A belated photo-tour of the farm, the calf running around outside, and some other stuff like husk cherries

Chickens went much more smoothly this morning. We got exactly two dozen, which was great because then we could sand them (not wash--more on this later) and put them out in the farm stand. But then I dropped one on the table while we were sanding. Whoops.

Anyway, my sister Ande has requested I show general pictures of the farm so she can get the feel for it. What a good idea!

 OK so here is the view up the driveway, which leads to the red farmhouse in the background, and in the foreground is the farm stand. 

I think my camera is level and the farm stand is crooked. I think...

The farm stand is where the CSA customers come and pick up their milk on their designated day. There is also public sale milk there where people by via the honor box, as well as some cards which are made by Sally’s partner, and some jams and honey that are made by locals. 

Honor box, information about raw milk and various notices

As you walk up the driveway, there is a nice pasture to the left where there are some chickens with a coop (partially obscured by the trees on the left) and some cows when they are out grazing (the cow Mercy is in the center).

If you keep walking past the pasture, the barn will be on your left. It is old—originally built in the 1700s and then restructured or something in the early 1900s.

A better picture of the barn--the cows go throw that door on the side

And the house is on your right. It was built in 1779.

 

Beyond the driveway is the vegetable garden, then some fields which slopes down into a river bed which we are currently building a little boardwalk over (swamp carpentry!) that leads into the woods beyond. Apparently there is a nice trail that ends at a waterfall over on the other side, I shall investigate as soon as the boardwalk is built...

a picture of the house with the tree and picnic tables in the center (between the house and the barn)

 

And that concludes the photo-tour. It's a small cute farm/homestead!

OK so pictures of the calf running around:

he's fast!

 

Cute right? Right.

Today we went over to Sally's friend Sharon's to help out with some farm work. We weeded and harvested! I was very envious of her tomato harvest.

Just one of many baskets--they make lots of preserves with it.

Also, husk cherries! Or ground cherries or husk tomatoes. I don't have a picture of them non-dried, but you can google it. They are pretty yummy and expensive if you see them at the farmers market, despite the fact that they are not hard to harvest (just take one its branches and shake it, and whatever falls off is ripe) nor hard to grow (healthy plants will produce a fair few.) But Sharon and her partner use their dehydrator and dry them and good lord, are they delicious that way. Kind of like a savory raisin with a bright acidic flavor.

ugly but delicious (also the name of my food blog if I had one)

Lastly, Sharon's partner made us apple cake before we left and, good god, it was one of the best things I've ever eaten, but now apple cake I make will be far inferior, which is a sad thought.

Also, just something I have to get out there for my general sanity: blogger/blogspot is a horrible horrible blog platform and a complete pain in the ass in every single way, so if you ever start a blog don't use this one, especially if you want to do any sort of custom-design to the layout because it won't work. Just know that behind every post is a whole slew of expletives because it drives me crazy!!! Ah!!!!