Planter Pictures

12 Row Planter

John Deere 8130 Tractor with Front & Rear Dual Wheels

Corn Planting

We sure have been keeping busy over the past month on the farm. We have begun planting corn! First, we worked up the soil to prepare a nice seedbed, then spread down fertilizer to increase the soils fertility levels. After that, all there is to do is plant!! We also do some no-til planting, where we do not work up the soil but rather plant the seed directly into the ground. This limits soil run-off and at times is better for the land.

We also just opened up our roadside stand. We are currently selling beautiful hanging baskets, as well as local strawberries from Lancaster County. The stand will be open Thursday's thru Sunday's during the month of May.

We will also be part of the Strawberry Festival this year at Brandywine Hospital. We will have a little area set up to sell farm fresh strawberries and hanging baskets!! This is our first year at the Strawberry Festival and I am grateful for the opportunity. Our donation to the Brandywine Health Foundation makes me feel proud of our business and family farm.

Other than that, we have just been keeping busy maintaining the farm by cutting grass, replacing fences, and trying to keep the place looking nice. Soon we will begin getting the hay equipment fixed up for a busy season. Hay harvest should begin around the end of this month. Until next time, enjoy the pics and thanks for reading!!

Fresh Strawberries!!

Spring Videos

Here are a few videos of planting and plowing up land.

Seeding Alfalfa

As the old adage goes in farming, "we hit the ground running" this past week. It's been a while since I've spent a 12 hour day working at the farm, but it felt good. We completed all of the work we anticipated getting done. We planted our field of alfalfa and also finished all of our spring plowing. In the plowed fields we will be raising corn this season. Corn is planted in mid-April after the soils have ample time to warm up for proper germination. Alfalfa can be planted as soon as the weather permits. It thrives on cool, damp conditions. This is the earliest we have ever planted alfalfa on our farm. That's 115 years!! That really says something. Lol.
We will most likely begin planting our tomato seeds anyday now and continue to prep for corn planting season. It looks like these above average temperatures are going to stick around for a while. Enjoy!!

In the field planting alfalfa with John Deere & Grain Drill

Plowing up land for corn planting

Magnificent Weather

Wow! This weather makes me think it's May already!! We have really been taking advantage of it on the farm. We are busy this week doing all kinds of different chores. We are still preparing our field to seed alfalfa. We have been disking it to prepare an ideal seedbed for the new crop. Disking works up the soil and levels it out.

We also just finished applying Nitrogen fertilizer to our wheat crop. The nitrogen along with these above average temps will allow the wheat to really take off and begin growing at a good pace. We are also preparing to seed tomato plants in our greenhouse. We are planting both large fruited tomatoes and smaller, cherry tomatoes. We will eventually plant them in our garden to harvest for our roadside market. Are any of you thinking about getting out into the garden yet?? I know that our local supermarket already has pansies available.
Until next time, enjoy this beautiful weather!!

The seedbed for our alfalfa crop

It is about a 15 acre field

The disk harrow which smooths out the field

Our wheat crop beginning to grow

Wheat field. We have about 50 acres planted this season

Preparing Fields for Planting Alfalfa

Spreading Dry Fertilizer on the field

This fertilizer is high in potash, which alfalfa plants feed on

Mentally Tough

Let's pray for a good alfalfa crop!! 

2011 Pics

Grain Cart waiting for Truck to Arrive

Combine Harvesting Corn Maze Field

Last Weekend of Maze "Snowed Out"!

Hay & Straw in our Barn

Load of Hay Ready for Delivery

Welcoming 2012 with Open Arms

Well, it has been way too long since I have updated the farm blog. Since the last check in, many things have occurred. We had a successful corn maze season, harvested our corn and soybeans, and have been preparing for 2012 all winter long.
The harvest last fall was a disaster. Due to drought conditions throughout the 2011 growing season, our yields were under half of what we normally run. Thanks to crop insurance we were able to stay in business for another year.
The corn maze & fall festival went really well except for the last weekend when we got "snowed" out! That weekend sums up my whole perspective of 2011.  Have you ever had that feeling where no matter what you do or how hard you try, things just keep going in the opposite direction? Well, that is how I felt.
If I took one thing out of the whole season, it was that you have to remain mentally strong. 
My family and I have been busy preparing for the 2012 season. With a positive outlook on things, I truly believe this year can be a success. We have a nice looking crop of wheat beginning to grow(planted last fall), and are currently preparing land for our spring planting. We intend on planting alfalfa hay towards the end of this week. Check back in & enjoy pictures we accumulated over the past 6 months!!