The Orchard

As if there weren't already enough things going on here, last spring we decided to add a new project to the farm, and planted a small orchard. Former apprentice Russ returned to the farm for a season as a certified arborist, and somehow he and I convinced Tim and then Suzanne that fruit would be a good addition to what we can offer CSA members and potentially Farmer'sMarket customers. In the field that the pigs turned over the year before, we planted about 30 apples, 27 plums, 9 apricots, 6 peaches, and 6 pawpaws. Right now it's all a little bit of an experiment but hopefully in a few years you will see the fruit. In the meantime, the trees are in the field closest to the house, right beyond the pizza oven and when you come by the farm topick up a CSA share or for plant sales or a gathering, you're welcome to take a look.

Here Russ and I are doing a bit of winter pruning and testing branch spacers so Russ can make more to put on when the weather warms up a bit.

Bald Eagles Visit the Farm

(no, we did not take this photo.. but the birds sure looked just like this!)

Last week, I walked out to milk the cow and as I headed toward the pond a huge bald eagle flew out from the trees and then another smaller one flew up from the ground. I stood in mild disbelief... it is just pretty amazing to be just watching these big birds cruising around the pond.
In the winter, eagles often need to supplement their diet with carrion since open water and fish are scarce. The eagles had found some of the remains of the pigs we had slaughtered earlier in the month.

The next day I went out toward the pond again and as I approached, I saw 6 no, 12 or more big black birds perched in the trees! All the eagles of Vermont? Opps no, they are really just the flock of turkeys still roosting in the trees. Later that day though, we did see the eagles again. They came a few days in a row. Pretty neat!