Yellow dust fills the air. Clouds come and go. The temperature is pleasant. Wind gusts surprise me as they suddenly pound Hoopty’s walls. Just as sudden as they arrive, they disappear. Flowers are visited by ravenous bees as they zoom from stigma to nectaries. Finally, the life, color, and light we have longed for all winter long has announced its return and, with it, a new season.

New Year, New Hip

Gratitude fills me as I meditate on how God so lovingly & patiently  guided us through the entire process of hip replacement surgery. To be such a little speck of dust and still be recognized by the Most High is sobering.

As I type this blog, I’ve arrived at six weeks post-op and have been released from therapy. My mobility is improved. Arthritic pain is gone. We consider this surgery a blessed success.  Prayers that the next hip surgery is as successful.

Will recovering I’ve had to take a huge step back from the farm. To say this has been challenging is a terrible understatement! All of the creatures on this homestead – feathered or furry – are MY babies. Although I’m not responsible for much of their physical care, I do feel wholly responsible for  them. After all, this was MY dream! Then I am reminded that this family made my dream OUR dream. It was together that it came true and it has to be together that we maintain it. Keeping these reminders close to my heart eases the worry, soothes my mind.

One fur baby, in particular, was quite disturbed about the absence of Mama Farmer. Only able to view me grom his ourdoor enclosure on the way to and from physical therapy appointments for a total of eleven days, Brady became very, how should I say, concerned? He’s too greedy to stop eating completely. However, he did eat far less than usual, leading to visible weight loss. We had decided that it was best for me not to spend in direct contact time with Brady until, at the very least, my drains were removed. I was sent home from the hospital with two. Brady being the curious, rambunctious large dog he is, one can easily see how things could easily go south – QUICK! It was so hard for me to be away from my darling baby. Several nights, he brought me to tears as he howled throughout the night. However, eleven days post-op, Brady and I got the reunion we both needed! He gave me the biggest embrace – pure happiness.

Salvaging Winter’s End

While many view winter as a time to rest reset for the coming season. We do not rest much at all. However, resetting is very necessary. This is one task we take under slowly as winter moves along. With my down time being a peak time we would normally complete these tasks, we are yet again behind. Since we have decided to forgo our regular summer market, some things are off the to-do list.

• Hatching Summer Chicks – To keep our supply of eggs fresh, we have a yearly rotation. Although anything can happen, this does help ensure we have plenty of layers to keep up with our growing Eggs by BHG membership. It’s basically out with the old and in with the new. We didn’t get this project started as early as we had hoped to. The earlier, the better! Why? This hatch seems to be primarily males, unfortunately. Since the females lay the eggs, they are what we need. Starting earlier would have allowed us time to do another hatch that would be laying by summer at the latest. We did purchase a dozen Barred Rock eggs from a local farm and added about ten of our own eggs to fill up our incubator to try again. We prefer about ten new hens each year and cull about that many chickens yearly as well. This keeps our chicken math simple, well as simple as chicken math can be!
• Breeding Our Rabbits – Last year, we decided we wanted to breed our rabbits twice a year. One in late December to be ready in spring and again in late September to be ready in early winter. This twice a year breeding yeilds the most adoeable cuties of which we sell. We put these funds right back into our fertilizer team, updating their enclosures, water bottles, and puechasing feed and grooming supplies. While the surgery did not stand in the way of this, the need for the surgery did. Many days, I was stuck in bed on pain meds threw my entire routine out of order!
• Certifications, License, Permits, and Renewals – Most of these are done at the beginning of the year. This is why most businesses start the calander year in the red, and we are no exception. While things like our growers permit require no money, other things such as this website renewal run upwards of $300/year! Since hubby works during business hours, it is my responsibility to get such paperwork and fees taken care of, but yet again, quite a few of these off-season tasks have not yet been completed. Most concerning is our recertification for  Certified Naturally Grown. We have spoken to the team, and they’ve been so willing to work with us to make things easier. We are happy to be a part of the CNG community.

What’s Been Planted

That is the question! At this point, it is likely simpler to express to you what we have not planted as we have started so many seeds and already have begun to set out spring plants. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in small quantities have been set out in raised beds. In the next few days, we will be clearing rows to set tomatoes and cucumbers out in Hoopty.

Fennel, lettuce, and various herbs have also been set out. Unfortunately, our trays of kohlrabi, collards, and cabbage sat in the trays so long that they became stunted. We had to toss those trays into the compost. Since our spring is basically a preview of summer, it’s unlikely we will have enough time to restart these items. We will add those to the list of other items we will not have the privilege of growing this season. Among these are onions, leeks, and rutabagas. Although it is a little late, we will try to get some mustard greens started in the next few days, and hopefully, we will get at least one harvest before the hear sets in.

What’s Growing On

Although I am getting around well, I am not secure with my temporary, new gait. So anytime I am anywhere outside of the home you will like see me using my rollator. As I toured the high tunnel for the first time aft the surgery I was so impressed with how well every thing was growing. I had immense pride in the family for maintaining things so well. I did not want to leave! We recently began harvesting our snow peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and Swiss Chard. These fresh veggies have been a welcome treat for lunch and dinner.

We have also enjoyed growing, harvesting, and eating mushrooms from our NorthSpore mushroom kits. They grow so fast that it’s hard to keep up! We feel that one day this will be something we will offer to the public. However, right now, we are enjoying cooking them in various ways ourselves. We have learned so much about how mushrooms grow in this short period of time. Perhaps next year, after I’ve completely rehabilitated, we can make this available to our local community. You may check out some of our learning over on our YouTube channel.

We currently have Swiss Chard and eggs in abundance. Our Eggs by BHG subscription will close at the end of the month. Now is the time to grab your subscription! If you are local to the Wiregrass Area, do check out our Shop Page. We are also currently packaging up our tea blends as the stock had sold out. As the season progresses, we will be adding carrots, Snap Peas, and all the other homegrown goodness our farm has to offer.

Home Is Where The Farm Is

Over the last month or so I have come to realize just how much I love our homestead. Being here, where God has helped us to create a haven is a privilege. Although it has its ups and downs, here is where I feel peace. Here is where I find rest. Not just physical rest from work because lets face it, the homesteading lifestyle is not one of ease. I do, however, find rest from anxiety and worry. I find therapy with each cuddle I steal from a bunny or nose bop from Brady. Each seed I plant represents belief in a promise that if I do my part He will do the rest. Believe, I do. So to my Hoopty and to my raised beds I go, even if I have to roll for now. The chickens care not, neither do the rabbits, or rows of vegetation growing around me. They require no explanation as to where I’ve been or even how I am doing. Like Brady, they are simply happy I’m home.

Be well – from our family to yours.