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| Well, it was an idea. |
Last month we were getting into the Indian summer portion of the year. We went up to get everything ship shape before the rain and chilly weather starts, and our local guy with a Kubota came over to mow the rest of the acre so we have a clean slate. I got most of the weeding done, but there's still more to do. And for anyone who wondered, no, the felt collars I tried out on some of the babies did NOT hold back the green invasion. Oh well, it seems just staying on top of it is really the only defense. I have said before that there's not much to do during the summer besides water when it hasn't rained, but when it does rain... be ready to spend several months clearing up the rain-happy weeds.
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| Checking on the 3 year olds getting all bare and colorful. |
This month fall has arrived, the leaves in the mountains are rapidly changing and the willow is beginning to change as well. The golden varieties are nearly all bare and the yellow-gold stems are on parade. We will likely start cutting those first. I have noticed that Belgian Red has done very poorly this year, both first and second year olds. Maybe not as drought tolerant than the others? I probably won't have any of those to sell this year, and I will need to find another spot to give them a better chance. The Brittany Green babies have miraculously kept growing so - maybe some to sell next year! The plot we planted with the new varieties - 10 each of 2 purpureas, 2 fragilis, 2 triandas and 1 daphnoides - has been taken over by grass hummocks and weeds and isn't doing so well. I've lost several and likely will need a second year to see if any do well here.
Meanwhile I've been ignoring my 2 and 3 year olds, and the landscape varieties have gotten a second year under their belt before their first harvest. The Miyabeanas have grown another 5-8 ft and Rubykins are still fully green. All of the babies I planted earliest this year are hanging in there so the fails won't be too many. You get some wins and some losses, but this year, I hope these sturdy and quick growing willows get some attention!
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| Gravel pad, almost ready for occupation. |
We are getting a new extension of our parking area, big enough to hold an RV pad. I have (frequently, constantly) complained about the drag that living 1+ hours away creates when there's lots of work to be done on the farm. Hopefully, this year we can stay there for a few days at a time, There is also a shed pad as part of the extension, so less need for constantly hauling equipment back and forth. I am planning for enough room for a future tractor and a carport for repair and reno projects. Gotta have room for dried rods too. Everything gets done, if you give it enough time!
Not much else to say right now. This weekend we are taking a much needed break and going to SAFF. Next week the real work begins! Look for the shopping site opening on Nov 1st!