tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53961220356055927572011-11-27T19:52:06.277-05:00Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.comBlogger191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-80321373708724957692011-07-02T18:44:00.000-04:002011-07-02T18:44:23.620-04:00

We bought some huge round hay bales last week but the cows haven't been very interested in eating them. People say you can feed cows a low quality hay, but ours are a little picky. We supplement with fresh vegetables from the farm and alfalfa and all sorts of treats, so we aren't afraid that they are going hungry or are short of protein or other nutrients. At the same time, we have all this hay

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-21470973727962034982011-05-24T13:52:00.002-04:002011-05-24T13:58:13.383-04:00

Can you spot the skink? I don't think I have ever seen quite such a colourful one before. His red throat should make him very popular with the ladies! Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-15992572254236489972011-05-22T18:01:00.000-04:002011-05-22T18:01:11.016-04:00

That's right. The 2011 spring/summer share season (try saying that three times quickly) begins on Tuesday. If you are a subscriber for this season and have not received an email from me this week, please check your spam filters and spam folders. If you still do not see mail from me, please let me know so I can re-send them to you. Farm pick-up people should have received 1 email, delivery people

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-83954021892046552462011-04-02T15:20:00.009-04:002011-04-02T15:44:47.067-04:00

Every time I set foot outside today, it rains. Well, perhaps that is an exaggeration - it did hail once and there was that thunderstorm. It is sunny again now (and thundering), but the drill needs recharging. Not the seed drill, though I can see why you might think that. This particular drill is a very picky little battery powered drill-holes-in-the-wall type drill. I am using it to drill holes

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-20398733253868913092011-04-01T14:59:00.002-04:002011-04-02T15:46:05.698-04:00

We are planting onions today, lots and lots of onions. We ordered 3600 plants this year, but we didn't count to make sure they were all there! Most are a little smaller than a pencil.Karl and Dan got half of them planted today, the rest will go in tomorrow. It is backbreaking work and it's cold outside. I am glad I chose the blogging option. Can you see him? A Spring Peeper When I came out

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-44993819563472720942011-03-23T18:25:00.001-04:002011-04-02T15:47:04.480-04:00

The greenhouse has been just about finished for a while now and is already home to some lovely cabbage and onion seedlings. There are a few more things to do - install more shelving, paint the inside walls, fix the spot where the rain comes in if the wind is blowing from the south! It's a very specific leak - luckily for us, the weather has been a bit odd of late and we found the problem

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-3692821573185728292011-03-02T14:04:00.000-05:002011-03-02T14:04:55.230-05:00

My inner nerd loves to pore over the soil test results. Most farms do not test every year, but we like to keep a very close eye on things. Yearly soil tests mean we never guess at how much lime to apply or exactly which nutrients are needed. Our fertilizer is custom blended - and certified organic - by Countryside Naturals in Waynesboro,Virginia. Marking the boundaries Soil testing begins with

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-20198591259383858882011-02-06T14:57:00.000-05:002011-02-06T14:57:21.552-05:00

It is starting to look like a greenhouse. We are using old storm windows that we found on Craigslist. Hopefully it will be warm enough tomorrow to get the frames painted. We still need a few more windows, but will block in the spaces with plywood for now. We have an old storm door that will go next to where Jack is standing and another glass panel that we will use on the back wall to allow light

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-10998524767311597532011-02-04T23:38:00.000-05:002011-02-04T23:38:13.118-05:00

I decided to order our seed potatoes today. I don't usually order this early, but something told me today was the day. In retrospect the day should have been about three weeks ago! Our usual potato supplier - Ronnigers - merged with another farm and is offering fewer varieties than usual. Worse than that - they have already sold out of the best ones! It's ok I can always buy organic seed

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-25485368976749472222010-12-02T14:23:00.000-05:002010-12-02T14:23:07.265-05:00

Sometimes things grow that we didn't plant. Sometimes your children come running in to ask what they have just touched. Sometimes that child is old enough to go back outside with a camera and document the event. Today was one of those times. Some of you may have seen one of these before, for those of you that haven't I apologize. The thing my son discovered and touched is known as - I don't

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-84755185077474849292010-10-07T14:34:00.000-04:002010-10-07T14:34:56.499-04:00

Our fall season begins next week. If you signed up for a fall share you should have received 2 emails from me today. If you signed up and did not receive an email, please contact me asap.

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-8120562486295259862010-09-25T19:04:00.000-04:002010-09-25T19:04:21.406-04:00

On 30 August 2010 the FDA issued a press release that announced the recall of 68,957lbs of raw milk cheese from Morningland Dairy in Missouri. There are a couple of problems with this. The first is that Morningland Dairy had not yet agreed to a recall. The second is that the dairy has been given no notification of exactly which cheeses failed the test and how that cheese had been handled prior

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-50936606101341034722010-08-26T12:55:00.000-04:002010-08-26T12:55:16.104-04:00

It's a sad day on the farm today. Our big rooster was killed last night. We don't know why he didn't go into the chicken house like usual and we don't know what killed him. From the feather trail we can tell he put up a good fight. I wish the cows could talk, they seem to know what happened. I don't know how much they understand but they are quite subdued today and even Miss Velvet the noisy was

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-15908937123738253632010-07-27T13:44:00.000-04:002010-07-27T13:44:01.390-04:00

Today's newsletter recipes were taken from this wonderful book and I recommend it to all CSA supporters and farmer's market patrons. There are wonderful hints and tips about preparing and preserving all sorts of vegetables as well as short bios about various farms around the country. I wish I could say it included Karl's Farm, but this was published the year before we began our CSA. There are

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-22185263715618097872010-07-19T17:21:00.001-04:002010-12-09T10:55:52.848-05:00

While Karl and I moan about the crunchy grass and never-ending heat, Royal has found a great new way to entertain himself. While bulls do paw at the ground as a sign of aggression, that isn't what he is doing here. He likes to decorate himself with greenery when the roses are in bloom and now it seems, he thinks dust is the perfect accessory. It helps to keep the flies off him too - always a

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-57859601069597236222010-07-13T12:28:00.002-04:002010-12-09T10:55:14.738-05:00

The more they eat, the less they rattle! ha ha Each week the cows (and bulls) wait impatiently by the fence to see which vegetables we have harvested. From nearest to furthest is Velvet, Royal, Achilles, Kizzie and Tessie. Spent bean plants are a hit with everyone from the youngest calf... to the largest bull.

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-22362384234070405122010-03-29T16:44:00.009-04:002010-12-09T10:53:37.528-05:00

Today Tessie decided to give birth in the rain and mud and as far away from the barn Karl built for her as she could possibly get. Labor was as quick as Velvet's last week - less than thirty minutes from waters breaking to calf on the ground. We bought Dexters knowing their reputation as good mothers, and although Velvet's predator response went a little haywire at first, she soon calmed down

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-45278248307264154672010-03-09T21:57:00.002-05:002010-03-29T16:46:37.961-04:00

Tractor broke down today! Needs a new clutch and a couple of seals, all of which need to be ordered. While I am waiting for those I get to help Karl build the new barn - he hopes to have it finished before the calves arrive. Yes, we are officially on calf watch! Velvet looks ready to go at any moment and Tess isn't far behind her even though they should be due until at least March 22nd.

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396122035605592757.post-74125296050908859412010-01-14T14:03:00.002-05:002010-03-29T16:47:30.165-04:00

Great excitement at the farm today - the faucet and water hose unfroze and we were able to fill the water trough for the cows. Goodbye 5 gallon buckets, goodbye aching shoulders, goodbye, goodbye. Cows drink a lot. On a normal (ie. above freezing) day we stick the hose in the trough and fill that while we fork out the hay, serve up the minerals and treats, collect eggs from the hen house, and

Karl's Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000863908310198405noreply@blogger.com0