mushroom harvesting and more basket making

We harvested our first phoenix oyster mushrooms this week, and this weekend we inoculated five more straw baskets which will fruit in a few weeks. A big thanks to Chris and Eli from Fantastic Fungi for their great spawn! Now we just have to fight off the beetles that are attacking them! I have been researching and so far it seems the best options are bug juice (made from smooshed beetles and water) and Neem (a natural plant oil that deters and kills pests.) We worked super hard today, and tomorrow we will be taking a little time off to visit with both of our dad's for Father's Day.

We hope you have a great weekend, make time for your dad's too!

fruiting baskets

lighter shelf

underside ^_^

new greenhouse setup

the baskets are growing and growing

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

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raising rabbits: newborns in a wind storm

bunbuns love lettuces :) We had eighteen baby rabbits last week, the first litters of the year. We also had a super wind storm the very day after they were born, which knocked the hutch over, and nearly scared me to death. We were in town and had to rush the hour home to check on them, and amazingly enough, they all survived. We shuffled them around, moved two moms with babies inside the house, secured the rest, prepared for the storm. We made it through okay. It's been almost a week now, and they are starting to get their fur and move around a lot, so we will be moving them back outside very soon. It has been pretty cool having them so close, keeping an eye on them all the time, watching them grow. Raising rabbits is always an adventure, and we are learning more every day. I sure am enjoying the process, though. the new mommy eating some lettuce newborns more babies - they look like little aliens the rabbits at sunset Until next time, Angela Kelly...

the good, the bad, and the embarrassing

Our first week and a half on the farm have not been uneventful by any means. In fact, tonight on the ride home I said to the Universe (or more accurately Jonathan, since that's who heard me) "thanks for all the tests you've been throwing at us lately, but that's enough for now, please?" We expected some hard times and lots of hard work, but we weren't ready for random mishaps and accidents that would set us back so soon in the change. Bad things that have happened since we arrived: Jonathan gets a tick and the head is stuck in his back. It's been a week now and I think it's all worked out, but I was really scared. We get locked out of the Jeep, and it's $120 for a locksmith to come unlock it. We have snatched Zaphod (our kitty) off of upstairs windowsills about five times. I smacked myself in the forehead with a knife (apparently I missed the day in class when they tought you basic knife-holding skills.) It was just a little cut, mainly my ego ...

puppy play date

Yesterday Trilli got to have a puppy play date with her best friend, Oreo, and a new boyfriend, Yeti. Everyone in our group has a dog or two, so socializing them is essential. With several large breeds covered in our pack, they can be a bit much at first. Oreo (the pit bull) is quick like lighting, nudging the others with her nose and batting her paws. Trilli (husky and lab) loves to play but has the biggest mouth, constantly barking. We're working on that. Yeti is a basset hound and great Pyrenees mix, still growing and just beautiful. He got along with the girls wonderfully, outside taking turns pouncing on each of them. It's great to watch a pack of dogs together, it's so natural for them, their own kind; friends. Hopefully next time I'll remember to bring my camera! Until next time, Angela Kelly

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