Farm Update: Quiet Days, Busy Bees, and Market Prep
Life on the farm doesn't always bring big, dramatic stories and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. This week was full of those small, steady rhythms that keep the farm moving forward, even when things feel pretty quiet.
Egg Production: Some Good News, Some Challenges
Our chicken flock is in full swing with egg production right now. The "old girls" are laying reliably, while the younger pullets are still a few weeks away from joining in. We did solve a small mystery that had been cutting into production: one of our Cuckoo Marans had turned into an egg eater. She's now been gently relocated to live out her days with a separate flock of older hens where she can enjoy her retirement without causing mischief in the laying boxes.
Duck egg production hasn't been quite as strong. Sadly, we lost several of our ducks to coyotes earlier this year. Despite our fencing and regular checks, the ducks find new ways to dig under and create just enough of a gap to wander out into danger. Nature is persistent, and we do our best, but some losses are part of farm life.
Right now, two of our remaining hens (and one chicken) have gone broody. There's always a chance they may hatch out a few ducklings, though as many duck keepers know, ducks don't always have the best track record as sitters. We'll keep watch and hope for the best. It's funny to see a chicken and a duck sit on the same nest.
Swarm Hive Settles In
The swarm we caught yesterday seems to have fully settled into its new nuc box. This afternoon, we watched as foragers returned home carrying in bright pollen loads. That's always a good sign that the colony is working and growing. This evening, I even managed to capture a picture of a lone guard bee keeping watch at the entrance.
We did have some concerns that another one of our hives might follow suit and swarm, but as of today, we haven't seen any further signs of swarm preparation. We'll continue to monitor them closely as the season progresses. Swarms after June aren't likely to grow strong enough to survive the winter.
All in all, the bees are looking exceptionally healthy this year. Though we planned on eight hives, hopefully we'll be able to manage nine through the summer and fall. It'll be a bit of unexpected work, but that's life (especially when dealing with honeybees). The bees we've had this year have been quite gentle and easy to work, hopefully the new queen will keep her brood to that tradition.
Seedlings Battling the Wind
The strong winds today gave some of our seedlings at the farmstand a bit of a tough time. While this spring has been unusually wet, folks are often surprised how quickly wind can pull moisture out of the soil (sometimes even faster than full sun). We'll be watching them closely, watering as needed, and making sure the young plants stay strong as they get established.
We still have tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, cucumbers, squashes, strawberries, kale, broccoli, and more down at the farmstand. If you haven't planted your garden yet, stop on by. The summer (and the growing season) will be over before we know it.
In general the seedlings are quite strong, if overgrown. Soon, if they aren't sold, they'll need to go into the ground. Otherwise, they may become root bound and die. So we'll plant them as we'd much rather grow food whenever we are able.
Preparing for the Market
We're now busy preparing for tomorrow's Lovell Farmers' Market at the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library. It's always great to connect with folks face-to-face, share what's happening on the farm, and offer fresh products directly to the community. We hope to see many familiar faces (and maybe a few new ones!) there. Don't forget to swing by from 2PM to 6PM.
That's all for now from the farm. We'll be back soon with more updates as the summer season continues to roll forward. Thanks, as always.