Author Archives: itfarmer

No Room to Move !

Posted on March 29, 2012 by itfarmer

Bareroot Apple Seedlings in My Hallway Last Thursday I finally received the fruit tree seedlings that I’ve been waiting months for. The order contained 75 apple, 25 wild plum and 25 red elderberry plants which all arrived in a single box as … Continue reading →

Posted in Apples, Chickens, Grapes, Pets, Trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spring has Sprung

Posted on March 21, 2012 by itfarmer

Apple Buds Spring has sprung and with it comes a new period of growth to replace “the winter that never came”.  On the first days of spring the tempurature is nearly 35 degrees F. warmer then the average, and all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Celery, Onions, Spring, Trees, Uncategorized, Weather | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Starting Early

Posted on March 5, 2012 by itfarmer

I’ve been waiting for several months to experiment with fruit tree seeds, and the time is about right to thaw them out and give them a shot. The seeds have been stratifying in my freezer for several months, which simulates … Continue reading →

Posted in Cloning / Propogating, Fruit Trees, Grapes, Seeds, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cider Press Complete

Posted on February 20, 2012 by itfarmer

Adonica Standing with the Press For the past two days, I’ve had one item which has topped my agenda: Finishing and testing out the cider press I’ve been working on. A good friend, Adonica in the picture above, heard about … Continue reading →

Posted in Apples, Building and Construction, Cider Press, People, Shed, Tools | Tagged , | Leave a comment

If You Want to Taste the Sun, Plant Grapes

Posted on February 14, 2012 by itfarmer

Cloned Grape Vine A few years ago I learned how to clone grape vines, with the intention of growing table grapes, and maybe someday making wine as a side project. Soon after, I began accumulating more and more varieties of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cloning / Propogating, Grapes, People, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cider Press Progress

Posted on February 13, 2012 by itfarmer

Notched Landscape Timbers After working hard all summer on my shed and it’s second story wood shop, I’ve finally gotten started on my first serious project: A cider press.  The design isn’t really that complicated, but it requires a great deal of … Continue reading →

Posted in Apples, Building and Construction, Cider Press, Planning, Shed, Tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Projects for 2012

Posted on February 3, 2012 by itfarmer

Cider Press While the weather is still cool, and before the garden demands so much of my time, I hope to build a cider press in the same basic design as shown above. It’s a very clever setup that makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Apples, Building and Construction, Goats, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wild Side

Posted on January 24, 2012 by itfarmer

While leaving for work the other morning, I spotted a large group of turkeys standing in the middle of the long lane which connects the valley to civilization. The birds seemed to be resting until they spotted me and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Brussels Sprouts, Deer, Turkey, Wild Animals | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Seasonal Pruning

Posted on January 10, 2012 by itfarmer

January is here, and so is my que to prune the fruit trees on the farm. I have been waiting for a good cold frost to put the trees in a deep slumber, and mother nature helped a week or … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruit Trees, Grapes, Pruning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Year of Growth: 2011

Posted on December 31, 2011 by itfarmer

Another year has passed on the farm, and as the old year passes by, it leaves changes much like a glacier grinding and pushing its way to the sea. 2011 brought lots of new equipment and experiences to the farm, … Continue reading →

Posted in 8N Ford Tractor, Afflictions, Apples, Building and Construction, Cauliflower, General, Tomatoes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments