It was a good year...a very good year...

4/4/23

New Year Greetings! April , and Aries is the beginning of the zodiac and for me and many others who follow the rhythm of an Earth Path it marks the New Year. Today it is snowing again and it is expected to accumulate (the last I heard) 6 to 11 inches!

This last Sunday we were outside and enjoying a warm day with melting and sunshine. It was a blessing for sure. Pixi my horse kept on whinnying to me and I knew what she wanted...to go across the driveway to her pasture. Unfortunately that was out of the question as the gate is completely covered with snow.

So what I'm going to do is write as quick of a recap as I can for last year 2022.  So here goes...

Spring: we purchased a different turkey to raise; Artisan Broad Breasted Bronze. They were a forager and grew slower than the Broad Breasted Bronze. So we thought this would help with feed cost.  That was not the case. Needless to say, we will not be raising those again. I'll have to write a special blog (maybe I did sort of already...) about those goofy turks. 

We started seeds again in the back room of the cottage. We have discovered that this works really well for us. As usual I went over board and we had extra  to sell besides plenty for our garden. So between caring for the turkey chicks and the plants that keeps up busy until June.

The Sandcherry hedge was so impressive with it's blooms and aroma. 

Summer: What an amazing growing season for the garden! We couldn't of asked for a more perfect rain fall and temperatures. Our gardens were beautiful and bountiful. The Sandcherry hedge produced more than we could harvest. My mom helped with harvesting beans and the sandcherries. She helped with canning and make jelly.

Foraging and wild crafting was a huge success with High Bush Cranberries, Self-Heal, Sumac and a few wild flowers for flower essences.

Fall & Harvest Season: We knew we wanted to can more in preparation for either/or soaring food prices or  shortages. We certainly are prepared that's for sure. We sold some fresh produce and  have also sold some canned goods as well. 

We were able to harvest for the first time our horseradish! We didn't take a lot as we wanted to give it one more year of growth. This next year we should be able to freeze enough to sell.

The harvesting of the turkeys and rabbits provided more than enough for us to last through until this year's harvest, and we have sold enough to help with the cost of raising them both. 

We had two beloved pets pass over this fall; Puss Cat and Chiree (oldest son's paint mare). Both were elderly and although it is expected, it is never easy. We still have Pixi  and even though she is a lone horse, she really doesn't mind as Val our lab really like each other and often chase around with each other in the pasture. Puss Cat (aka Trigger) moved to this little homestead with us 12 years ago. He was at least 2 yrs. when we came here. 

The Labyrinth is almost finished. Maybe it is though as I keep thinking it doesn't really need mulch in the pathways. I was able to walk it the first part of winter in the snow. But with so much accumulation I couldn't keep it shoveled. 

Winter:  A time of renewal, rest and contemplation. And of course planning the next year's garden. 

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