For those in our growing zone (and surrounding) it’s no small news that it rained, snowed, and hailed last week.  With the falling temps and cold crops already in the ground I was so terrified of losing everything in the garden and greenhouse I spent one day nearly refusing to look at everything!

But so far the majority of the plants are making it!

My initial plans for the garden and plant sale have evolved a lot during the last month or so.  Our “Stay in Place” has altered our lives in so many ways we never fathomed.  We don’t know if the restrictions will continue through may or not.  I will admit – without this time spent on the farm, I may not have gotten so much accomplished!  I am actually quite grateful for the time I have had.

While the weather was decent (after the snow) and Colton had a day off, he was able to borrow his brothers’ Allis-Chalmers WD-45 (I hope I have that right – I know nothing of tractors!) with a 2-bottom plow to plow up last year’s broomcorn patch.  He had already managed to till the garden – or, what hadn’t been taken up by random plants so far.

Colton started chiseling the second garden – there was too much corn stalk remains to do it with a regular tiller.

In case you missed it – we got more pullets!!  I found a lady about an hour away from us that had a few pullets (almost egg-laying age female chickens) left for sale.  I reserved 20 and picked them up March 28.  It took them a couple weeks to settle in (and for Raisin not to constantly bark and lunge at them) but they finally started laying!  It will take another week or two for their eggs to get to ideal size but they are getting there, and soon we will have more eggs available.

We have had a difficult time keeping up with demand, so thank you to our customers who have stuck with us and have had so much patience during this time!

My original plan was to have a plant sale around May 9 or 16; however, with the current state of things (and my exploding greenhouse) I have gradually been listing some things for sale on Facebook Marketplace and trying to figure out what to do about the sale.  I have seen several events cancelled lately and I don’t want to do a ton of advertising to have it cancelled if I host it at the farm.  I also don’t want anyone to feel worried about contracting this “thing” crippling our economy and normal way of life.

Because of the uncertainty, I am considering doing an “event” where people can pre-order and pick up at designated times or arrange a delivery day to a nearby town.  If you are interested in purchasing plants, be sure to check out our Garden Roster – many plants are still not quite ready for new homes, but some are getting there.  Unfortunately, many of my herbs didn’t germinate well so I will have limited supplies.

If you are interested in any plants, please contact me!  If I do hold an actual event at the farm, the first to be notified will be our newsletter subscribers – so be sure to subscribe!!  I will do my best to provide you plants; also consider Red Barn Nursery – they have amazing varieties and prices!

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support!  You all have been amazing!  Please let us know how you are doing by commenting below, email at jctrustichomestead@gmail.com or our Facebook Page.