapes. - dripworks.com). Some drip line is so thin and flimsy it's only good for one season and some farmers actually just till it in when the season is over. Yuk! The stuff we use can be reused over and over. It costs more, but if we're going to buy something made of plastic we prefer a durable, long-lasting product. Also, we space our peppers 12" apart and the emitter tubing we use has emitters spaced 12" apart so each pepper can have its own emitter.
The soil in the hoophouse has been fed with a mixture of compost, wood ashes and locally-sourced rock dust. Then we lay out the drip lines and put mulch over that before transplanting. We overhead water to wake up the soil life (it's dry in the hoopy over the winter), wait a week or so and then transplanting can start.
Here is Buckie modeling the home-made Ulor, or anti-breeding apron.
Home-made Ulor, or anti-breeding apron for our billy goat. The Masai people of Africa originated this device. This way the billy can be in with the does at all times. Everyone is happier when they're together and we can control when breeding takes place so that the kids don't arrive too early next year when the weather is still so cold and the yearling doesn't get knocked up before she's big enough to endure a safe birth (at two years old).
Tomato stakes driven in. Drip line in place. Mulch next.
Thanks to Frog we have a bevy of sturdy pepper starts.
Raven the doeling is in with the big goats now.
Potatoes all planted, May 22.
Mother and daughter.
Buckie and Raven.
The soil in the hoophouse has been fed with a mixture of compost, wood ashes and locally-sourced rock dust.
Now the goats can begin to enjoy fresh greens after a winter of dry alfalfa hay.