Hogs

Three weeks ago we got some pigs. Seven in all. Five boars and two gilts. The black and white pigs in the picture are Ossabaw Hogs. The small reddish pig is an Ossabaw/wild pig cross. We got these pigs in order to make use of the waste produce we generate. What can't be sold goes to the hog pen. They absolutely love zucchini and tomatoes - even preferring it to feed corn. Later in the fall they will be fattened on acorns and then butchered. In the time we've had them, the boars have been castrated. That was an experience I'll never forget. These pigs maybe small but they are powerful. Oh, and I have to say I laugh every time I go to feed them. They make the most obnoxious but humorous sounds as they chomp up their food. To listen to them eat tomatoes with mouths wide open is just hilarious.

Fruit Tree Nursery Row Update

Here it is mid-September, and this is how the grafted fruit trees look. Its been a continual struggle against weeds but I've kept with it. And to keep the trees growing it has required more organic fertilizer than I had imagined to keep them from 'stalling out' as Farmer Jim calls it. Thankfully, though, the extreme summer heat seems to have passed.

Improvised Watering

The saying around here is, "You're never more than two weeks away from a drought." And it's been more than two weeks since we had any rain. Without water, the fall crops won't grow. To water we have a few options: drip tape, sprinklers or water tank irrigation. We're out of drip tape. Sprinklers work in the house gardens but in the far fields the only feasible option is to use water tanks. The setup seen in the photo is our solution to the lack of rain. It works but it's slow. If I had to do the field layout again I would space the rows wider so that I could drive the red truck down them. With the red truck I could use the 500 gallon tank which would be much faster. Live and learn, I guess.

Earthway Seeder

This handy little tool is an Earthway Push Seeder. In one motion it will open a furrow, drop in seed, and cover everything with soil. It allows the gardener/small farmer to plant a lot of seed very fast and in very precise rows. It has its problems, but for the most part is a great time/lower back saver.