April recap - all in two week's time...

In my haste writing the last post, I forgot to include two things. The one is not all that noteworthy - we planted our onions and shallots prior to the other main spring planting that was reported on in that last post. But the other thing definitely needs to make it into the scrapbook. Our kids love April Fool's Day and this year it was Kali who took the prize for best joke. Without us knowing, she took it upon herself to send the following text to our dear friends, Jonathan and Christen: "Hey there, quick question: you all wouldn't by any chance be interested in raising a water buffalo with us? Friends of ours are moving and have a calf they need to find a home for and were asking us if we wanted it. We don't really have a good pasture for it on our land but thought it could be an option for you to keep it down at your place and have us pay for feed/supplies? Not assuming you're interested; just wanted to check before we turned it down"

When they read it, they immediately said, "This is so Jason!" and when Jason read it he said, "I feel so seen by my daughter!" The best part is that while our friends thought it as a bit far fetched, they did in fact believe it was from Jason and was a serious request, replying with, "Ha, oh my gosh how often can I say, 'yeah my friends texted and asked if I want to go in on a water buffalo' very intriguing proposition..." In the end they turned it down, but not after doing a big of google research and talking it over with a friend they were traveling with at the time. Way to go, Kali! It provided us with a good number of laughs, and I will admit to being much more into Kali's jokes than Jason feeling pleased with himself all day long as he move furniture to odd places, turned lamp shades upside down, put garden flags in flower arrangements, hid things in people's bed, etc...

But the first of April is a distant memory now... Here's a photo walk through the past two weeks! I know it doesn't appear that I showed any restraint, but there were so many more photos to choose from:

So grateful that 5 of the 8 members of our Tangly Woods pod are now fully vaccinated. Kali is now halfway there and will get her second Pfizer shot at the end of this month. She'll need to get used to being a pin cushion as she'll be getting a whole host of additional vaccinations as she prepares for her trip to the Philippines this fall. Taking her to apply for her passport this week made it seem very real!

In the last two weeks, we hosted two outdoor farm tours. The first was for EMU's Sustainable Food Initiative, where I serve as club advisor (the second was for the Radical Roots 2021 apprentices). Terah was very eager to show them her chickens!

Both visits felt like a good perspective-offering events for me. I realize that having others look in on what we are doing and having the chance to (try to) articulate it, provides an opportunity for me/us to step back and do a bit of reflection. Also, trying to share in 2 hours everything we are up to is exhausting, and that's just talking about it!

We enjoyed both the tour around but then also the lawn chat where we dove more into the philosophy behind what we do and how privilege and power and access and values all fit into the choices we make. It felt good to be able to do a few group things in ways that felt comfortable and safe. 

We also enjoyed a hike with friends and picnic up by Hensley's Pond. The length of time between visits with friends who have children is marked by the inches kids seem to grow between times together. 

Speaking of things growing, the crop of garlic mustard was starting to stand out so this past Tuesday morning we had the Tangly Woods' pod Great Garlic Mustard pull! We split into pairs and attempted to walk over our land and the driveway and pull as much garlic mustard as we could. Alida and I took the driveway and that kept us busy for quite some time, filling 3 five gallon buckets.

We took the time to pick off enough leaves for Mom to make a batch of garlic mustard rolls. 

Otherwise, we spread it on the pad to dry and then yesterday I heaped it around the grape vines in the root patch to add some additional fertility! It felt so good to have a whole day at home yesterday. After another long week of up and down days as I continue to navigate Lyme disease treatment and the uncertainties surrounding it, it felt so very good to be outside and working with Jason on the land (even if some parts of me are complaining a bit today). In the evening, we did something we haven't done during Covid; we went to an outdoor theater performance. EMU put on the musical Shrek and we enjoyed it from a blanket on the lawn.

The day prior also had some Covid-firsts! The girls joined me for town errands and Alida cashed in a birthday coupon of a trip to Kline's for ice cream and a library visit for books. We surrounded those two stops with a dozen or so others. 

All was well until we got home and I could not find the clipboard with the errands list and all the other papers I had accumulated along the way, including a good number with personal information (like passport application things, bank stuff, medical bills, etc...). Before long, in addition to said clipboard, we could not locate Kali's two thick library books. And then yesterday morning I realized my one and only sun hat and favorite sweatshirt were no where to be found. As you can see, we were a little jammed in the car and at our last stop I had to do some rearranging to fit the two pieces of furniture in that were being returned to us. After racking my brain for two days the only thing I can think of is that I stuffed those things in a bag and pulled it out of the car during the rearranging and never returned it and drove away. And someone came along and took it - either permanently or with intentions to return it (still hoping for the latter but my hope fades with each passing day). So I'm trying to be thankful for all the things that did come home with us. Terah is at least well stocked with library books and there are some I'm eager to read the next time I'm the one she chooses to ask, "Will you read a book to me?"

Ok, time to back up a bit. Sorry for the whiplash on this April meander, but I skipped over quite a bit of gardening and chicken and flower updates, so here goes. For starters, the potatoes are planted! We tried something new this year, which was to cut up the potatoes the day before to let them dry/heal over a bit before planting. A successful gardening friend gave that tip. Time will tell, as they haven't sprouted yet, but I'm eager to welcome those first green sprouts!

So we did the potato system that has become our yearly go-to approach. Jason worked hard over the course of a number of days to dig the deep potato trenches. The rest of us came into the picture when the physical labor got easier! First we spread biochar in the trenches. Next we put a bit of soil over the char. Next we planted the potatoes and finally covered with soil. Anytime there were extra hands looking for something to do, those hands could easily be occupied picking up rocks to cart out of the patch! 

Once the biochar pit is emptied, a really fun yearly task I never want to miss becomes possible. Where the old brush pile was, we go and scoop up the beautiful forest floor duff and fill up the pit. It sits there being a sponge for rainfall and nutrients and then in the fall we'll empty it onto raspberries and other things in preparation for the next biochar burn. Yes, more of us doing what we do best: just moving things around!

When I head outside right now, my senses are often overloaded with the beauty all around me. The up close of individual flowers and new things shooting up and out. And the view of the mountain greeting us in the distance. When I have a camera in hand, here's some of what I've been drawn to!

Every time I walk past the the pea beds in the inner garden, I always want to say, "hi peas!"

Often when we come out to garden, Terah will take a stint as photographer. I'm always surprised at what I find when I download pictures. This time, she had some of the best pictures of dandelions I've ever seen!

When possible now, so our eyes can feast on the colors around us, we eat outside! 

And, as much as possible, we include spinach, red buds and violets!

Another new thing we are trying this year is starting the girls' popcorn inside (especially Alida and Terah's, which grow in gardens where seed-stealing chipmunks love to roam). In preparation for that, the final "taste testing" on their popcorn took place so they had the best possible diversity in their seed supply. The germination was right around 100% so hopefully they will get a good stand of corn this year!

We are enjoying foods familiar to us and new foods, almost on a weekly basis. This week's treat was Tala cooking a feast for us featuring Lumpia. They were so delicious - a fried spring roll type food with a savory meat and veggie filling wrapped in a thin crepe-like pastry wrapper. Yum!

Well, it's about time to wrap this up before Jason and I head out for a hike. All three gals are still in bed, but there's more stirring. Last night I dreamed that Alida and Terah's bedroom was in the arch coop. Somehow despite living with the chickens, their beds seemed to not get dusty. Amazing and impossible - as dreams often are. It's not surprising that my dreams placed those two gals with chickens! And that chickens are finding their way into my dreams. Here's some of what's around us right now:

I will close with some of the most recent weeding! We got the tool and hand weeding done on the garlic, and applied chicken compost from the composting chicken coop - another very fun family job. 

If plants can smile, I think the garlic was when we were done! I know I was!! I do enjoy the spring weeding rounds. Jason and I did the herb garden together yesterday before the kids woke. We are transitioning that hot dry spot away from annual plantings and into perennial beds. The oregano and onions chives and fennel are doing their thing very expertly! It does feel good when we learn enough and pay close enough attention to match as best we can a spot with a plant that can thrive there!

If you made it to the end, congratulations!

Springtime at Tangly Woods

9 p.m. Another Sunday evening has come around. Tala and Kali are playing Rook in the front room (I hear the occasional eruption of laughter). Jason and Alida are enjoying some fireside time together down at the fire ring (Alida is likely burning leaves and bits of paper and enjoying chatting uninterrupted with her daddy). And I'm laying here in Terah's bed with her as she falls asleep. This gals goes hard until she is ready to crash, and will ask to go to bed. It wasn't an hour ago that she was doing her silly laugh by the fire. She's a bundle of energy and sweetness, with lots of it to share with those around her!

Since I last wrote, it feels like spring has really come to our little corner of the world (despite having two hard freezes at night this week - time will tell if there are any peaches this year). Tangly Woods feels a bit more complete again with us welcoming three young American Guinea Hogs this week. I didn't realize quite how much I was missing that familiar oinking sound. This trio is 8 or so months old, but it's a slow growing breed so they are still small. They truly are like very round sausages with legs. They are very good natured and seem to be acclimating just fine to life on Fruit Farm Lane. We are glad they have joined us for the year. They have started making their way through the nut grove doing what pigs do best. And as the spring weeding rounds start, it's fun to have a place to go with weeds. Right now we are feeding them so much slop that they are a bit more choosy on what weeds they will eat. Still, it is really fun to see them tearing into a favorite, like dandelion!

We continue to hatch new chicks out every two weeks. After brooding the first hatch indoors, the second batch went right under a mama hen. They are now at home in the arch coop and doing great. For the most recent hatch, we didn't have a broody hen ready for them, so we are once again enjoying chicks in the kiddie pool in the common room. The other morning when I found my mom and Tala in their kitchen, Tala had a bit of a guilty or secretive look on her face. I wasn't sure why until I heard peeping and she had smuggled a chick in with her to make coffee in her sweatshirt pocket. :) Now just a few days old, they are starting to get their little wing feathers already. Before we know it, they will be working to fly up onto the sides of the pool to see what's on the other side. It never gets old for Tangly Woodsers of all ages to watch them as they grow and develop and explore their world!

But chick watching is in little pockets here and there. Much of the time, the gardens beckon - everything is starting to pop and the green growth around us is so welcome. We had carefully protected yesterday for family spring gardening and the weather was perfect for it! It was chilly in the morning but by the afternoon I was comfy in just a long sleeve sunshirt. It really was probably my favorite outdoor working temperature! But even better than the weather were our daughter's moods - which may have been related phenomena. Whatever the factors, it was probably one of the best whole-family gardening days we have had in a long time. Everyone just seemed so glad to be outside, to be together, to be doing meaningful work, and to be sharing in the satisfaction of putting seeds in soil and tending plants by weeding around them and applying compost. 

We are quite a team now! Jason has spent many a day in the gardens mostly alone. I know he can enjoy that too, and sometimes having a lot of "help" has been overwhelming. But I think yesterday it felt like we actually had a crew of gardeners that all could be genuinely helpful. Even Terah stuck with some of the jobs for quite some time before wandering off to climb a tree or play with water in Nora's garden. Let's put it this way: all our kids were either helpful or neutral. We seem to have mostly moved beyond the stage where kiddos are naturally an impediment to making much progress. It was so much fun to observe how much they have learned by just being around the growing of food and how now, when they feel ready, they are quite capable of jumping in and helping. 

I was so grateful to feel a bit better yesterday, with slightly more energy than I have had most days. I made the most of it (and felt it more today!). It's been a rough week and I'm often not sure in any given hour if what I'm experiencing is the Lyme disease, side effects of doxycycline or my anxiety of either/both of those things. But it felt like my mind and emotions got a bit of a reprieve yesterday as I soaked up being outside with the girls, Jason and Tala. Together we planted hull peas, sugar snap peas, lettuce, beets, parsley, cilantro and radishes. 

And then the biggest job: weeding the spinach and applying humanure compost. Here's a before/after comparison photo. The beds on the left still need to be weeded and the ones on the right were done (thanks to Tala!). As we finished up the other seeding/planting, more and more of us joined the weeding ranks until we were all working on that job together. 

It's definitely the kind of work ideally shared. It was tedious and honestly a tad depressing. There were lots more weeds than spinach. This is spinach that we have been breeding for a number of years and it seems the "harsh conditions" we have bred it in has led to some pretty great spinach seed - at least in other people's gardens. We even had one person track us down via Facebook to ask if they could get some of our spinach seed mailed to them (the one year it was sold in a small seed catalog they had gotten it and loved it). And then, more recently, a dear friend texted us a picture of some amazing spinach they were growing from the seed. So I know it has potential, but our patch is sparse and many of the plants are really tiny. We aren't sure all the factors, but I did grow a bit more suspicious, as I collapsed vole tunnel after vole tunnel, that maybe a critter was to blame for at least some of the damage. I'm so glad that when the spinach doesn't do well, there are so many other greens that are bound to thrive (The winter cress is coming on strong, as well as the nettles and chick weed! And we can always count on lambsquarter and amaranth greens for stocking the freezer!). And, while we would be happy for MANY more plants, the spinach patch did look pretty amazing when it was all weeded and had compost applied. The spinach is hopefully feeling well nourished and ready to put on a growth spurt. Some of the rest of us were feeling muscles today that clearly hadn't been adequately exercised over the winter months!

It was lovely to have a Sabbath day following yesterday's big gardening push. We enjoyed a slower start to the day and gathered all together mid-morning for an Easter brunch. We had some pretty fancy Easter egg coffee nests, thanks to the many kinds of sprinkles Alida was gifted for her birthday from Tala for use in all her baking experiments. 

While Jason and I took midday naps, the girls decorated some Easter eggs with my mom. 

Then this afternoon, we took a little outing with Emily, Jonas and Ivy and walked around Lake Shenandoah. It was our first experience of geocaching. We were warm in t-shirts!! I thought I had successfully adjusted to wearing a face mask over the last number of months, but today reminded me of how I had mostly gotten better at it as the weather cooled. 

While we enjoyed a little excursion, our wonderful Easter bunny (Alida loaned Tala her bunny ears) hid over 100 Easter eggs, with the help of my parents. Soon after we returned home, the hunt began. And, as it usually does, it will continue over the next few weeks/months. There is still a handful out there that the 8 of us could not find! We searched until we had all run out of ideas of places to look. Terah was especially thrilled to find both a little and big egg in her new chicken coop nest box. The chickens didn't eat those! There are some adjustment issues in that coop with Brick, the rooster, seeming afraid to come down to the grassy area. That means he tries to mate with the hens up in the upper area causing quite a ruckus. We think that is what led to breaking some eggs, which the chickens then eat. And now we are tad worried they have gotten a taste for their own eggs as there often will be an egg or two in the nest box earlier in the day and not later. Sigh!

Following the egg hunt and some initial snacking on the goodies found inside (I have to admit that I was not disappointed when Terah did not like the garlic and herb cashews!), we enjoyed sitting by an outdoor fire as the sun went down. We made s'mores and got chilly!

And now Terah is sacked out and I'm ready to call it a day. The fire is put out, but I think the Rook tournament is still going strong in the front room!!