Old Man Colby Farms

09/07/2022

During times of ever increasing prices, people may be considering leaving jobs they love for the money that they need. There are other easy and cheap solutions, so you can keep your passion alive! And it could only cost you $20 once to save you $1,000 per year.

Below is a short video of something you can set up yourself, without any tools, any handy know-how, or any skill at all really, and can be put up in 5 minutes. I used to run 5 air conditioners 24/7 to keep the house cool in the summer. Now I run 1-2 air conditioners on occasion just to cool things down on crazy hot days. This blocks the heat (and moisture!) from every coming in the house. Please see the link in the description of the video for how this works with a slightly more technical explanation.

Also stay tuned for the next video, it isn't the real slip and slide I will be making next late spring that will be 3 times longer, and work a lot better, but it could save your grass or garden if you aren't allowed to water, and even increase solar panel efficiency, all with the exact same material. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] for questions if you would like to do this, or any other of the crazy projects I have coming up that save money, cost almost nothing, and improve the environment.

An easy solution (5 to 10 minutes to set up) to keeping heat and moisture out of the house and only needs siding clips to hold it up. This one shade blocks ...

08/29/2022

I had a weekend between seasons, and it isn't quite time for the new chicks to go outside yet, so find out what goes on around here when I have downtime by checking out the video. You know you want make one now!

The cherry tomato season has begun! A new batch each day, so call 603-344-2979 to pick up a pint for $2. You could pick them yourself for absolute freshness if you wanted to, or I could do a drop off at the end of the road in a cooler for a convenient pickup. They go great with the onion greens in a salad, or chicken salad. You could even pick some green tomatoes for salsa verde. Once again, no pesticides used ever!

A home made slip and slide entirely made of an old pool cover.

08/05/2022

Right now my forearms that look like I fought a cat, from pulling wild raspberry bushes out of the field, and it actually made me think of the great resignation. Why would I do something that I don’t like, and for that matter, why would other people? After taking some time to think about it, I realized I did this voluntarily, and in spite of hating it, I was happy afterwards. I certainly wasn’t happy at the time. Why was I happy? I realized it was because I was pursuing a passion that had a tangible end goal. Then I thought about it more. Why did I come home from a human services job happy each day, even what it was a rough day? For the same reason as pulling plants with thorns, it pursued my passion. I thought more and realized that is what every sports star is doing. They push themselves through the hardest of times because they have passion for the end goal, no matter the pain to get there. Gamers do this too. They crank up to the hardest setting and struggle and suffer to meet that end goal. Were they happy playing it, or was it the end result?

Elon Musk works insane hours and sleeps in the factories to save travel time, and he certainly isn’t doing it for money, as he has more than he would ever need a thousand times over or more for a lifetime. So why does he do it? They all have a reason, and they have “glorious purpose” as Loki would say. What if all the people who resign just don’t see an end goal that matters to them? But then again, there is an excellent lesson from a show on Adult Swim. For 2 seasons, the father comes home complaining about his dead end job, and then we find out that he is the Mayor of the town, but it was a dead end job for him as there was no higher place to go. Will Elon give up when he achieved his goal? Probably not, as he will find new ones. So does that mean we always need a backup goal if we achieve our dream?

A friend asked me years ago “what is your number?” He clarified and asked what is the number of dollars you make that will make you happy. I had never thought about it, but it made me think about what my values were. I am fortunate enough to have found a company that gives enough work life balance so I can pursue all of my passions, instead of looking at the next step without knowing the end point where I will find that satisfaction. So does that mean that a clear path with purpose is the answer to all of worker’s woes? I don’t know, but I think it has something to do with it. I thought about that friends questions for years, and I realized I was doing life wrong.

I would ask anyone reading this to ask yourself that question my friend asked me years ago. What is the number that will make you happy, and does that even matter once you find happiness? Are you happy with you, and are you doing what you should be doing? Do you have “glorious purpose”?

Also as a little mental health break, check out the new chicks that will lay blue eggs.

Day 1 with the new Easter Egg chicks. They all made it!

07/28/2022

Chickens that lay blue eggs? They are on their way, but these are my current chickens from two years ago. Next week arrives Easter Egg chicks that will lay blue eggs after 20 weeks. Why blue eggs?… I think you may see a theme here. If you have suggestions on other blue themed produce, or other things that don’t require pesticides to make, send the ideas my way.

Old Man Colby Farms is located at 460 E Pleasant Street, Northfield, NH 03276. You can schedule an order of seasonal produce, or whatever we have going on, at [email protected] OldManColbyFarms.com or just call 603-344-2979.

Don’t forget to like and/or subscribe to the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN9FbY44TD8n50Oq0cFOpbw for updated and archived family friendly silliness on the farm. By doing so you are helping to get the word out that we don’t need petrochemicals or pesticides, and hopefully it encourages others to try to do some of this themselves with instructions I will be adding in future videos. Except for running after turkeys, I encourage you to try this at home!

The family friendly antics of a crazy homesteader.

07/22/2022

Food Insecurity Donation Event This Weekend!

Thank you everyone for a great first season! We are now running low, but there are still enough for this last weekend. I would like to take this time to give back to the community. Food prices are soaring, and many food pantries are running low on healthy food. Poland Springs got its start selling clean water to people in cities who thought it was a magic cure, but really they just temporarily stopped poisoning themselves with contaminated water, so they felt better. Healthy food is no different, and affects every aspect of a person's life, so pesticide free berries can go a long way. This weekend, from 11am-dusk Saturday and Sunday, I invite anyone in the area who is in need of healthy food, or would like to deliver it to another, to pick for free. If you are in need, or know someone who is and want to help, come on by this weekend, and I will ask no questions other than "how was your day" or "did you have fun?". There is no shame, because many of us have been there before! I run by the motto, "those who can, must!"

One pint per person, and bring your own containers. If you would like to make a purchase, you are more than welcome to and a container will be provided, but there is no requirement to purchase! Bring the family and friends!

We are located at 460 E Pleasant Street in Northfield NH. I can be reached a 603-344-2979 or [email protected] to check to see if any are left. Stay tuned for the next season for what is to come.

And I launched OldManColbyFarms.com. For now it will just take you here, but wait...

All videos are on Youtube at www.youtube.com/channel/UCN9FbY44TD8n50Oq0cFOpbw so you can see the timeline of antics of a homesteaders, and animal videos!

Thank you everyone once again.

The family friendly antics of a crazy homesteader.

07/20/2022

Thank you for the feedback from customers over the weekend! The message is... more family friendly antics and cute animals. Fortunately, Old Man Colby Farms is full of those, so I will be uploading more fun videos from around the farm. We open again for PYO this Saturday and Sunday at 11am, and I think there will be at least 2 more weeks before this little guy in the video has his fill and the blueberries they are gone. Don't forget we also carry other seasonal items, and eggs all year round. Onion greens, mint, eggs, and PYO blueberries are all available. I go a step further than organic (will be pursuing the certification), and I use no petrochemical fertilizers, and no pesticides... as in none. If I can't grow it without them, I don't grow it, all while using regenerative methods to build up the topsoil! Just as nature intended. While you may hear in the news of lack of fertilizer and reduced crop yields, that doesn't effect this farm at all, and never will, because it is self contained! That's why I can provide a pint of blueberries for only $2 right now.

Because I will be uploading so many videos, I started a Youtube Channel to archive everything. See saved videos on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/exqkwfmr or search for Old Man Colby Farms. Like, subscribe, comment, share, or dislike, I appreciate all feedback to make this more fun!

We are located at 460 E Pleasant Street, Northfield NH, and can be contacted at [email protected] or 603-344-2979. I look forward to seeing you.

07/16/2022

We are open! 460 E Pleasant Street, Northfield NH. Come get some blueberries before they are gone for the season. Hours this weekend are 11am until dusk Saturday and Sunday. Please call 603-344-2979 for questions.

07/13/2022

What is an onion green? You have likely seen scallions and enjoyed a mild onion flavor in a well made dish. The onion green is about 3 times bigger, and about that in flavor, with all of the tenderness of a scallion. I cut just before using, or all that flavor disappears, like many things you buy in the grocery store. They have been strong enough to make me tear up when cutting. I use a bunch almost nightly.

Why not sell the whole bulb? Unlike large onion bulb varieties, this bunching onion will last longer than you if care if cared for. And a week after cutting, it may have regenerated to the same 2.5 foot height with all new leaves. We are used to pulling up perennial plants like this and garlic for the bulb, but the leaves are just as tasty, and not pulling the bulb allows the plant to keep on producing... forever.

No pesticides used, no petrochemical fertilizer, just whatever nature offers on the property, like grass clipping and leaves, and picked right in front of you so you know exactly what you are getting and where it came from. Only a dollar for a bunch, and when I say a bunch, I mean the whole top of the large plant you can see in the image.

If you want to pick some up just before dinner, just call or text 603-344-2979 for a pickup time we can arrange for after normal operating hours.

Please don't hesitate to share this page with friends. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to cut that plant and add it to a stir fry.

07/12/2022

Thanks to wildlife, it appears there will only be a week or two of picking this year. So I am opening PYO starting tomorrow and Monday-Friday 6pm to dusk. Come join me while there are still local, pesticide free, wild blueberries left. Eggs are available, along with onion greens and mint.

07/10/2022

The blueberries are ready! The grand opening of Old Man Colby Farms is on Saturday July 16th. Hours are 11am-3pm Saturday and Sunday for PYO wild low bush blueberries. There may also be free range eggs available for $4 per dozen. Mint is available for 1$ for 10 stalks. Feel free to throw blueberries to the chickens at no cost and watch them run around! We are located at 460 E Pleasant Street, Northfield NH 03276. For a faster response than Facebook, email us at [email protected] for questions.

Please remember that you are in nature, and while there is no machinery in the way, there could be bees, things to trip on on, uneven ground, thorn bushes, and the risks you would face going anywhere in natural areas, so please bring appropriate footwear. If you see an orange marker keep 6 feet away as it could be a potential tripping or other type of known hazard. Please do not bring your own containers, they will be provided. Cash is preferred, though I will try to take a direct Venmo payments (no credit cards) with the additional fee. There a no public bathrooms at this time, so please plan ahead. Parking on the street is prohibited, so please come up the driveway to a paved area. If you don't see anyone when you arrive, call the number on the sign out front and I will appear from the fields to greet you.

06/28/2022

Introducing Old Man Colby Farms to the public, for PYO wild low bush blueberries starting in mid to late July at $2 per pint! In addition to that, varieties of mint, cherry tomatoes, onion and garlic greens may be available (depending on seasonal timing, sales and weather), and picked upon request to ensure they are as fresh as possible. Pricing is very low compared to other farms, as we are just starting out and still a small operation with a lot of room for growth. If you would like an educational tour of how to set up a super easy garden without any more effort than raking leaves, like you already need to do, just ask. I love helping people learn about easy means to easy self sufficiency and healthy food production. If you have a yard and at least 1 tree, you have everything you already need.

Old Man Colby Farms was started by me (I am growing into the Old Man title) 5 years ago as a plot in my land destroyed by logging and covered in moss. I cleaned it up and started planting a few fruit trees and high bush blueberries, only to find my cleanup had allowed acres of low bush blueberries to take hold. I pushed them forward and have doubled production every year, without pesticides, watering, or any care other than adding organic matter, weeding, and soil acidifier, to send nature in the right direction.

I use the regenerative farming approach (throw waste grass, wood, and leaves over the fields, and never till) for low input, high output. While the blueberries took their time to take over I started making garden beds for perennials like onions and garlic, as well as pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, asparagus, fruit bushes, and other than throwing a few seeds down, they take care of themselves after planting. And you can plant more than one type of plant in the same area that don't compete, like strawberries and asparagus, and they each help the other and keep weeds under control without pesticides and back breaking labor.

Long term, I will be producing maple and birch syrup, wine, as well as setting up a large greenhouse for even more in the future. But for now, the blueberries are ready!

Please remember that you are in nature, and while there is no machinery in the way, there could be bees, things to trip on on, uneven ground, thorn bushes, and the risks you would face going anywhere in natural areas, so please bring appropriate footwear. If you see an orange marker keep 6 feet away as it could be a potential tripping or other type of known hazard. Please do not bring your own containers, they will be provided. Cash is preferred, though I will try to take a direct Venmo payments (no credit cards) with the additional fee. There are no public bathrooms at this time, so please plan ahead. Parking on the street is prohibited, so please come up the driveway to a paved area. If you don't see anyone when you arrive, call the number on the sign out front and I will appear from the fields to greet you.