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Peach Trees vs. Deer | Farm Tour This Weekend!

Farm Tour Day

Join Us and Tour Our Farm on June 21st, Once a Year Event

Sharing the story behind an adventure is a great way to share the experience and learnings. Starting the farm has definitely been an adventure. Let us take a hour or two and talk about what we’ve learned and experienced along the way. Much of what we’ve done on the farm can be applied applied in your garden or front yard. Maybe you want to have a few fruit trees. We’ll share how to get started in a practical way.

Every year we do a farm tour day. This is a great chance to meet the farmers and see the farm. in progress. We do tours once per year.

Tickets

Tickets for tours are available at 10AM and 1:00PM. The version of the tour for people wanting to start a homestead is at 3PM.

Click Here to purchase your tickets

Farm tour includes

– detailed tour (family friendly)
– 1/2 lb of honey from our remote mountain location of Troublesome Gap, NC

What to Bring

Just bring yourself and your family and comfortable shoes. We plan to walk on grassy fields and uneven ground.

We are Dirt Farmers and Pesticide / Insecticide Free

If we grow good dirt, then plants will grow and produce abundantly. We use a minimum of organic fertlizers. We avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers. We also don’t use any pesticides or insecticides. We do use natural amendments like woodchips, hay (pesticide / herbicide free) and feather meal.

Diversity of Plants and Trees on the Farm

Let us introduce you to some of the variety of plants, bushes and trees on the farm including

Row Crops
– garlic

Fruit Bearing Trees
– mulberry
– hazel
– black walnut
– figs
– persimmon
– pawpaw
– plumcot
– plum
– apricot
– peaches
– quince
– medlar
– pomegranate
– jujube

Fruit Bearing Bushes
– blueberry
– goji berry
– elderberry
– blackberry
– beautyberry
– goumi berry
– raspberry
– chokeberry / aronia

Specialty
– native cactus (edible / nopales)
– honey bees

Medicinal
– comfrey
– witch hazel
– elderberry

Peach Tree – Victim of Deer
The deer got this peach tree too

Sometimes the farmer fails. I put off adding new smelly stuff stuff to the scent caps on the anti-deer fence and the deer made it into the protected area. The scent caps encourage the deer to sniff the scent cap which is energized. When they smell the cap, they get a mild shock and it scares them and keeps them away from the anti-deer fence. The deer herd is watching and when one the herd gets shocked it discourages them from trying to get in the fenced in area. Changing scents every 90 days retrains the herd. Without that retraining they lose their fear of the anti-deer fence and get inside the protected area.

The deer really liked the tender leaves on the young peach trees. Without the leaves, the trees can’t support the peaches that were growing on the trees so I removed the immature peaches and buried them in the compost pile.


Join Us and Tour the Farm on Saturday, June 21st

Every year we do a farm tour day. This is a great chance to meet the farmers and see the farm. We’ll show you our work in progress and talk about how we do regenerative farming.

Tickets

Tickets for tours are available at 10AM and 1:00PM. The version of the tour for people wanting to start a homestead is at 3PM.

Click Here to purchase your tickets

Farm tour includes

– detailed tour (family friendly)
– 1/2 lb of honey from our remote mountain location of Troublesome Gap, NC

What to Bring

Just bring yourself and your family and comfortable shoes. We plan to walk on grassy fields and uneven ground.

We are Dirt Farmers and Pesticide / Insecticide Free

If we grow good dirt, then plants will grow and produce abundantly. We use a minimum of organic fertlizers. We avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers. We also don’t use any pesticides or insecticides. We do use natural amendments like woodchips, hay (pesticide / herbicide free) and feather meal.

Diversity of Plants and Trees on the Farm

Let us introduce you to some of the variety of plants, bushes and trees on the farm including

Row Crops
– garlic

Fruit Bearing Trees
– mulberry
– hazel
– black walnut
– figs
– persimmon
– pawpaw
– plumcot
– plum
– apricot
– peaches
– quince
– medlar
– pomegranate
– jujube

Fruit Bearing Bushes
– blueberry
– goji berry
– elderberry
– blackberry
– beautyberry
– goumi berry
– raspberry
– chokeberry / aronia

Specialty
– native cactus (edible / nopales)
– honey bees

Medicinal
– comfrey
– witch hazel
– elderberry

Work on the Farm Continues

The work on the farm goes on and everything is growing quickly

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Power of the Pivot and Failing Fast

Engineers who develop new products often use a term called “fail fast”. The idea behind failing fast is that you develop a plan, build a prototype, and then test the prototype. Instead of trying to build the perfect product you build a prototype with the knowledge that you have available now. This approach especially works when the cost of building a prototype is fairly low and the cost of waiting to build a prototype is fairly high. Farming is a situation where the cost of a small scale test is fairly low but the cost of waiting is high (because of seasons and when you can plant different crops, trees and bushes).

One of the examples of our “fail fast” mentality on the farm is our approach to planting trees. Depending on the species, it can take 3-10 years to get a harvest from a tree that you plant. It only takes a few minutes to remove a tree if it is the wrong tree in the wrong place, but it takes years for it to grow. The cost of planting a tree is usually fairly low in labor, materials and the cost of the tree itself.

We have some very different situations on the farm when it comes to

  • soil
  • water
  • sun
  • wind
  • size of the area which determines the cost and effort of installing an anti-deer fence

The same trees, bushes and plants will thrive in one area but struggle in another. There is a value in learning your land. Things like how wet the soil consistently stays or how microclimates impact different plants.

4 Main Areas on the Farm

Aerial view of the farm including the Food Forest, Cushaw Patch and Field #2
Aerial view of the back field

We break down the 4 areas on the farm into

  • food forest
  • cushaw patch
  • field number #2
  • back field

The conditions in these fields are very different when it comes to soils, health of the soil, sun, water retention, etc. The back field has been the most challenging area for several reasons.

  • the soil is depleted from decades of growing and cutting hay from the field (approximately 50 years) without much effort to improve the soil
  • the low amount of organic matter (which determines how well the soil retains moisture) in the soil means that the conditions swing wildly back and forth between dry and standing water
  • full sun and it can be windy
  • lack of a thick layer of top soil means roots have to work hard to penetrate the hard soil

This means that some species of trees and bushes will thrive in the harsh conditions and some really struggle. Usually the conditions that different plants need is well known and best heeded when selecting and preparing sites.

The Approach

Adding mulch to fig tress in the back field

Generally we plant comfrey with any new tree plantings. We keep going back and forth on whether or not we want to put an anti deer fence around the entire back field or just part of it. The advantage of fencing in the entire back field is that we can plant companion plants (like comfrey). The downside is that we have to install the fence (time, money and effort) and maintain it (which is the much higher cost over time). Mowing around the fence and weed eating around fence post takes a surprising amount of time and effort.

While we were deciding about the fence, we put anti-deer tree cages around bushes bushes and trees that we planted in the back field. This accomplished several things

  • allowed us to provceed with test plantings of several different types of trees and bushes (native and non-native)
  • allowed us to plant comfrey around those trees and bushes (deer like usually like comfrey)

Considerations

We are working to establish a small grove of black walnut trees in the back field. Black walnut trees are native to NC and release chemcials at their roots that inhibit other plants from growing around them. We don’t know if comfrey will thrive at the base of a black walut tree. Once a black walnut tree gets beyond the seedling size, deer usually don’t browse on them. As the tree gets to sapling size deer may rub their antlers against the tree which can damage or even kill the tree. Older trees have tougher bark and less susceptible to damage by deer

We need to keep grass from growing in close proximity to the young trees (especially seedlings). Curretly we use wood chips around the base of the tree. If I have my act together that day. I put down cardboard first then wood chips. The cardboard is a biodegradeable weed barrier. The wood chips also help maintain a more consistent moisture level at the tree roots and eventually compost and add to the organic matter and nutrient levels in the soild.

Time to Pivot

We probably do not need an anti-deer fence around area with the walnut trees, especially if we can protect the tree from the weedeater and deer antlers (later as the tree reaches sapling size). Converting from tree cages to tree tubes shown below would make it much easier to trim around the trees.

Tree tube with stake and black walnut tree
Tree tube with stake and black walnut tree

So I’ve started converting the tree caged black walnut plantings to using a tree tubes. This will make it easier to mow around them and maintain them. We also plan to add wood chips around the trees as mulch with cardboard under the wood chips as a biodegradeable weed barrier. I’ve seen vidoes from other farms that have taken a similar approach. Since these are native trees, they should do well. Now time will tell.

Lessons from the Farm

Even on a small farm like ours the variety of situations, plants, and labor requirements prevents us from using a one size fits all approach. Our approach to finding solutions follows this path

  • develop preconceptions – example: how we think a plant might to in an area if planted in a certain way
  • build a prototype – plant a bush or tree in test location with a specific method – example: plant a tree and put it in an anti-deer cage or in a tree tube with wood chips around it
  • test the preconceptions by observing how the planting performs over a season
  • evaluate the results

I’ve said many times that “I can’t impose my will on the farm”. Following a design thinking approach where we dream, prototype, test, pivot helps us innovate and have happy, healthy plants that produce lots of fruits, berries and nuts.

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Rain is Good / Elderberry Season is Coming

We are happy to see the elderberries starting to flower. As you are driving across eastern NC and you see a clump of white flowers this year, it might be elderberry. They are super common in NC.

I enjoy growing and harvesting elderberries. They make such a distinctive syrup and jelly. This year we have started harvesting a limited number of elderflowers. The picture you see below shows the elderflowers that we freezed dried for use in salve and infused honey.

Right now I’m infusing coconut oil with comfrey, elderflower and beewax to make a salve. This is my first time making a comfrey salve. It will be interesting how the salve turns out.

Sometimes I worry that pictures will get repetitive when I show similar scenes. The trees, bushes, fruit and berries are definitely growing and hopefully that comes through in the pictures. Some of the flower blooms are amazing right now.

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Creating a Robust Orchard

Guiding the shape of the trees is important from the very beginning. The best fruit trees that have branches that are robust and don’t shade other parts of the tree. A properly managed tree produces lots of high quality fruit. Getting a tree limb to follow the desired shape may require gentle pressure or pulling the limbs in the desired direction when they are younger and more flexible.

Helping create a shape that is sustainable and healthy for the tree
Biodegradeable stick (ha ha) used to help spread out the branches of the young tree for a better shape

We recently received a quantity of 10 of english walnut seedlings. They went into pots where they can grow this summer and get ready for planting in the fall

English walnut seedlings in pots ready to grow this summer

Cannas and comfrey growing near the tractor shed. I’m really surprised the deer haven’t eaten the comfrey since this area isn’t protected by an anti-deer fence

Canna and comfrey growing together
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Showing the Blueberries Some Love

This is a busy time of year on the farm. One of the tasks is getting the blueberries ready for summer. We use pine straw as a mulch. Using pine straw as a mulch is a good example of function stacking. The pine straw helps to lower the soil ph (blueberries like low ph soil), regulate moisture in the soil, supresses the growth of weeds and amends the soil as it breaks down adding nutrients and organic matter. The pine straw settles during the next few months, so we pile it deep.

The iris, comfrey, clover and wildflowers are blooming. This year we created a natural area. This was a previously cultivated area that is now fallow. The wildflowers that came up are great.

The last couple of days have been spent mowing grass (grows amazingly quick this time of year), trimming under fences and around plants. We’ve also been watering new plantings and fertilizing. Sometimes new trees and plants don’t thrive but that is vastly offset by the wonderful growth on the farm right now.

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The Plan, So Far

Our plan with the trees and bushes we planted this fall and spring has 4 elements

  • co-plant with comfrey
  • use metal tag with a plant number, type and variety
  • protect the tender trunk with a plastic cage or tube
  • placing wood chips around the trees and bushes

Metal tags everywhere

We have used the metal tag system from the beginning of our farm. This has been a great way to track trees and bushes on the farm. We also have maps where the individual plant locations are noted.

Spreadsheet where we track planted trees and bushes

One of the tasks for today was installing metal tags on trees that were planted last fall and this spring. The plastic tag that came with the tree is removed and a metal tag is put in place. This gives us a permanent way to identify a plant and know its history.

Using lots of wood chips

We are still in the process of putting woodchips around all the new trees and bushes. The woodchips helps regulate the moisture of the soil, while keep summer temperatures down at the root ball. They also amend the soil with nutrients and organic matter as the wood chips break down. All of these items help to build healthy soil, which greatly improves the conditions for the tree as it grows. The goal is to put at least woods in a circular pattern around the tree to depth of 8-12 inches.

Metal tag with a number, tree type and variety plus a plastic guard against critters
Tree with tree protector, tag and comfrey
Metal tag with unique identifier and tree type and variety
Comfrey at the base of young tree, growing through the mulch

Here are some pictures from today on the farm

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Grow, Grow, Grow and Peace

It is really nice to spend the day surrounded by all of the springtime explosion of blooms and new growth. The weather this time of year is spectacular and it makes the hard work on the farm seem much easier. Being outside and having the privilege of managing this property is wonderful. Watching everything grow is nice. Sometimes things don’t grow and there is a lesson to be learned. Sometimes that lesson is a technical one. Other times, it becomes obvious, once again, that I can’t impose my will on the farm.

Working on the farm also gives me time to think. It is humbling to know that I’m just a caretaker of the farm. There are trees that we have planted that will still be growing and thriving long after our season has passed.

A great feeling comes as standing in the middle of a growing ecosystem. The goal is to build abundance. Part of that abundance goes back to the land as a way to build better soil and strong plants and trees for future abundance. The rest leaves the farm as food.

Standing there and looking at the trees and plants at the end of the day with sun getting lower, there is a peaceful feeling. What is happening in a crazy world, is still important but is in perspective. That is such a blessing. You can’t buy peace. Sure having a farm is a lot of work and expense but having peace in our lives is priceless.

Orchard with young pears, nectarines, peaches and plums
Hugelkultur mound with blueberries, raspberries and goji berries
Driving back across the field at the end of the day, tired but relaxed
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Fruit Trees Blooming Like Crazy

What a beautiful day to plant trees and work in the orchard! We installed medlar, quince and jujube trees. The trees came from Burnt Ridge Nursery as bare root plants.

We are experimenting with using goumi berry bushes as a nitrogen fixer that also produces a crop.

Trees and bushes that we planted

  • Jujube, Li- Ziziphus jujuba
  • Jujube, Qiyue Xian – Zizyphus jujuba
  • Quince Aronmatnaya – Cydonia oblonga
  • Quince Krimskaya – Cydonia oblonga
  • Medlar, Brenda Giant – Mespilus germanica
  • Medlar, Royal – Mespilus germanica
  • Goumi Berry, Carmine – Elaeagnus multiflora

The last plants we needed to prune for the season were the black berries and raspberries on the farm. Connie knocked those out, so they are ready for summer.

Update from the trees planted in November

We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of growth from trees that we planted last November. The picture below shows a tree that has more than doubled in diameter and grown nicely in height. The tree protectors we installed will help keep small critters and deer from damaging the young tree calipers. We already had one plum tree that had damage (maybe 6 inch above the ground) from a critter chewing on it, maybe a rabbit.

Tree protectors help keep the caliper of the tree safe from critters and me with the weed eater
Tree protector in place
Raspberries growing
Raspberries growing
Bare root plants ready to install
Bare root plants ready to install
Blackberries after pruning
Blackberries after pruning
Blackberries after pruning
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Pause Before Spring? No Way, No Pause

Everything is warming up. We have been busy. We have also been using the nice weather to work on cleaning up fallen trees. The bees are loving their new home.

Our garlic is doing well. Garlic is one of the easier crops to grow because it requires so little maintenance until the last few weeks. We sold out of garlic last year, so when it is available in early summer, make sure to get your orders in. We don’t use pesticides or insecticides on the farm.

Sometimes details are important, a toad hopped on my chainsaw box while we were cutting up a tree that fell down in the storm. Connie noticed the small toad and snapped the pic

Tiny toad on chainsaw case
Tiny toad up close
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Planting Pomegranate Trees and More Wood Chips

This time of year is fairly busy on the farm. Activities for this week included:

  • planting pomegranate trees, prickly pear cactus and the last of the goji berries
  • putting out more woodchips (semi composted mulch) around the fruit trees we planted in November
  • clearing a dead tree off the bridge so I could get to the back field
  • moving brush and wood that had been cut a few years ago
  • cutting down more the invasive trifoliate citrus bushes

The weather was spectacular. It was nice to be outside.

Natural Fertilizers for Trees and Bushes

One of the things we have on the farm this time of year is diakon radish (also called field radish). We use it as a cover crop. One of the methods I used when planting trees and bushes was to harvest some of the daikon tuber and put it in the bottom of the hole where the trees and bushes went. The daikon tuber breaks down over time and adds nutrients to the soil near the tree and bush roots. It is especially easy to do when the daikon radish is just a few feet away.

Daikon radish in bottom of hole for tree or bush, a natural fertilizer