Feb 26, 20213 min read

February on the Farm

Welcome to the Farm

The days seem to be getting longer. The chickens have finally started to lay a few eggs after their well deserved winter break. The groundhog has promised us only 6 more weeks of winter. We'll see if he's right... But either way, things are beginning to come alive on the farm.

This year, the very first day of February met us with over a foot of snow. Since then, we've have several significant snows. Although I normally start to prune the rose bushes around this time of year, instead we're enjoyed sledding, some good natured snowball fights, and racing around on the snowmobile.

What I've been up to...

This month I have been planning out my garden strategy - what to grow, crop rotation, amounts to grow, etc. It's hard to believe that in a few months this frozen ground will produce new life!

In the garden garlic bulbs and strawberry plants are snuggled in under a blanket of straw. They seem to be surviving the cold temperatures, winds, and snow. Sadly, last year I wasn't overly successful with my strawberries and I am determined to do better.

In my spare time, I've been enjoying a few books. I recently finished a book titled Forgiven: The Amish School Shooting, A Mother's Love, And a Story of Remarkable Grace by Terri Roberts. It was a tragic and yet inspiring book. Caleb works for the company that Terri used to work for, so it was special to hear her mention familiar people and places in her book.

I also started to read Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat. It has been a fascinating book and I am learning some of the science behind good food. I am inspired to start using some of the new techniques and flavor profiles she recommends.

I've also found myself doing one of the more unfavorable tasks on my list. I started going through the kitchen cabinets to make sure we use all of the food that we bought or preserved last year. It's always nice to have open space for the upcoming harvest. Plus, it saves money when you have an inventory and aren't buying extras (not that this has ever happened to me, cough ,cough). Although this is one of my least favorite jobs, I always feel more prepared and organized once it's done.

What Caleb's been up to...

Caleb started a new project in February. He made us an entertainment center built from reclaimed barn boards. Although not quite finished, it is currently sitting in our living room. It looks very lovely, if I do say so myself. When we first moved the new piece into the house, we realized it just didn't look right where we had intended to put it. We ended up rearranging the whole living room to fit the new entertainment center. Although I wasn't sure at first, I now love the fresh new look we created.

Caleb's favorite holiday came on the 16th of this month - Fastnacht Day. I'm afraid to know how many Fastnachts he actually ate! I did hide a few in the freezer so he'll have some left to munch over the next few weeks. If you're interested in learning more about our Fastnacht Day traditions you can read more about it here.

What Tucker's been up to...

Tucker was elated with the several snowstorms throughout the month. It seems he just can't wait to get outside and shove his face right into the snow. He has the best time rolling and running full force into snowdrifts. He's getting pretty shaggy and will soon need a haircut. We're going to try to hold off until it warms up a bit. However, we will have to trim around his eyes so the poor guy can see where he's going.

For me, February is always a bright spot in the midst of winter. There are lots of fun things to celebrate: Groundhog's Day, Valentine's Day, and Fastnacht Day to name a few. We try to make the most of the final days of winter. Soon spring will be upon us with all it's glorious warmth and beauty. But in the meantime we're enjoying the slower pace before the busy season begins.