Whitsend Market Garden

Hello Everyone, We hope that you are all well and safe.  Like many of you, I would like to be writing that the challenges of last year are behind us.  Instead, I am finding myself reviewing my plans and deadlines for a variety of projects and finding that in addition to all of the potential risks that a farm faces each new season, I have to take into account what lockdowns etc. might pose as far as my supply chains are concerned.

2020 was a good season for our CSA and the development of our new farm in Lanark.  Our goal is to continue to provide a dependable and safe source of food through to the winter of 2022.

The 2021 season will follow a similar format to last year.  Many of the same crops (with a few additions) and products should be available.  As well, we are on a waiting list for a pair of piglets; one farm has us at the top of their waiting list. 

Many of you inquired about our shiitake mushroom project.  Late last fall, we had a consultation and tour with two of our mentors (Tom and Allaine from Elmtree Farm).  They indicated that it was not uncommon for shiitakes to require two years before sprouting.  If so, we just might have some this year. 

All details for the forthcoming season are updated soon on the website.  Seed prices have increased, so I am obliged to increase the share price to $220.00 this year.

If you are interested in taking part in this year’s CSA, please let me know soon.  Our CSA sold out very quickly last year.

If this is your first time taking part in our CSA, please contact me.  I prefer to meet by phone our new customers to ensure there is a match between your expectations and what I am able to provide. 

Please do your best to be kind to one another and extra special thanks to everyone who is contributing in ways they never thought they would have to. 

Bob and Julia

Hello Everyone:  Here is our long awaited late autumn (and early Christmas) addition to the blog.  We hope all of you has had a safe holiday.

I did some baking for the first time in years - lemon cloud cookies.  Here I am making the zest.  

Nice way to do something other than build up the farm and property.  

One project this autumn was the completion of the new fence around the house and part of the property.  The previous fence only enclosed a portion of the house yard.  

Over the course of the winter, we will add some rails to the fence around the driveway area to make them look a little nicer.

The role of the fence is to prevent a (forthcoming) dog from getting out.  In turn, the dog will keep the deer and bears from getting in.

Along the road, I cut corners by using trees. To ensure that the trees do not grow into the page fencing, I used some trimmed ends of the posts.

After the fence was installed, I added an electric line 6" above the page fencing, and then a line of high tensile wire 6" above that.

With the entire house yard enclosed, an area of unused property is now available.  This portion of south facing slope has thin sandy soil.  Our long term goal is to install solar panels here.  

In the meantime, we are planting a wildflower meadow for our bees and other pollinators.  

First, I mowed the wild grasses and cut the sumac saplings.  

Next, I raked up the cuttings and ground thatch to expose the soil.  The grass growth was quite thin owing to a fairly poor sand soil.  I piled up the cuttings to reserve for later.

 

About 48 hours before our first snow fall, I sowed a  seed mix of wild meadow pollinator flowers.

I'll do another sowing as soon as the ground starts to thaw next spring.

The final step will be to redistribute the raked up grass clippings to retain the organic material that this weak soil needs.

While cutting the grass and sumac, I came across a couple of tree seedlings.  

They appear to be a variety of maple.  I placed  some protective fencing around them to prevent rodent damage, and to ensure that I did not accidentally step on the seedlings.

Not all of the work involved hours or days at a time.  The usual seasonal tasks had to be seen to such as wrapping up the bee hives for the cold months.

These "hive wraps" are thin plastic bats filled with an insulating material.  An additional bat of insulation is inserted between the roof and metal weather cover.  

A few other items are checked.  The hives must be tilted forward slightly, to allow any condensation that forms to drain out, and that the insulation has not compromised the screen preventing shrews from entering the hives.

Bees do not hibernate.  Throughout the winter months, bees that are nearing the end of their life cycle will fly out of the hive; others are kicked out by the healthy bees.

During warm spells and in  very early spring, a few will emerge to scout the area and assess whether it is time for the hive to increase it's activity.

For this to happen, access to the pair of entrances is required when the insulation is put on.  

Another task were some improvements on the pig field.

First, I improved my gate - previously just a break in the fencing.  Now I have what is referred to as a "poor man's gate".  A small log is attached to the break in the fencing, and two loops - one at the bottom the other at the top (pictured) hold the fence closed to the end post of the fence.  A little easier to open in the dark or when I am in a hurry.  

I added some additional posts at the corners of each paddock, as the tension from the lines was too much for the portable stakes.

Another autumn task - long term cellar storage for carrots.  

Any roots can be stored this way.

Place a layer of damp, clean sand in the bottom of a large barrel.  Place a layer of carrots.  Ensure that the carrots are not touching.  Repeat the layering of sand and roots.

Keep the sand damp.  Expect the carrots to try to sprout.

Some sources suggest using distilled water.  Not certain why this is, though chlorine from municipal water or minerals from hard water might flavor the roots.  This is just speculation on my part.

One other note, I suggest that you place the thickest carrots on the bottom of the barrel, as these will be less prone to drying out and lasting longer. 

With the basic seasonal tasks finished, I got a head start on some property improvement work.

Previous photos will show the old heap of a fence that once surrounded the lower portion of the A-frame.  

Last year, I dismantled half of it and had the ground graded.  

In the space of a pair of afternoons, I removed most of the remaining fencing and cleaned out the dog house, or pig hutch, or whatever the little structure at the side used to be.  It's next for the crowbar.

I wanted this done before next spring as we want the rest of the ground graded and a drainage swale dug as early as possible next year.

Our long term plan for this area is for keeping livestock - laying chickens, chick hatchery, and a 365 day dog house.

Now that the ground is getting cleared and levelled, I can get a better idea how to plan the layout and then the construction.   

Nothing around here is straightforward.  As the clean-up around the base of the A-Frame started, I had to open the door.  As I did so, the door frame split and the door hinges gave way.  

A closer examination revealed that this was bound to happen soon anyway.  Further poking and probing led to the realization that some mortar work is required.  Another learning curve!

The old ice fridge from the other farm is finally assembled and upright.

Unfortunately, the permanent location is not ready, so I have mounted it on some blocks and turned it into a mouse and precipitation free storage space for items not required until next spring.

Mouse and precipitation free space is always needed around here.  Now I can get some of the bee equipment out of my guitar playing corner of the house!

 

We'll be contacting you very soon about signing up for next years CSA.