Masthead header

Wow, how is it June already?! Spring on the farm is always so crazy busy and the days/weeks/months seem to really fly by for us! May was a busy one with seeding, yard work, gardening, road trips, getting new babies on the farm and just general living! I loved this last month but something tells me June is going to be even better!!

This week on the farm, I harvested my first batch of rhubarb from the garden and baked a cake and I don’t think it would surprise you to read that said cake is all but 10% eaten already!!

This week we finished seeding sloughs as well. We officially finished seeding last Thursday but my hubby and father in law go back after sloughs have dried up a bit more and seed them. It doesn’t yield that much but it does keep the field utilized, less weeds and looking clean and neat!
On Tuesday, I drove into the city to meet the courier for my 23 new babies..I am beyond excited for these you guys! I will have a separate post for these coming soon to explain what all I got and why 😉
We also worked away in the garden this week. I picked up 60 new strawberry plants as well as transplanted 40(isn) over from my old garden!
We also went crop checking this week and found our fields have really grown already..its so humbling to watch!
A beautiful sunset I captured this week..
and, of course, I couldn’t leave you without a picture of Hudson from this week 😉
Have a great Sunday everyone!

Posted in farm life , gardening , This week on the farm
like tweet pin
add a comment

Its here! Its here! Rhubarb season is FINALLY here! Now, some people love rhubarb and some people hate it. There is no in between. Its tart and full of flavour and tastes amazing when mixed in with brown sugar. I, of course, am on the team that loves rhubarb. I crave it and miss it when its done producing in early Summer. But for these few glorious weeks of Spring..I now have unlimited amounts of rhubarb in my very own garden. I have missed having access to these plants since moving to the farm (my mother in law had these plants but I didn’t have any) But today, I went out and harvested my first batch to make my moms amazing rhubarb cake

Can I just state how exciting it is to be back into the “eat what you grow” season? I harvested these rhubarb stalks this morning, brought them inside and chopped them up, washed them then bagged them and placed them in the fridge for a couple of hours while I finished yard work. Then, once Hudson was down for his nap, I got to work baking the most delicious cake made from homegrown rhubarb and a freshly picked egg from my coop this morning!

Rhubarb Cake

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
2 Cups Flour
1 Egg
1 1/2 Cups Chopped Rhubarb
1/2 Cup Shortening ( I used baking margarine)
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tsp Soda dissolved in 1 Cup Sour Milk (I used 3/4 Cups of Milk with 1/4 Cup Vinegar)

Mix together the above ingredients. Put mixture into a 9×13 pan. This goes on top of cake before baking:

1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Margarine

Mix together and sprinkle over batter. Bake 35 mins at 350

The result?

Its delicious. You should make it…like, now! Enjoy!

Posted in Baking , grow your own food , rhubarb
like tweet pin
add a comment

Its finally that time of year again where one can find themselves in the garden as soon as day breaks. This morning it was still a bit cool in the shade to work outside, but Hudson was sleeping so I took advantage of my alone time in the dirt! I went to work weeding the flower beds and admiring the light that streams thru the lilac hedge. And then I grabbed my camera to take some snaps of my garden in its beginning of the season stage. I couldn’t help but think how amazing gardening is for your health, your sanity, your soul..

I don’t know about you but, when I am in the garden, its where I do my best thinking. I talk to myself; sometimes out loud! I plan, I think, I get excited! Being outside inspires me, energizes me and motivates me to do more..does that happen to you?
As the sun was rising, I couldn’t help but admire the solitude that comes with being out here. I have always been one to enjoy my alone time so, as a new mom, you can imagine how much I treasure these moments alone in the garden. I pulled weed after weed while listening to the songbirds sing their beautiful songs. I found myself smiling while the dirt filled the cracks of my hands…gardening truly is amazing..
The other day, Hudson and I were watering my vegetable plot and I was explaining to him what I was doing and why (I am bound and determined to make a gardener out of my children!) when it hit me that he will also be eating from our garden this year (mashed peas, anyone?) and I cannot tell you how excited that made me! Here I am making this yard beautiful for myself and my family, and I’m even going to be able to feed my son with my hard work..brilliant!!

I have dreamed of this garden for 4 years now and being able to finally put my plans to play is nothing short of a miracle around here. But if you need me this Summer, I’ll be here..in the garden..playing, planting, planning..

Posted in Farm Garden , gardening
like tweet pin
add a comment

  • Lynette - Being creative whether with art or gardening is always good for the soul.ReplyCancel

Yesterday, Hudson and I went in to the city for a day of greenhouse shopping with my mom. May Long weekend is notorious for being busy as gardeners finally feel able to put their skills to work in the yard without much danger of frost occurring! I was so excited to see what I could find this year that would help transform my new yard into the dream garden I envision it to be (hello English/Cottage Garden!) Of course my colour theme this year is based on the usual cottage garden themes: Pinks/Purples & Blues..and the garden centres did not disappoint!! One thing I definitely noticed was that Lavender is “the” plant this year, I found it everywhere! Which is interesting because I have long loved lavender and looked for it but because I garden in a cold, Northern climate, I never thought I’d see it! But here it is, in all its fragrant glory

Overall I am extremely excited for my purchases this year. I found a few gorgeous perennials that were on my list (and am currently thinking I should have bought more!) including 2 gorgeous 3 foot tall purple salvias, campanula, a pink hydrangea and a purple coneflower (a steal of a deal at just $6.50!)

I did buy a few tomatoes, some sweet bell peppers, onion sets and lettuces (my goal is to not buy bagged lettuce at all this summer, if I can help it!) But the real star of the show is this beauty, my Julia Child floribunda rose. She’s the most perfect apricot colour and smells divine! I believe the local bees will be in love with her all Summer long 😉

In total, I hit up 5 different garden centres and bought at least something from 4 😉 I am so excited to get this growing year started! My mom didn’t do too badly either!
My favourite greenhouse was our last stop. They are the ones I go to for my veggies and roses every year (including this years’ Julia Child rose!) They have aisles upon aisles of the most amazing smelling roses you have ever come across

I loved wandering all the aisles and looking at all the beautiful flowers after what has been one of the longest, coldest winters we have ever had. It made me want my greenhouse that much more!!
Everything looked so beautiful..I wanted one of each!
And another reason why my favourite greenhouse is a favourite of mine? They have animals there..of course!! In the back corner, they have a little goat, some bantam chickens, a few bunnies, a couple of geese and an adorable little kitten. To my surprise, this year they had 2 little chicks with one of their hens. can you spot the 2nd chick? Hehe
Here’s to another beautiful Summer in the garden!

Posted in gardening , greenhouse
like tweet pin
add a comment

This morning Hudson had me up at the crack of dawn, which didn’t bother me too much as it was looking to be a beautiful start to the day! This coming weekend is calling for nothing but clouds and rain so I want to take in as much of the outdoors today as possible! Mid-morning I was able to put Hudson down for his first nap of the day, then immediately proceeded out to the garden to prune back last years twigs, gather up branches and garbage, plant lettuce and admire the beautiful morning light.

One of the things I love most about being in the garden is the sense of calm I always feel. Getting my hands in the dirt has always been my refuge from this crazy world we live in. Listening to the songbirds while the most beautiful light shone all around me was truly what my heart needed today
With this being my first year owning this yard, I am slowly introducing myself to the established perennials and shrubbery that my mother in law generously planted herself all these years she has been living here. Watching them burst forth thru the ground is truly an honour that only a gardener could possibly understand
I got to work cleaning up my new yard
and I cut down more branches than I probably should have
But I did it with love and I did it because I could. And I enjoyed that hour alone in the garden this morning more than you could ever know. When Hudson woke up, I brought him outside with me and we sat on the grass, looking up at all the new greenery on the trees, we collected fresh eggs and we sat on the swing, rocking back and forth until his eyes told me he was ready for another turn in his crib.
This is going to be a beautiful Summer my friends..I can feel it in my bones..

Posted in Farm Garden , gardening , Spring
like tweet pin
add a comment

« Older posts Newer posts