Friday, August 4, 2017

Auberginie and Beanie Firsties


This is my eggplant that I grew in my greenhouse. This is one of 10 eggplants I have growing in there. I tried growing them outside but every bug for miles loves to eat the leaves. So this year I started and re-potted the large plants in my greenhouse. The Blue Lake green beans are also a first for me. These are the short bush variety. They grow fast in 50 days and they have beans like crazy. I have to bend and squat to pick them but it is so worth it. Each bean pumps out up to 30 pods each for weeks - in a drought. I gathered 4 bushels of beans in a very small 10ft x 4ft growing area. And they are stringless and sweet! I harvested, washed and cooked them for the first time. Wow so wonderful. I will be planting these for years to come. I will be planting them for fall as well.

Flying Fates

I found this crispy brown bat near a water tank.

This tiny female did not make it to the tank. Something else ended her life, might have been the drought.

The good news no white nose issues.

I like these bats as they eat a ton of mosquitoes around the farm.


This is the aftermath of a hawk attack on one of my young roosters. The hawk plucked the rooster then flew off with it.

Luckily I have many young roosters and this is one less I have to deal with. I was given several chicks that were all roosters. Hawks are one thing my dogs can't go after. Free range poultry are at the mercy of predators at their own risk.

Buzzy August


My dehydrated Italian tomatoes. Very sweet tasting all winter long.


Alan in shorts and bee jacket. The bees love him so.

Putting in the cleaned sugar tanks in both hives.


Our hives are only 4 month of age. We will be letting them keep all their honey so they can make it through winter.

My August harvest. Spent green beans, onions and potatoes! 

I had forgotten about there until I tilled today. This was the first time I was able to get onions not to rot in the ground.

Drying out for seed saving

My first time growing tomatillo. They need lots of room to spread and need wind and bugs to pollinate. Very excited about these and salsa making.