Looooong time no see! We've grown!

It has been well over a year since I have posted in this blog!


And let me tell you, a lot has changed since then, and not to worry, you will be filled with plenty of news of the past, plus, plenty news from here on out of the present and future.

So first, let me say, last year we had quite some fun. The farm grew past "just chickens" so as a heads up I will now be posting plenty about our gardens, greenhouse, and foods we'll make from it as well. Second, let's go through what happened since my last post:

Last heard, I had a Yak named Djimon, a flock of assorted hens and a few roosters in a "Bachelor Pad," and it was mid winter. Well, since then, we ended up selling our sweet Djimon as it didn't look like he'd have any ladies for him anytime soon, so, we felt it would be best he go to a better farm. Also, most of the flock we had last year/previous year is now gone. We no longer have Wyandottes, hatchery-based Easter Eggers, only got one of our original McMurray Brahmas left, no more New Hampshire hen, no more Bachelor pad, sadly lost both of my Shamos, and now we've come a long way. Shortly after my post last January I hatched out some babies and continued hatching til fall. Many of those babies were the sons and daughters of my White Crested Black Polish, Wheaten Ameraucanas, and others. Well, those kids grew up and had their own kids just this year, so, some of my hens are now Grandmas! And I've got some Grandpas too, as well as a Great-Grandpa. (Soon to be Great-Great Grandpa)

Here's a Granddaughter of my smooth Tolbunt Polish "Bowie"

Another granddaughter of his, this here is a mottled Easter Egger. (crest and all)

During the time of the chicken and Yak changes we also had a very large (20' x 54') Greenhouse built, after the sad collapse and death of our last but rather flimsy one. Our new greenhouse was home to hundreds of tomatoes of all colors, shapes, sizes, flavors as well as hundreds of different peppers, handfuls of Squash, and even bigger handfuls of Melons and Watermelons. Yes, out here in the cool damp Pacific Northwest, I for the first time successfully grew and at my own Watermelons and Melons! And, these weren't your traditional bland store-bought seedless or Canteloupe types, they were rare Heirlooms of amazing color and flavor.

Orangeglo Watermelon. Rich, sweet flavor and a hint of tropical. We saved plenty seeds from this fella and are growing them now.

Big plate of the "catch of the day," Some various delicious tomatoes, a Corbaci pepper laid in the center, and some Melrose peppers on the outskirts.

Oh yeah, and I also grew some Banana trees and a Fig in the greenhouse. Sadly as winter came along it got much too cold for the Bananas, even with a little supplementary heat, and they died. The fig made it through just fine though, and actually produced that very year I purchased it! The figs came in late though, and never got to fully ripen.

So, that passed, and it is now the new year of 2012. What's happened in the last few months? Well, I "restarted" the greenhouse with new and more various Nightshades and Cukes, hatched out some more chickens, and so on. We still don't have any four-legged Livestock (forgot to mention, George the goat is also gone. He too was lonely) but still have lots of chickens, and have been on a mission to fill our property with food! Plant food, that is. We've purchased a TON of different trees, shrubs, etc, some that bear fruits and nuts you've likely never heard of, and never thought would grow out here. More on that later.

In the mean time, it's good to be bloggin' again.