Chronicles of the Long Shot Farm

Farm

Time Changed – and more Apples…

Posted on

We successfully processed over 20 bushels of apples this weekend – the final tally was 38 quarts of canned apple sauce and 40 gallons of cider.  We’ll can about half the cider and then make wine from the rest this week.

The time change this weekend marked the end of the produce stand season and the beginning of winter “fairy” lights.  We completed the shut down of the produce stand, took down all the signs and planted the remaining mums in various flower beds.  We are still using the pumpkins for fall decorations together with the bunches of Indian corn.  Whatever apples were left ended up in the cider press.  It’s a bit sad to see the season end.


Anja and Leif were visiting this weekend and Leif was a big helper with our fall decorations and plantings!

The early dusk this evening prompted us to plug in our winter lights on the barn side of the farm. The fence is lit up, and the barn windows have welcome candles – on timers.   And we made hot mulled cider.

Facebook Page is Up!

Posted on

We finally got our Facebook page up and running – thanks mostly to Sam’s efforts!  For now, the main purpose is to showcase the produce stand that Sam and Caleb started at the farm, but we are posting general updates and fun pictures from the farm and extended family as well.  Check it out

Produce Stand Opens at the Farm

Posted on

Sam and Caleb officially opened their Produce Stand today. They worked late into the night on Friday putting the finishing touches on their stand.  Jeff built two sign posts, and Caleb fastened the interchangeable signs, which Sammy had painted, with hooks and chains.

Their current offering includes hanging baskets, flats of flowers, beets, asparagus, strawberries, peas, beans and even some early potatoes out of our garden.  They had a steady stream of customers throughout the day, and nearly sold out of strawberries.  Most people who stopped asked about the grapes and if there will be wine for sale in the future 🙂

As One Shed Goes Up – Another Tumbles Down

Posted on

We finally tackled the big tear-down project:  the old goat pen.   The goat pen is basically a miniature barn, with a hay loft on top – but the goats got everywhere, and left their droppings everywhere as well. This building has always been beyond repair, and even our homeowners insurance does not cover it.  We thought the three day weekend would give us plenty of time to tackle the project, except that we also had to prune 700 grape vines and plant the second patch of corn.


Sunday

It was not until Sunday afternoon that we actually got started.  We began by tearing off the first outside boards and cleaned out everything from the attic level.    It was a smelly, dusty mess… we carted 2 full wagonloads of junk to the burning pile, and started a stack of lumber that can be re-used.  We basically saved all the old barnboards that looked somewhat salvageable, removing all the nails and hardware before stacking.

Mid-day Monday

On Monday morning we continued tearing off the outside siding boards and removing everything from the lower level of the goat pen.  Another two wagonloads of junk was carted to the burning pile, and our lumber stack started to grow.   By lunchtime,  daylight was visible through all sides.  We stopped tearing off the final boards because every time we tried prying a board off, the building started to shake.

Lars and Jeff took off the tractor bucket, so that Jeff could use the bracket as a ramming tool.  It only took about 10 minutes for the building to collapse once the tractor started pushing:

By Monday evening, this is what was left: