Hello dear flower-lovers,
One of the best things about more balance in our lives is more good farm-grown food to eat. Above is a rare photo of raspberries in a bowl. Most of them went from the bushes to our mouths. ❤ And a not so rare bowl of cherry tomatoes. We're in the season of cherry toms with every meal! So. many. tomatoes. this steamy hot year!
We're finding our way out here in the Northern Driftless on our windy ridge. It's been a beautiful, lush summer, and the corn that surrounds us is almost ready to be harvested even though it's barely August. Lots of water, but not too much, and woof. the heat! It's been steamy. We struggle with the wind, but don't have standing water generally because we're up so high. We feel for our neighbors in the valley!
We harvested the first watermelons this week, and the meat chickens are getting big fast, and will be harvested in August. The flowers are lovely and plentiful, despite the weeds which are also fast-growing and plentiful, but NOT lovely. They love the heat and water the most.
This is our second year raising two pigs for meat harvest, and our first experience with the dark side of animal husbandry. We got two baby pigs in early June who were too young to have left their mama. They needed more milk and TLC from their mom - and the sellers were new to pig farming too. We consulted neighbor farmers, and on their advice, gave them baby formula, vitamins, and all the good organic produce. Fast forward to last week - one of them is thriving, but the other just couldn't get well. After a hail mary of antibiotics and vitamin shots, we ended up putting the sick pig down. We were able to get another to keep the first piggie company - they are very social, and need at least one buddy. But, it was so sad and hard. We're thankful to participate in raising our own meat, but woof, what a heartbreak. Good lesson all around.
Good lessons abound lately - we're continuing transition from a busy, heavy flower production farm to a slower-paced, more diverse farmstead. I'm still struggling with my frienemy, Lyme's disease, and will for a while I think. It's become kind of like a chronic autoimmune thing - if I work too hard, or get too hot, or eat too much sugar, or sleep too little, or crane my neck the wrong way, I feel crappy for the next few days. I know some of you understand the struggle.
A lot of my self-esteem comes from being productive - working hard, and achieving things. It's why I LOVE small family farm business. It's hard work with many variables, can be heartbreaking, and also, so completely gratifying. Like, I did this - Woot! Or, shoot, nobody did that, so I guess it's not getting done - Bummer! Either way, it's a fun ride, kind of like an extreme sport. :):) What is foundational to this kind of work is a strong healthy body to keep up with the physicality of the work. It's why so many farmers stop food farming, or change their business structure as they get into their 40s and 50s. It starts to catch up. The last two years, I've lost the reliability of my strong healthy body. Lyme's has forced me to slow down. Now thanks to a great chiropractor, herbs and supplements, I'm well enough to mostly keep up. But I have to be careful. I.e., I have to make the choice to slow down, rest, and eat well, and attempt balance. No forcing, just gentle reminders from my body and mind, that eventually become not so gentle if I ignore them. I have to choose balance. I have to choose health. Every freakin' day! My standard for that is different from my husband's, and other folks', because of the Lymes. It's really the lesson of a lifetime for me.
Most of the time, I'm thankful for the lesson. I hope that as a result I have more wisdom, and empathy. For others and for myself. It's a good time for that - so many are struggling in many different ways.
We hope that you all are enjoying the flowers, and the bounty of the beautiful, hot summer, and finding moments of peace and joy within it all.
Lots of love from your,
Humble Pie farmers - J, M, E xo
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| healthy piggies - diesel and big rig |
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| Pollinator paradise! |
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| We got to have the U of MN Soil Scientists visit, and investigate our soil. Turns out we're farming on glacial tilth - pretty unusual, and so so cool! |
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| Cheesecurds and ice cream have been had! |
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| And of course, lots of watermelon! |
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| Some fun too, and that's the best! |
