Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Many, many thanks to my good friends Kathy and Dianna. Together we planted 16 fruit trees at their farm, two chicks ranch. All told, 6 plum, 5 cherry, 3 pear and 2 apple were added to their chicken run. It was a good site. I've found poultry and fruit trees to work well. It will be a few years till the trees flower and fruit. I look forward to that day.

Heading Home

After two weeks in Oregon, it's time to head home. Nick and I got a ton of work done. Planted some trees, stacked some firewood, and most importantly gathered a ton of scion wood. The fridge is full. Most of it goes to fill customer orders. I feel we made a good start to getting those orders done. It is quite a labor intensive effort to get it gathered, cut, sorted and properly located for each order. But it is gratifying work. It was bittersweet to leave. Nick and Carla are like family. I am eternally grateful to them for allowing me to visit. Were it not for Nick I would not be in a position to start my own orchard. Not only did he teach me how to graft, but he supplied me the necessary scion wood. Both Nick and Carla are absolutely the nicest and most generous people.

Scion

Nick has been quite generous in allowing me to gather scion for my own orchard. Seen here is the first package that I am sending home. It is apple and pear varieties that I believe will do well in the midwest.

Another Favorite Vegetable

The humble leek plant. Another of my favorite garden veggies. The leek and Oregon are just made for each other. It will overwinter without a problem, and doesn't suffer damage from soil which in winter is nearly always wet. Plus it can attain quite large size. One or two is sufficient to make a vegetable omelet in the morning to feed three people. And so tasty too.