There are nearly 7000 species of worms on our planet, but the two that we want in our garden are the burrowing and feeding kind. Often referred to as Nature's plow, the burrowing worm aerates the soil, creating horizontal pathways underground. The feeding worms thrive on decaying organic matter and leave rich worm castings behind, providing a wonderful natural fertilizer. The worms pictured above are red wigglers. They live in worm bins in the greenhouse, consume half their weight in kitchen scraps each day and double their population in 90 days! Their favorite foods are the melon rinds and avocado skins, but they'll eat most everything we toss in. Hats off to these hard working friends of our farm!
Merry Christmas!
This fall we planted our "forever" Christmas tree!
How does it know?
How does it know just when to open? This Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti found in the coastal mountains of Brazil. This one spends most of the year on a bottom shelf in the greenhouse, neglected and ignored. But each Christmas, as if by magic, its blooms unfold, creating magnificent color for our holiday table!
Keeping deer out of the orchard...
has been a real challenge this past year. We have been using an inexpensive solution of 25 lb. fishing line strung at 1 foot intervals between 8 foot stakes. When the deer strolls into the line, his automatic reaction is to back up. But not before breaking a line or two. Last weekend I spent hours restringing the "fence." Although the barrier has never been completely "breached" it does require regular attention. Perhaps a real fence is the answer?
Christmas came early to Walnut Hill Farm...
...when Conrad delivered an "insect hotel!" When filled with lots of natural materials, creating nooks and crannies, this bug mansion will provide deluxe accommodations for the beneficial insects, who, in return, will provide pollination and pest predation. Can't wait to "decorate" it! Merry Christmas, Conrad, and thank you!
Delicious addition to our salads all winter long!
A passive hydroponic system in the greenhouse produces a variety of microgreens in less than 2 weeks! This Spicy Micro Mix from Johnny's Seed includes a colorful blend of red and green mustards...and it pairs beautifully with their Mild Micro Mix of Mizuna, Cabbage, Kale, and Kohlrabi.
Buttoned up for winter!
All the beds have been "put to bed" for the winter.
Last harvest
The remaining carrots, beets, and kohlrabi were harvested this weekend and were a wonderful complement to our Thanksgiving dinner!
Last walnut....
is holding on! But all of the others have fallen and these Black Walnut tress are bare. Winter is not far behind!
It's all about the soil...
...and nothing will build up the soil better than rich organic matter. These new bins behind the barn will ensure a steady supply of compost for my beds.
Local Landmark - The Half-Way Tree
This BUR OAK marks the halfway point between LAKE MICHIGAN and the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Paced off by Indian runners and confirmed by U.S.Survey in 1832. (Spring Grove Township - Green County, Wisconsin).
Getting ready to plant the garlic!
BEFORE and AFTER pics! Each of the beds needs to be cleared of all the dead plant debris and prepared for our fall planting of garlic. I am adding 3 inches of mushroom compost to each bed. Couldn't bring myself to rip out the blooms just yet....but when we plant the garlic, we'll switch out the marigolds for some bulbs that will bloom in the spring!
The sunchokes are magnificent!
They finally opened!
What are these plants...
...that tower over us at 10 to 12 feet tall, and fill up half of a 20 foot bed? They are Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus), commonly known as sunchokes. I am growing them at the request of family members who fell in love with the delicate flavor of this root vegetable when traveling in California. It's a species of sunflower native to the eastern part of our country. The tuber should be ready to harvest next summer and, in the meantime, I shall have to content myself to wait for the blooms that should appear before the frost!
Culinary lavender
Here John is selecting lavender for a chocolate lavender cake he's hoping to make! This bed, right outside our front door, makes for a heavenly scent!