Farmer Karen checks the compost

Composting, like many farm tasks, requires a certain degree of precision. This is a photo of Farmer Karen taking temperature readings of one of our compost windrows to determine when the windrow should be turned.

Some of our helpers

We have been very lucky this summer to have some wonderful volunteer helpers. Dan, Emily, and Peter have been coming to the farm 3 days each week, and helping us with many farm chores. The first picture (top) is Peter, the center is Emily, and the bottom is Dan, driving our 1946 Farmall tractor. Thank you all for sharing your time (and muscles) with us this summer!

Raspberries are looking good!

If you look closely, you can see my hands are full of ripe and ready raspberries. This is a crop we grow in two different ways. In this picture, I'm standing in the outdoor row- we also grow several varieties in our high tunnel. The high tunnel allows us to get greater yields in a more controlled environment. We have installed irrigation tubing in the high tunnel as well, so the berries are always carefully watered. While we harvest the berries from the high tunnel, we offer most of the outdoor berries as a pick your own crop for our csa members. Ask us about it the next time you stop by!
Jeff

We need your help!

We are trying to update our office, and could use some donations. Do you have an old computer that you would like to get rid of? I've listed the specs we are looking for. If you have anything you would like to pass on, please email me at farmspecialorder@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Mac G5 or Intel processor, with monitor, keyboard, mouse. 1gb ram, OSX 10.4 or better.
PC Running Windows XP 1gb ram
PC Running Windows Vista, 2gb ram

(For those who are interested, we are currently operating with a Pentium III 450mhz running windows 2000 professional.)

Sometimes things just break..... and then you fix them

A few days ago I went to turn the compost piles for the first time this year. Oops, flat tire on the compost turner. At first we thought we would have to get a tire service out to repair it, but, thanks to Sonny, we were able to get the tire and rim off the machine and into the pickup truck. I took it up to Martin's Tire in Churchtown, and then was able to pick it up this morning. As of about 11am it's back on and the compost turner is ready to go as soon as things dry up a bit. For any of you live near the farm, I have to reccomend Martin's. They are the least expensive place I've found to buy tires, and their service is great! Shoot me an email if you want their number.
Jeff

Where do the #3 peaches go?

Well, sometimes we just put them on the compost pile, but lately we have been feeding them to the chickens! We have a small pastured laying hen operation, and we often feed the girls vegetable scraps, and now peaches, in addition to the grass and insects they normaly enjoy! Though we do feed them a daily ration of layer mash from the feed mill, these fruit and vegetable treats really make the difference for these girls. And when it comes to the eggs, well, you can Taste The Difference!

Sweet Corn and Apples

The sweet corn is up and growing well!(A little weedy though) It recently "tassled" and "silked" meaning that we are not far from picking. This is an exciting moment for us! Also, we recently picked our Lodi apple tree, giving us 3 bushels of great sauce apples. Let us know if you'd like some, they won't last long!

Day of the Peaches

Today is a peach picking day. We generally pick peaches every other day, then sort them into first quality, second quality, and third quality. The thirds are usually sent right to the compost pile. Firsts are the peaches you see in your weekly share, seconds are peaches with some blemish that we will sell at a greatly reduced price. The seconds are also the peaches we make our peach butter and peach ice cream from.

At the begining.....

Well, here it is. The very first post of the soon to be famous Vollmecke Orchards & CSA blog. It's 11:30pm (I can't sleep tonight) and I thought I'd just get this going. Tomorrow is a peach picking day, so I am going back to bed.
Jeff