Hello Farm Friends!
While thinking about my next post/ newsletter, much to my surprise, I found that Dr. Joseph Mercola had done my work for me! The article is based on an interview Mercola had done with a North Dakota farmer, but much of what he says about farming, and the regulatory roadblocks to improvement is relevant here, too:
The only thing in the article that we are not doing here, is grazing the animals year round. I suspect that this North Dakota farm is bigger than mine . . . so sometimes, size does matter. . .
Anyway, having outsourced my newsletter to J. Mercola, we can spend the rest of this one simply having fun!
Spring is here, and ohhhhhhh, the difference it makes! As if on schedule, the first flowers opened sleepy eyes, and the cleavers was green, fresh, and enough of it to harvest. The first wild vegetable, and the last before everything froze, cleaver’s bright green, star-shaped leaves seem to radiate good humour and generosity wherever they are.
However, checking the weather, I see that Spring is planning to do what Spring does best — alternate cold rain and warm sunshine! This is perfect for the plants in our lives. Everyone who helped plant last spring remembers the mud, as sticky as mud can be. The good news is that all that clay held enough water over the dry summer we had, that about 65% of the seedlings we planted seem to have made it! That first year was the hardest for them, so hopefully this year we’ll see some terrific growth.
This year, hazel, chestnut, pine, honey locust, black locust, and oak seeds are being planted, along with some more little-leaf linden seedlings. Hopefully, the fencing will go in during early summer, to allow the sheep and perhaps ponies, to graze on the lovely meadow that now exists. And of course, the quest to improve the irrigation, with many interesting levels, paths and ponds, will begin as soon as the muddy season passes on.
Also of interest —
Please Volunteer: As we head into growing season, please consider volunteering! The farm will need help with mowing and taking care of the herb garden.
Herbal Kits: Speaking of herbs, soon we will be putting together herbal kits, based on local, potent, medicinal herbs!
Events: What events would you like to see at the farm? Some suggestions have been for yoga, or drumming, but the sky is the limit, so please send those suggestions —
If you haven’t seen it yet, contact me to set up a time to see the labyrinth, and stay tuned for more exciting developments!
For more about Cleavers, a handy link: https://superfoodjournal.com/cleavers-galium-aparine-benefits-uses/