07/31/2024
I know we haven't posted for a while - and have fielded individual questions for a bit. But now that the post is out there on another page and we're quite visible geographically, I may as well get the update here, too.
Beryl did not do much damage to us, so that is not really the issue. Like previous posts mentioned, once the summer grasses started taking off, they took over the beds. Yes, the plan was to restart the beds, but it didn't happen.
And then Beryl did - so, I'm glad we didn't have new plants in the ground as I'm sure they would've taken some degree of a beating and we would've been contending with weeds again. But, that isn't the case, so not totally relevant - except to make me feel slightly less bad about the status of the garden rows.
As such, for what is the first time in 10+ years, I opted to take the route of slowing down a bit. Our last farm we raised cattle (cow/calf pairs through finishing), grain, hay, ran a direct-to-consumer beef business, and grew some flowers and veggies. So, days off/away from home were not a thing. And even if they were, there wasn't anything closer than 3.5 hours away to really do anyway - aside from outdoor activities. Which, our slower times were winter, and that just wasn't a good time to be outside for very long in Northern Maine. Anywho, this just means we have been taking advantage of the condition of the growing beds and opted to explore a bit of Galveston and Beaumont with the kids. It has been fun, but it's definitely feeling like time to try to get going here again.
We also still have lots of things to handle with our previous farm, and just got nailed with a 65% real estate tax hike there. It's honestly been a lot of little things that I'll say have certainly left me spiraling a bit mentally. But realistically, the only thing I'm bummed about as far as farm progress here is I was hoping to have the beds covered with landscape fabric, and that hasn't happened yet.
Things certainly look pretty disheveled at the moment, but yesterday, we began mowing again - though we clearly still need to pick our spots because plenty is still quite wet.
Little bits of progress are still being made that are just hard to see from the road. Richard dug a small pond, put up the lighthouse he got me for my birthday early this month, and planted a ton of fruit trees - though the jury is still out on those after the rain.
The beds themselves are the biggest issue and I've basically been in some mental block that I've struggled to see my way out of at the moment. A couple decisions (not in regard to the gardens here) have been made that I hope ultimately solve some off-farm issues - but they will take time to play out. Essentially the status of the beds is probably in line with my brain lately, so, hopefully as we get things tidied back up, then perhaps I will have a clearer vision of what it is I need to do. I'm sure that doesn't make a ton of sense, because, well, I'm still trying to make sense of where I'm at with things.
So, it has been hard to post, because there are just too many unknowns at the moment. I still don't know what the inside the seed starting shed temps will be (my assumption is too high to begin now and expect healthy plants), and the beds still need reset anyway. Hopefully as things dry, that project can begin, and then I can about guarantee I will find a way for the seed starting to begin again, too.
