I often think the new year should begin in March instead of January. Winter gradually eases into spring by April and everything done during this transitional month is all in preparation for that very moment. The top of the woodstove is back to being a living room catch-all and the windows are open. The brown expanse outside our windows has turned into a neon green glow in what felt like the period of a day. The yard is filled with the colors of spring and the chickens aren’t going to bed until almost 8 p.m.
BEES
Whenever someone asks me if I want the good news or the bad news, I always say “bad news first, get it out of the way.” So here you go:
We lost a lot of bees. It happens every year and it’s part of modern beekeeping. Hive beetles, mites, and colony collapse just to name a few are all part of beekeeping. We check for threats and without chemicals, we treat for threats. Still, we always lose a few hives. This winter was no different, except slightly worse than last year. Of the three bee yards we lost several hives and several more are weak. The good news however is that we still have bees, our weak hives are getting stronger, and we have already split a few strong hives into nukes (basically bee nurseries) that will soon become full strong hives of their own. The few hives that completely collapsed for no known reason, hence the term colony collapse have a good amount of honey that will be used to give the new hives a head start. We’ll be doing consistent checks of the hives from now until winter and will have photos and video soon!
CHICKENS
Are a farm addiction. The brooder is back to use with happy little chicks. A few Leghorns, Marans, and Araucana’s to add a few white, red and green/blue eggs to the dozens here in about five months. We specifically bought pullets to avoid anymore roosters (we already have four) but determining girl chicks from boy chicks is not an exact science. We ended up with yet another rooster.
Our huge Jubilee Orpington rooster got way too big for the runner and got moved into his very own yard with his very own coop and very own hen this month. Funny thing about roosters, they have one purpose in life- to be in the company of a hen(s). This giant chicken is the sweetest, most timid and gentle rooster we have ever had. That all changed when his hen found a way to fly out of their yard and into her previous yard. He ran to the fence separating them, threw himself into it and hollered like mad! He repeated this madness until I retrieved the hen and returned her safely to his side.
GROWING
A synchronistic pepper story.
After last years bumper crop of honey and the inability to sell it at the places we normally sell honey, we got a little desperate. We borrowed a tent and set up a roadside table at a friend’s winery. One of the people who stopped at the tent was a motorcyclist traveling the Old Oregon Trail. He actually had no interest in buying honey, just wanted some trail history. I happily obliged as any good member of OCTA would. Then out of absolutely nowhere he started sharing his life story as the son of a family of pepper growers. He told the story of his grandfather coming to the United States from Hungary with the family heirloom pepper seeds sewn into the inside of his jacket. His grandfather settled in Wisconsin and grew those peppers for decades. Our visitor explained that at some point the peppers were recognized as the amazing vegetables they are. They are so amazing the town now has an annual pepper fest to celebrate the Hussli pepper! The man walked over to his bike, opened a saddle bag and pulled out….. pepper seeds. He sent us home with a few dozen of two varieties.
The pepper starts are going quite well in the east window of the kitchen and come September, we plan to attend the Beaver Dam Pepper Fest! You never know who may be sent your way. It pays to be kind to all strangers.
THE STORE
It’s just a little store on a little street with a little bit of everything. When you find something you love, you want to share it. Books, honey, eggs, candles, plants, lip balm, heirloom seeds, locally made aprons and catnip toys. Catnip toys you ask? It was an experiment I had to try. I grew an exorbitant amount of non-gmo catnip last summer and decided to make some fabric catnip stuffed fish for Christmas gifts. This is a family filled with fur babies. So, pet gifts are a must.
The cats actually loved the aromatic fabric fish, so of all the obvious things a homestead can bring to a store, this one may not fit the mold, but you stick with what works.
We are only having pop-up hours right now, but if you are in the Kansas City area feel free to check out our Facebook page for more information.
And that is the end of March’s Farm Notes. April is here and the woods are calling with the whispers of morel mushrooms and the gardens are inviting me to plant them.
Thank you for reading~
Audrey L Elder
Fourteen Acre Wood
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