Never, Ever say Never

Eight years ago we completed installing an 8 foot high deer fence around 4 acres of our crop land, and after that project, we said we’d never build another such fence. The deer fence works incredibly well and requires little maintenance which we are thankful for but it was a lot of work to clear the fence line, then move the rocks away from the fence line, dig the post holes, concrete the wood fence posts, install the 12 foot high T-Posts, stretch the 8 foot high tensile wire, and finally hang the gates.
So here we are again – fencing in another 1.5 acres of crop land all because of deer – just so that we can have a better crop rotation plan. So that is what Carl and I have been doing these past couple weeks. Removing the old barbed wire and locust post fence, cutting down the trees that for the past decade we let grow along the old fence line and in our first and abandoned small fruit orchard, clearing rocks that we removed from the fields and piled along the old fence line with the belief that we would never be fencing in this field. We are doing this all because we enjoy growing food and want to maintain healthy soils and our rotation plan is an important aspect in nurturing healthy soils.
The project began with us bush hogging the hillside below our house which hadn’t been done since the deer ate all 64 blueberry bushes and a combination of 200 blackberries/raspberries that we planted ten years ago. We also removed our first greenhouse, which seemed quite large at the time in being 12 foot wide by 16 foot long, and was used the first couple years of our farming career in starting all our transplants. It was made out of PVC and collapsed just after two years because PVC just isn’t meant for long term use when exposed to sunlight.
Our first 12 x 16 foot greenhouse. This greenhouse was used for propagating our plants our first couple years of farming. After that, we up-sized to a 30 foot x 96 foot greenhouse.
Our first 12 x 16 foot greenhouse. This greenhouse was used for propagating our plants our first couple years of farming. After that, we up-sized to a 30 foot x 96 foot greenhouse.
Next Alvin came over with his track hoe and pulled all the trees up so that most of the roots were removed reducing the chance that the tree would grow back. Since we are placing this land back into crop production we want to minimize the shade created by the trees.  Not to mention, we don’t want the trees falling onto our fence. Alvin pulled a lot of trees out of the ground in just a couple hours so now I feel that we might actually finish this project in the next month which is our goal.  Once the fence project is complete, we will replant berries, and are excited about the prospect of including such fruits in with future CSA Shares. CSA Members, if you are reading, it may be a few years before these will begin yielding enough, so patience is needed.
Just a small portion of the trees that Alvin pulled up with his Track Hoe.
Just a small portion of the trees that Alvin pulled up with his Track Hoe.
We are using our 16 foot trailer to haul the limbs out of the fields so that they can be stacked on our brush pile. So far we have hauled around 6 loads of limbs out of the field (more or less.)
We are using our 16 foot trailer to haul the limbs out of the fields so that they can be stacked on our brush pile. So far we have hauled around 6 loads of limbs out of the field (more or less.)
Our brush pile that is 10 feet high by 20 feet long by 20 feet wide. We are creating bird habitat with this brush pile. The sparrows love hiding in our brush piles!
Our brush pile that is 10 feet high by 20 feet long by 20 feet wide. We are creating bird habitat with this brush pile. The sparrows love hiding in our brush pile!
The trees are cut into firewood then stacked in our wood shed and so far we have stacked a couple cords of wood from this project. This firewood will be stacked in our wood shed very soon.
The trees are cut into firewood then stacked in our wood shed and so far we have stacked a couple cords of wood from this project. This small pile of firewood will be stacked in our wood shed very soon.
Roots are also put on the brush pile. They are HEAVY so we roll them into the front-end loader then dump them on our brush pile.
Roots are also put on the brush pile. They are HEAVY so we roll them into the front-end loader then dump them on our brush pile.
Carl taking a break while clearing the fence line for Deer Fence #2.
Carl taking a break while clearing the fence line for Deer Fence #2.
In between farm jobs such as seed starting (seeding into flat inserts, that are kept in the greenhouse, just so the seedlings can be pampered before they are transplanted to the field.) and direct seeding (placing tiny seeds directly into the soil out in the fields) we’ve been potting up plants that will be sold at area tailgate markets. We sell plants that are well adapted to our climate, which we know, because they are the same cultivars that we grow for fresh produce that is distributed to our CSA and sold to tailgate market customers. We have trialed a lot of cultivars and have selected those that grow well here in Western North Carolina. Be sure to stock your garden with plants from your local farmers’ market. We use the McEnroe soil mix, that is a little pricy, but has OMRI’s stamp of approval!
Danielle making soil mix. We add Kelp meal, bone meal and blood meal as a nutrient boost for our plants when potted from little cell insert trays into pots for them to grow on and become healthy teenagers before they are planted into someone’s garden. (All are OMRI products.)  Photograph taken by Justin Massey.
Danielle making soil mix. We add Kelp meal, bone meal and blood meal as a nutrient boost for our plants when potted from little cell insert trays into pots for them to grow on and become healthy teenagers before they are planted into someone’s garden. (All are OMRI products.) Photograph taken by Justin Massey.
Plants that were seeded into 200 cell inserts and ready for potting up.
Plants that were seeded into 200 cell inserts and ready for potting up.
Broccoli being potted up into packs of 4 plants.  Photograph taken by Justin Massey.
Broccoli being potted up into packs of 4 plants. Photograph taken by Justin Massey.
Danielle and Justin have been potting up a lot of herbs (not the kind you are thinking of), veggies and flowers.
Danielle and Justin have been potting up a lot of herbs (not the kind you are thinking of), veggies and flowers.
Our little seedlings in the greenhouse are growing quickly so we spent a couple days this past week transplanting them to the field. We use a tractor and transplanter to set our plants out in the field, that I tried to capture on video, but my video didn’t turn out so well.  Say your prayers that all of our transplants grow into edible food for us, our CSA Members and tailgate market customers!  We were fortunate to have about an inch of rain since these transplants went out to the field so no need to set up irrigation yet.  YEA!  It is my guess that Tony, Townes and Nern didn’t miss hauling rocks around the field.
Plants ready to be transplanted to the field. This past week we transplanted our first succession of greens out to the fields. This includes broccoli, kale, mustard greens, boc choi and lettuce.
Plants ready to be transplanted to the field. This past week we transplanted our first succession of greens out to the fields. This includes broccoli, kale, mustard greens, boc choi and lettuce.
Boc choi looking so delicious that we were tempted to eat this entire flat. We controlled ourselves and resisted the urge so these little seedlings have now have been transplanted out in the fields.
Boc choi looking so delicious that we were tempted to eat this entire flat. We controlled ourselves and resisted the urge so these little seedlings have now have been transplanted out in the fields.
We use rocks in securing the floating row cover to the ground. We haul a lot of rocks around the fields. Often times I feel blessed that we have a lot of rocks.
We use rocks in securing the floating row cover to the ground. We haul a lot of rocks around the fields. Often times I feel blessed that we have a lot of rocks.
Danielle hauling a bag of rocks that probably weighs about 40 or 50 pounds. She is tough!
Danielle hauling a bag of rocks that probably weighs about 40 or 50 pounds. She is tough!
Our first succession of transplants planted out in the field and covered with floating row cover.
Our first succession of transplants planted out in the field and covered with floating row cover.

Leave a Reply