Author Archive | James T. Verrill

Pallet Gardening – A Great and Versatile System

By James T. Verrill on June 16, 2013 in Gardening

I will be adding my updates to the beginning of this post so those returning for a quick look at the weekly update pictures do not have to scroll to the bottom! For those of you visiting for the first time, scroll down for the original post.

July 8th, 2013

It has been Monsoon Season in Vermont! Inches of rain this week! Need to trim the grass between the pallets! Everything growing. Black Seeded Simpson lettuce needs to be used up and replaced. It is leggy and knocked down by heavy rains. I haven’t planted BSS lettuce for years and did so this year (along w/ other varieties) as the plants were available and we were behind after a cold & wet season. Two dark rows, bottom right pallet, didn’t germinate (old lettuce seed). Replanted this week with radishes in one and a mesclun mix in the other. Dill, beans, Swiss chard coming along nicely. Basil needs to be topped so it bushes out.

Tomatoes growing out of their cages! repurposed old tent pieces to extend the cage and will tie w/ twine as needed. Both tomato plants in the pallet garden are “Great Whites” a beautiful, large white beefsteak tomato with sweet flavor and lots of juice

July 1st, 2013

Up date pictures from Monday, July 1st. Lettuces and chard going great guns. Beans and dill up. Tomatoes growing well, though hard to see as foliage greenery melds. Two rows (front bottom right in 1st pic and top back left in 2nd pic) of salad greens did not germinate. Old seed so will replant when this rain stops. Who would have thought Vermont would have a monsoon season!

June 19, 2013

Blessed are the geese who are protecting the poultry pens from raccoons at night! NOT so blessed are the geese when they discovered the pallet garden!!! Fortunately they just pulled up a couple plants and dropped them. Replanted easily and then grabbed some stainless steal shelves to repurpose as a fence!

Home Farmer magazine picked up our blog and will be publishing a page in their next issue. The Home Farmer Magazine (Facebook link)is the UKs fastest growing publication for the smallholder and garden farmer. It offers the widest choice of subjects written by key experts in their chosen fields. Edited and published by practicing garden farmers it is a polished and well designed magazine. The often specially commissioned contents are written with passion and integrity whilst retaining the intimate ‘over the garden fence’ feel which doesn’t preach – in fact we often take the mickey and dare to be different giving us a readership that is both loyal and passionate and a magazine that is lively, human and much loved.

The Original Post

Back in April I wrote an entry that included a segment on plans for creating a pallet garden. I am a strong believer in growing food NOT lawns. Having seen the concept some where, I wanted to give it a try. I decided to install it in our front yard which is not that large. Large enough for a four pallet garden with some containers, Public! Visible! Educational! We have had three people stop, discuss and head off planning to try. We will never know how many just see it driving by and discuss else where and/or implement.

We are using it mainly for salad greens (close to the kitchen) but have also added some wax bush beans, Swiss chard and dill. Easy to do and so versatile! One by the kitchen door or dozens in any artistic formation you chose.

We had the pallets already. They are readily available if you do not already have them. With the space we had, we decided on a four pallet square. The iron planter was intended for nasturtiums, edible flowers that are great on salads. I was so anxious for color that it was planted with pansies which are also edible!

You can see in this picture that we also dry our laundry in the front yard! Again, convenient and educational! People need to see these activities if the wheels are to start turning.

Filling takes more dirt than you would think! First we placed some sods we had removed from a front daylily garden upside down in the pallets. Top soil was then added and this takes multiple applications. In between top soil additions we hosed it with a “jet” spray. This compacts the soil and distributes it. Remember you are also filling the space under the slats. We used top soil to fill the pallet up to the bottom of the slats.

Final filling was done with two applications of a mixture of Quoddy Blend Lobster Compost & Penobscot Blend Compost & Peat from “Coast of Maine”. In between applications we used the “jet” spray to work the first application in and then just a regular “spray” for the final application. Pallets are ready to plant!

Our cold and wet spring has delayed planting here in Vermont. We had plants started in the hoop house and purchased some others from a small, local nursery that starts all their own plants! NO big box, disease ridden plants for us.

Lettuces, basil, parsley and Swiss Chard

The rest of the spaces have been planted with seeds. Bush wax beans, more lettuce and dill. We will take pictures to record this garden’s development. Pictures will be added to this post weekly.

The five containers have been planted with pole beans, tomatoes and cucumbers. We are pleased with this system so far and look forward to our first season with a pallet garden.

My Other Special Place

By James T. Verrill on June 13, 2013 in

Star Island, Isles of Shoals, N.H.

Those of you who know me and have followed our lives here in Vermont, know how special our small piece of property is! Prior to finding this special haven we call home, I only had one special place! Since 1959 when I was eleven, Star Island has been in my life. This special and magical Island has been the only constant in my life!

In 1959, we lived in Burdett, New York, just outside of Walkins Glen. We attended the Unitarian Church in Ithaca, New York. At that time, The Ithaca Unitarian Church had a large number of people going to Family Conferences on Star Island. In 1959, Mother took me and my three brothers to Star Island for two weeks.

Star Island

Two separate family conferences, All Star I and All Star II. This was the beginning of a life long connection to Star and the formation of some special friendships that continue to this day.

My Famous Home Run! The ball field is still in the same spot and the stairs to the Oceanic Hotel Porch still provide the background.

These were very special weeks away from the world. A group of people who, once on Star, were all equal. No titles, no knowledge, nor care about social position or socioeconomic status. We were all “shoalers” together for a week and then back to our lives in the “world” until we came together again the next year.

I loved these weeks, the formalized activities for kids and the random explorations that parents never knew about until we were adults as we searched for the treasure in places I would shudder to think a child was going today!

We cried when the day came that we had to leave!

I am not sure just when I came to understand the significance of Star Island’s energy in the connection of my Energy to the Universe. I just know that my awareness and understanding evolved and it was here on Star that I was the most connected to the Universe. It was the Chapel during Candlelight that was the most direct and strongest connection. It was the place, NOT the speaker or service… The place that has the energy that combined with mine for this powerful Universal connection.

Candlelight Service in Gosport Chapel

My time on Star sustained me in the world the rest of the year. I could, and did, connect at times from afar. I will not get in to the Metaphysical aspects of this connection as they make many uncomfortable. I always say, I was born in to a family who had been Unitarians for many generations and moved on to the Metaphysical. Star Island accommodated and supported that personal growth and knowledge of how the Universe works and the connectedness of all.

It was to Star that I brought Sharon and the children. Family conferences at first and when the Children moved on with summer jobs ( Ellen was a Pelican – summer employee – one summer) Sharon and I moved to the Natural History Conference in 1988. We were very active in NHC and Chaired the NHC Conference in 1992. We had served on the Committee prior to Chairing.

I Co-Chaired in 1997 with friend since 1959, Jack Lightfoot. I was alone this year and it was post Sharon and pre Tom. I came out to the Star Island Community in The Opening Candlelight Service that Jack and I did jointly. That service is still remembered.

In 1998 I introduced Tom to Star and NHC. I served as registrar for several years and continued to be active in the conference and Tom developed a website to promote NHC. That promotion created the largest Natural History Conference ever.

Life and work and acquiring our Vermont Home created a break for several years.

While Tom and I could not be Married on Star (New Hampshire didn’t recognize same gender marriages at this time) we did take a day in August, before we were married in September to go out to Star and perform a private ring exchange in the Chapel.

We did our ceremony at noon when the Island was having lunch and we could be alone and then wore our rings until the boat docked back at the mainland. We took them off and boxed them until the wedding in Concord, MA.

With life as we now live it, it has become impossible for us to both get away for a week. Tom has been generous and covers the home front while I get my “Star Time”. These days my Star Island involvement is as a Volunteer for the Shops on Star. Tom once again built the webpage.

Star Island continues in my life and as I said at the beginning, Star Island has been the one thread of consistency that has run through my life. It has remained a special and VERY significant place.

I have always said everyone needs a special place in their lives, where ever that may be, like Star has been in mine. Now I am doubly blessed as our home in Vermont has the same powerful energy and connection to the Universe. I get to live year round in a connected place as I am either at Home or at Star.

My Spirit Has Two Homes

“Peggy” The Chantecler Chick !

By James T. Verrill on June 13, 2013 in Chantecler Chickens

“Peggy”

On June 4th a local woman contacted me and asked for one fertile egg. They had placed a supposedly fertile egg under their hen and their small children were waiting eagerly for the egg to hatch …….. egg was a week over due…… so not going to hatch.

I candled the eggs in the incubator and sold her one egg as she requested… She picked it up, wrapped it in her sweater, and took it home to slip under the hen. Hatched on schedule last Sunday (6/9) and her update follows!!:):):) :

“Hi Jim ~
Just writing w/ an update for you. Our new little fluffy addition to our family arrived on Sunday afternoon, just as you predicted. Mom (Maple) is very proud indeed! My children are sure that she is a girl and have named her “Peggy”. Maple sat on her for Sun and Mon but today she is out exploring her world ~ acting quite healthy and spry. My children have enjoyed lots of quiet time observing and loving her. Maple has been very trusting of us since she too, has been given lots of affection since she was newly hatched. It’s been just perfect. She will be very loved here… thank you so much!!
~ Ruth”

Events like this make life special!

Update on “Peggy” The Chantecler Chick! – August 17, 2013

So many of you enjoyed hearing about Peggy that I thought I would bring you up to date! Peggy is doing well and growing in to a beautiful white Chantecler hen! Word and pitures from her family today.

“Peggy is great and we’re assuming she’s still a she! She has become friends w/ our two other little ones which are about her same age (I had purchased two female chicks from Agway since the kids wanted a barred rock to replace our lost one). The flock accepted them all quickly and that was a relief. She still hangs out w/ her Mom, Maple, but is definitely independent. She’s become quite friendly to us too! Here are a few pictures taken yesterday. Thanks for checking in on her ~ I’ll tell her you were asking!
~ Ruth”

Peggy with her Mother, Maple

Peggy ! Isn’t she Beautiful?

Peggy with a Barred Rock Friend

Moved In To Our Summer Sleeping Quarters Tuesday night!

By James T. Verrill on May 30, 2013 in

Our Summer Sleeping Tent – Lots of Fresh Air – Connection to Nature

At This Point in Life We Need A Bed

Pair of Lounge Reading Chairs at the Other End

Moved in Tuesday night. So glad to be back outside. Sleep so soundly with the fresh air and surrounded by trees. This corner of the yard is so peaceful and isolated that one can feel like they are far from everything when in reality we are just out back.

Last night (Wednesday) was my second night. Not much sleep! Lots of things going on which I fit in to normal past neighborhood activities UNTIL Abigail and I went out to investigate about 1:15am — thinking we had raccoons around the poultry pens. It was then I saw the flames next door and realized everything that Abigail had barked at, every sound I had a logical explanation for had in reality been the Arsonist coming and going.

I quickly donned pants (thought that wise before heading to the road:), put Abigail in the house and called 911 from the street. Fire Personnel responded quickly. I returned to bed at 4am and had Fire Investigators calling my name outside the tent at 8am !

Had I been in the house, it would have burned another hour before being noticed (Based on time Mark woke up smelling sulfur and smoke) unless someone had called it in from the highway. None of the other close neighbors heard a thing!

Thankfully I was out in the tent.

Started on the Porch and Spread Fast! Before Fire Personnel arrived.

Fortunately no one living here at the time. Heirs in Florida.

Taken From Our Front Yard OVER the Tall Conifer Hedgerow/Windbreak

Tonight will be my third night sleeping outside. Headed out now. After last night I expect I will sleep soundly.

Believing in and Preserving the WHITE Chantecler – The original Canadian Heritage Breed bred for Cold Weather Production

By James T. Verrill on May 24, 2013 in Chantecler Chickens

When I started researching endangered heritage chicken breeds prior to retirement, I settled on the Canadian White Chantecler. A Breed developed by Brother Wilfred Chantelain, a Trappist monk and Doctor of Agronomy at the Oka Agricultural Institution, an agricultural school at his abbey which is affiliated with the University of Montreal.

In 1907, the Brother set out to create a practical chicken that would be suited to Canada’s climate and production needs -working at the Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac in Oka.

This marvelous breed nearly disappeared in the late 70s. Fortunately there were small numbers (less than 2000) still being maintained by a few small farms. In the 21st century, the breed persists, but is listed as Critical by The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

Once I had made my decision to work in retirement, preserving, breeding and promoting the WHITE Chantecler, the search began.

Photo courtesy of Gina Bisco.

Finally, one day, after searching and sending e-mail inquires hither and yon, I was referred to Gina Bisco in Central New York State. After three years of extremely educational communication with Gina, I acquired six hens and a rooster.

Young Bisco Pullets

Then the search for some Canadian birds. This was a more difficult endeavor and then I saw a posting from Greg Oakes stating that he would bring prepaid trios across the border to the Poultry Show in Michigan. Greg had three lines and I bought a trio from each line and then added two extra cocks while at the Poultry Show to pick up my trios.

Canadian Chanteclers arrive at Fayrehale

My original intention to maintain separate pens and combine various lines was altered w/ a predator attack that took some but not all birds from each line.

Thus the combined flock that gives me the BEST Genetics in the Country!

The alarming discovery today that crossbred birds have come into Vermont resulted in a warning on my Fayrehale Chantecler page.

I also decided to write about my breeding philosophy. The Chantecler is a dual purpose heritage bird. I am interested in breeding and working on restoring the Chantecler to its original status as a good eating carcass and a good laying chicken (200 plus eggs a year).

I believe this can be accomplished by selective breeding within the breed WITHOUT crossbreeding to other breeds including the Partridge and Buff Albertans — Canadian breeds the the American Poultry Association arbitrarily classified as “Chantecler” as if any Canadian chicken was a “Chantecler”! This abomination has caused some people, inattentive to history, to think it is all one breed. It is not. The so called Partridge and Buff Chanteclers are in fact very separate breeds (Albertan) from the Chantecler. The APA’s arbitrary classification does not in any way change that historical fact! The other breeds should never be crossed with the White and original/real Chantecler! NEVER!

“The Partridge Chantecler was developed approximately 30 years after the White Chantecler, by Dr J E Wilkinson of Edmonton AB. Just as Brother Wilfrid made a series of crosses to come up with his “ideal”, so did Dr Wilkinson. Ultimately he came up with a bird that he called the “Albertan”. It is important to note that they actually had nothing at all to do with Brother Wilfrid’s White Chanteclers and that they were essentially completely different breeds. However when Dr Wilkinson submitted his “Partridge Albertan” birds for recognition by the American Poultry Association, they did accept them but then rather arbitrarily renamed them as a Partridge Chantecler, much to his huge disappointment!“

My first step, because I have such a good gene pool, has been to sell chicks and fertile eggs all over the country. From one coast to the other and up in to Alaska. These small flocks (12-60 birds) help disseminate this great heritage breed that nearly disappeared. The new flock owners get excellent birds. Good if they just want a heritage flock for the family and excellent if they want a gene pool to use for selective breeding as they work for body size and egg laying rate. It should be noted that my Bisco line hens have better bodies than my original Canadian hens. These genes are in the pool.

Second step, will be (and has started) breeding to increase carcass size.

Third step, will be to invest in a trap nest and record egg laying rates per hen and hatch from the heaviest laying birds.

Currently I am communicating with a couple breeders in Quebec and working to bring some of this old Canadian blood, that has not strayed far from the original flock, over the border to add to my program.

This takes time and it should! The answer is not to cross breed. I can not stress this enough. The Chantecler deserves to be preserved without bastardizing!

So as I continue being dedicated to preserving, breeding and promoting the WHITE Chantecler, I ask you all to be very sure that your Chantecler stock is coming from someone who understands the history of this great Canadian breed and is seriously committed to preserving the Original Chantecler without corruption!

Mature pair in the “grow pen”

I invite you all to join with me in this significant endeavor. Where ever you acquire your breeding stock, please be sure it is not corrupted.

New site on Facebook! The Original White Chantecler / Le Chantecler blanc original

Time Flies by this Time of Year.

By James T. Verrill on May 17, 2013 in Chantecler Chickens

Time seems to have gotten away from me as I move through one day after the other progressing towards Memorial Day when we can plant the garden. I have learned over a life time NOT to push it! No matter how warm and beautiful it may be, the soil hasn’t really warmed and there can still be frosts. Like the three frosts we experienced last week after nearly two weeks of sun and temperatures in the 70s and low 80s. We have to get past the Corn Planting Moon in May!

The people who rush, replant! OR the seeds lay dormant and wait. By June and July our garden, though started later, will equal or surpass the early planters.

This time of year is one of my favorite! (I say that about every season:) I do love lilac season. We have in excess of 60 lilacs blooming here and I can always find a spot to plant one I do not have in the collection.

“Maiden’s Blush”

“Maiden’s Blush” is a nice pink. We also have a couple “Primrose” (yellow) and have been lucky to obtain from a private collection such rarities as “Priscilla” and “Banner of Lenin”.”Excel” and “Annabelle” are heavy bloomers and “Annabelle’s” fragrance permeates the back yard. “Beauty of Moscow”, “Sensation” and “P P Konchalovskii” are favorites. I feel guilty for not mentioning all the others as I LOVE them all!

Once the 40 some odd named hybrids bloom, the Canadian lilacs will bloom and extend the season. The yard is intoxicating right now with the perfume of the lilacs. I can’t remember it ever being this powerful. A perfect year for lilacs.

“Silver King”

“Sister Justina” (left) & “Betsy Ross” (right) are nice white lilacs

There have also been some additions to the poultry here at Fayrehale. I knew the American Buffs were setting and one day while walking Abigail on the other side of the fence, I discovered the Sepastopol/American Buff cross goose on a nest!

Not sure the eggs under the American Buff (left) will hatch. There was a hard freeze the night before she settled on the nest and I believe they should have hatched by now. Wednesday the crossed goose (right) presented me with her 4 new goslings! They will raise them. What a joy to see them around. They make me smile.

Besides the new goslings we have added some Saxony Ducks

The Guinea Fowl, which have been free on tick patrol for several weeks, immediately rushed to the back yard to see what this new intrusion was. It was comical to watch them chatter and discuss the situation before going off about their business.

We continue to ship White Chantecler chicks and hatching eggs around the Country. It is nice to have these small flocks starting as the White Chantecler is a Canadian Heritage Breed that nearly disappeared.

And believe it or not we actually took some time two weeks ago to have our first (and only one this substantial!) cookout of the season. After this one it will be chicken and burgers when we can find (make) the time!

That shares a little of our busy lives these past few weeks. I plan to move into our summer sleeping quarters this week!

Summer Sleeping

Everything will be ready for the move to summer quarters once I get the blankets and comforter washed, dried and moved out. This will be the third season we have slept outside. (Queen size bed in this tent! I am too “mature” for sleeping bags on the ground). We will move back in to the house in October sometime.

This arrangement gives us plenty of fresh air and enhances our closeness to the natural world.

Busy Spring At Fayrehale Farm !

By James T. Verrill on April 24, 2013 in Chantecler Chickens, Gardening

The Forsythia Has Started to Open – 4/24/13

I just realized that nothing has been posted since 3/31/13 ! Over three weeks ago! I was looking at fayrehalefarm.com site traffic. 2/3s of the visitors are new and they come to the site for some specific initial purpose. That leaves the other 1/3 of you who are return visitors! Unless you have noticed some of the small updates on various pages you haven’t seen any activity since 3/13/13.

Nothing philosophical or earth shattering ! Just a little pictorial catch-up on our busy spring here at Fayrehale Farm.

Chantecler chicks are hatching weekly and heading to new homes around the country!

Geese are setting. American Buff on the left and an American Buff/Sepastopol cross on the right. Not sure goslings will hatch as there was a hard freeze just before they settled on their nests.

Our self-service egg selling refrigerator is back up. We have been very busy w/ egg sales. Interestingly enough many are just traveling through. They often stop to chat. Even had visitors from Germany pick up a couple dozen.

Making preparations for a 4 pallet garden in the front yard! Food and Laundry Drying out front to set an example for all. Diminish lawn and grow food!

Last weekend we took an existing platform that had been intended for another small coop and turned it into a hoop pen. It is designed so that it can be one 4’x12′ pen OR a divider can be placed between the two closely spaced hoops in the center and it becomes 2, 4’x6′ pens. The young Icelandic Chickens will grow here once it becomes warmer and they have grown and feathered out

Busy with seedlings. Nature has not cooperated. Cold and cloudy. Some have had to be restarted. Soon we will start using a hoop house for the seedlings

So, as the Magnolia buds swell and start to show color, we are busy with Spring endeavors and hoping we are beyond the point of hard frosts!

Bitter Melon

By James T. Verrill on March 31, 2013 in

Bitter Melon After My First Taste

I have always been open to and held a great respect for ancient medicines and traditions. My major complaint about American Medicine is that it is orchestrated and promoted by profit hungry drug companies out to profit regardless of the required listing of damaging side effects.

I have been monitoring borderline high blood pressure and pre-diabetes for years. I finally, several years ago, allowed myself to be placed on low dosages of Lisinopril and Metformin after extensive discussion with a doctor I knew and really trusted.

I discovered that the medications were interfering with continued weight loss (140# to date over recent years). 2012 was the year I decided to stop all medication and to concentrate on losing more weight and exercising. This year (2013) I returned to the Doctor for blood work……. feeling good and having dropped (slowly) 25#. Blood indicators unchanged:(:(:( Still pre-diabetic and borderline high blood pressure. So I returned to low dosages of the two medications.

This caused me to explore new action in a new direction. I did a little research into Ayurvedic Medicine and made an appointment with a certified Ayurvedic practioner here in Vermont. I met with Kevin Clark this past Friday and left impressed with his assessment of me and my concerns!

Without boring you with details you may have no interest in! (Plenty of information available if you are interested in learning more) I have Double Doshas and have both Kapha and Pitta Doshas as strong components of my being. Kapha Ayurvedic Body Types have bigger builds and bones and being too slender would not be healthy for my being. I am designed to be large and solid. People with a Pitta Ayurvedic Body Type tend to have very sharp minds and intellect and I will not self assess this characteristic 🙂

Anyway that brings us to Bitter Melon. It was recommended, as a first step in my new journey of exploration, that I start using Bitter Melon . Chemicals in bitter melon have been suggested to lower glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, and increase glucose absorption. Additionally, the chemicals promote the way in which liver and muscle glycogen works together, and promotes healthy glucose oxidation. These findings are particularly note-worthy for diabetes research.

I found it in the closest Asian Market to us in West Lebanon, NH, Yipings.

My first taste was last night as shown in my first picture in this post. It was no where near as bitter as I was mentally prepared for it to be after comments I had heard and reading I had done! I could eat it raw! I will explore receipts for cooking with it.

AND

I am planning to grow Bitter Melon in our garden this year!

Just bought my Bitter Melon seeds

Reading indicates it can be difficult to germinate. Nicking and soaking the seed helps as does knowing that they can take up to 30 days to germinate.

Will keep you posted as the season progresses!

Just heard from Piney Creek Garden “I grow bitter melon every year, for quick germination, soak it over night, the next day crack both side ( I bite both sides a little bit just enough to crack) and put on the ground after the last frost. for indoor start in a pot with under a grow light 2 weeks before the last frost. mine germinate in more than week”

They included a picture of Bitter Melon growing in their 2012 Garden

Piney Creek Garden‘s Bitter Melon 2012

Thinking about Spring!

By James T. Verrill on March 22, 2013 in

Jumping the gun a little and replacing the winter image in the header with one from the archives. On this, the second full day of Spring we are still snow covered. I am ready for and I am “seeing” GREEN……… Soon:) The plantings have grown but otherwise this is home in the spring and summer.

EUREKA !!! It was a Success and Not a Failure !

By James T. Verrill on March 16, 2013 in Gardening

Winter Harvest 2011

In 2011 we decided to attempt a winter greenhouse here in Vermont based on Eliot Coleman‘s book Winter Harvest and grow winter greens. We knew we were late getting the seeds planted and the hoop house finished but moved forward with our plans.

Winter Hoop House before Greenhouse Plastic Installed

The two raised beds in this house were hooped w/ 10′ PVC pipe and then we planned a row cover inside this smaller hoop which we never got around to using.

Mustard Greens Started & Small Spinach Plants

As I said, we were late planting for this winter project. Mustard greens had the best start. Spinach really small and the other side, the other 4’x8′ bed, had two varieties of Kale that were at the stage of the mustard. So we didn’t harvest the greens we had hoped for. The plants lived through our Vermont winter (remember no auxiliary heat source) and really took off in the Spring. We knew we had planted late but still considered it a first try failure.

2012 was a complicated year and we were far enough behind that we decided not to do our second try. We figured we’d give it a go this year, 2013.

WELL! Today we attended the Spring Open House at High Mowing Organic Seeds and Tom and I selected the:

Winter Greenhouse Tour with Katie Traub & Gwenael Engelskirchen –
Learn about overwintering brassicas and other biennials for seed production. We’ll focus on timing of fall plantings, winter chores, special care for seed crops, pollination, when and how to harvest.

High Mowing Organic Seeds’ Tunnel House 3/16/13

Great information that showed us we had not failed! Our winter house had acted properly. We do need to plant earlier (we knew that) if we want the luxury of harvesting some fresh greens during the winter months.

The information we harvested today also will have us start holding some plants over for seed. Thinking we will start with Red Onions and Beets as we start learning to save seeds.

Onion ready to send up new growth and go to seed.

Beets already showing new growth and progressing towards going to seed.

So we returned home invigorated! Knowing that we had not failed in 2o11 and looking forward to this coming winter when we will again have hardy greens and small numbers of beets and onions as we prepare to master some biennial seed saving!

High Mowing Organic Seeds has a large resource section on their website with valuable information.

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