Even though we are still not through heating the house, Terry is rebuilding our woodpile.
The piles also keep down the weeds plus the chickens LOVE to climb on the logs!
Next Winter’s Heat Supply
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Category Archives: Life on a Colorado Farm
What Happens to Old Trees
High winds for a couple of days, snow and the weight of leaves and flower blossoms sometimes cause the collapse of really, really old tree limbs.
Sigh!
But the tree is still living so to shave off a heavy branch is just alright.
April Fools Day Joke
And I just thought we were heading into spring farm work.
Soccer and Being in the First Grade (according to Bladen)
Organized sports are such a fun thing, especially when you are in the first grade and you get a neat shirt with your last name on it, “Like Dad has”.
That is worry on his face, he was afraid he won’t do well.
“Only Dad’s say Football, or Basketball, or Track and also say Coach” I was informed.
But the “REALLY BEST THING is getting to run ALL the time! Football is ‘okay’ but soccer is the best BECAUSE YOU GET TO RUN ALL THE TIME!”
March Came in Like a Lamb and is Leaving Like a Lion
Sunday we got a 65 mile an hour wind from Utah, full of dust, sticks and weeds.
Then we woke up to snow and ice this morning! And it’s cold! 3:00 p.m. and the snow is still on the ground…brrr! 38*
Fourth Step—-Leveling
Here is where art meets practicality. If this part isn’t done right, whoever irrigates will spend the rest of the summer fighting water.
But if it is done right, the water will flow to the end of the field, subbing the ground along the way, without nary a hitch. But if the ground doesn’t have the right fall, if there is a hole or a pocket, or a hill, well—- you have a mess.
Here you can see what the leveled ground looks like.
It’s a good thing Terry got this done, because this morning we had snow. All farming has come to a stand still until it dries out. Having the ground leveled, will help it dry out faster than if it were a big plowed sponge.
Our Water is HERE!
Our water, for irrigation, comes about because of the Uncompahgre Valley Water Project. The project has one storage dam, several diversion dams, 128 miles of canals, 438 miles of laterals and 216 miles of drains.
The project canal runs right by our road and is the source of all water for our crops and my yard and garden.
Usually the water isn’t turned on until closer to the 30th of March, but when a grower calls
for early water (because of raising onions or lettuce) the water is turned on early.
I love the canal, I love hearing the music of the water as is trips along on its way to the states of Arizona and Nevada and California. I think of it as a friend, one who goes away for the winter and then comes back bringing life to our farms.
Apricots are in Bloom
And of course if froze, so that means no fruit. The average in our area is every five years we get an apricot crop.
Still I can enjoy the blossoms, this is one type of apricot (Sun Gold, I think) and here is another, which I don’t know the name.
A Couple of Neat Ideas for Baked Veggie Fries
My family does not/did not like parsnips, but they eat these. ( love to eat them, though). I sometimes save this for company use, but they are JUST THAT GOOD!
Preheat over to 450*
Halve parsnips lengthwise and cut into spears. (You can also add a red potato, sweet potato and fresh beets to the mix, if you like).
Place in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
Combine Parmesan cheese (2 Tablespoons grated), ½ tsp salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ tsp oregano and sprinkle over the vegetables and toss to coat.
Arrange in a single layer and bake until golden brown, turning once.
(I like to add crushed garlic to the mix, makes for a more garlic taste.)
If you sprinkle them on the pan, like above, watch that the seasonings don’t burn. The scrapings are really yummy.
Another idea for Sweet Potato fries- after placed in a bowl with olive oil, mix together 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, ½ tsp salt, ½ freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle over the fries, toss to coat. Bake until golden brown, turning once.
Watch carefully as the sugar can burn.
Both of these are really good, I can’t keep them on the table. (Works for all of those pesky root vegtables that most people don’t really like)
Third Step in Spring Work
Rolling the fields, after they have been disked and plowed, and before the fourth step-leveling.
What the roller does is smash and break up the clods of plowed earth, leaving a mellow loam, perfect for placing little seeds to grow.
Of course, everything had been going along pretty smooth, so it was time for a mishap. Two teeth broke off the roller. These are expensive little items; last year’s prices had them around $200 a piece.
One thing about it, life is never dull!
Life on a Colorado Farm 