Farm Check In

One of the simplest things we could do on the Genuine Faux Farm blog would be to just take a few pictures each day and write about them.  So, why don't we do that?  Well, first off, we're not always in the mood to write about everything that is going on at the farm.  And, second, we aren't always walking around with camera in hand.  Even so, the writing IS much easier. 

Still how many times do you want to hear about..

Chicks on the Farm?
I am sure you are all tired of seeing pictures of cute, fluffy chicks aren't you?    Yep, just terrible, viewing those peeping, bright-eyed birds.  I am sorry to have to subject you to this.

The hen chicks are doing fairly well at this point.  We are past the initial 'loss-point' and they should be fine for a time.  We typically have a couple of points in time where we lose some of the birds as they grow.  The first period is from days 2 to 4.  We usually lose five of them or so.  It's just what happens.  We take care of them all as best we can, but some just aren't able to survive.

The first two flocks of day old chicks for our broilers arrived today.  While the hens look cute for quite some time, the broilers are only cute for the first week or so.  They then go through a 'mutant' phase, an 'ugly' phase and then they enter the 'that looks like it could be tasty' phase.

Kale - less
Or first batch of kale due for Valhalla was looking very good.  Ready to transplant in fact. Until the woodchuck found it could force its way into Casa Verde, where the seedlings were residing.  We have two plants left for that batch.  So, much for early kale.

 We've already planted more seeds, but it can be pretty demoralizing when your work is so thoroughly destroyed.  But, this is not new to us.  We've weathered this story in the past and we'll deal with it now.

Getting the Seedlings to "Pop"
We like to put our brassica (broccoli, cauliflower, etc) seedlings on heat mats and under grow lights to get them to germinate or, as we like to say, get them to pop.  Once they are up, we like to move the brassica seedlings off of the heat mats - assuming we have a place where woodchucks can't get to them.

Pasque Flowers Make An Appearance

 Now, the first trick to this blog is that I am using pictures from prior years to represent things we have been seeing the past couple of days.  Oh, wait.  I am not supposed to tell you that.  But, it IS true.  The pasque flowers are blooming.  And, it's too dark right now for me to go take pictures of them.

Uh. Ooooooh.  Now I've Gone and Crossed a Line.

Bree's going to let me have it now.  The good news?  It's sleepy time and she's ready to go to the kitchen and find her sleepy chair.  So, all will be well.