April 16 - One day old: 5 chicks and 2 ducks!

Getting bigger....

New 45x45 grain bed with oats and buckwheat, mulched with straw

April 29: at 2 weeks old, birds moved to a corner of the screened porch

Charlie watching the birds (or their food??)

Raised beds in the main garden...the 3 big chickens are in the orchard in the background

April 29: Greens and onions survived the winter...and now they are flourishing!

A couple of brown furry friends...gives Charlie something to chase

Charlie (after a haircut he looks skinny)

This is Charlie, our Cocker Spaniel.  He is 3 years old.  His job is to chase deer, groundhogs, and other unwanted critters.  Early this morning he chased a fox.  But his main job is to be a companion dog.  He’ll sit by the window and if he sees anything to chase he’ll bark to be let out, but after a couple of minutes he’s right back at the door wanting to come in.  He’s also a foodaholic.

This photo was taken right after the big snow in December.  You can see a deer which Charlie (by the garden gate) is trying to chase, but the snow is too deep and he can’t get over to where the deer is.  The deer usually wait until the last second to run…sometimes Charlie actually has to slow down so as to not actually catch one!

Clara dug paths for ducks & chickens

Yesterday we got 20+ inches of snow!  Clara is visiting and we worked outside.

Cold frames uncovered

Greens inside!

Ruth and Charlie

Sunday was dig-out day

In the foreground is the fig tree, "packed" for the winter

The fig tree was covered in plastic and then packed with straw. The first year we overpacked the fig tree and unpacked it too late and it got moldy and died (but it grows back from the roots), and the second year we unpacked it too soon in March and it died…but it grew back and produced more than a dozen figs in October. Hopefully, this year we will get it just right!

Solar food dryer (made by Mike) with figs and herbs in October