Backyard Farming

Jack has fully embraced the farm life. He tends the chickens. He ‘weeds’ the garden. He helps Dad mow the grass. Perfect farm boy material.

Long john pj’s, too-big rain boots and a whole bunch of chickens…

He is quintessential first-born when it comes to tending these little ladies…bossing and barking orders, trying to get the hens to follow him, changing his mind about where he wants them to eat their food. He cracks us up (and Aaron and I can relate being first-born ourselves).

(And yes, his pajama pants are on inside out. He’s cool like that.)

In other happy farming news, the garden is showing signs of life.

We planted peas, beans, carrots, radishes, pumpkins, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, basil, cantaloupe, zucchini, cucumbers, various peppers and tomato plants. We also have raspberry and blueberry bushes. Whew. It’s a lot.

Last year’s garden was an experiment. We didn’t really know what we were doing and it was beyond a surprise to have everything grow the way it did. So this year, it’s fun to have the anticipation in combination with the fact that we actually did a little research and planning. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m going to have to do the dreaded ‘thinning’ process with some of the rows because when plants grow from seeds, often they are too close together and aren’t able to grow effectively. It’s pathetically, almost heartbreaking to rip perfectly good plants out of the ground, something I refused to do last year, but grudgingly accept must be done this year.

This farming thing is serious business. (pictures below: peas, blueberries, raspberries, radishes)

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