“October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures.” -Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed
Garden sentinels usher autumn’s glow.
Tis the season to set the garden to rest, stump the reclaimed land, pick apples and brew beer. The crab grass fades golden with the first cool nights. Old and rented equipment break in protest. Indefatigable, we push on to tackle new projects and set old familiar places straight. Highlights from the month included:
Stumping south of house with excavator 10/1-10/2;
Heavy equipment (Track Loader arrives) 10/3/2021;
Stumping and bulldozing south of house 10/9-10/11;
Plow, disk, and seed garden with oats (~50 lbs) and turnips (2 lbs) 10/17/2021;
Brew Cider and English bitter ale (total 9 gallons) 10/17/2021;
Widen farm entrance with culvert 10/17/2021;
Plant thornless blackberries (12) 10/20/2021;
Remove 30 more stumps from middle pasture 10/24/2021;
Repaired seed drill (ordered parts) 10/30/2021;
Drilled Valley Mix for pasture 10/31/2021
Eight chickens, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and four humans hold down the farm. Brendan continues to research the potential to bring cattle to the farm and Lilli dreams of the day she and Gus will gallop across the pasture.
Meanwhile, the apple trees produced enough ugly apples to make a delicious Arkansas Black and Gold Rush apple pie. An orchard specialist stopped by and gave us a quick assessment of the trees. More pruning and spraying are the order for next year!
Sometimes it’s what’s on the inside that matters!
The end of the month found us racing against the clock to get cover on the new ground and plant the pasture. We purchased 125 lbs of Valley Pasture Mix from Featherstone Farms (45% Orchardgrass, 10% Harvest Orchardgrass, 20% Perennial Ryegrass, 10% Timothy Grass, 10% Kentucky Bluegrass, 3% Landina Clover, 2% White Clover) and drilled the new pasture at a rate of 25 lbs/acre on October 30th and 31st.
The new ground received a mix of wheat (200#) and red clover (150#). Fingers crossed we have good germination and growth, despite the late hour of planting.
The old and new drill.
At the end of the month, with the fire ring complete, we welcomed family and friends to toast marshmallows and blacken hotdogs. Together we enjoyed the good feeling of family and campfires. Next week, we’ll be joined by a production team from New York and L.A. as the farm gets a temporary makeover for some TV magic.
Get ready for changing seasons, land-clearing, egg-onomics, dove hunting, and Gus’ new shoes.
Make hay while the sun shines, or in our case clear land while the weather’s fair. September brought a breath of cool (less humid) air, a delivery of four new hives, more stump excavating, doves, and an abundance of eggs. Gus got a new pair of pour-in shoes while my own paddock boots cracked and split.
Dove season was an exciting time. A cover of millet, sunflowers, and volunteer clover was too tasty for the doves to ignore. Lilli had the chance to put last year’s Christmas present (20 ga) to work and a happy Chet tracked the fallen birds through grass, brambles, and brush.
A friend brought four more hives to weather the winter at Glendale. They are not the strongest but hopefully will be able to take advantage of blooming golden rod over the next few weeks. Our good neighbor Paul Jones will bring feed to give them a better chance of survival. If any fail, the empty hive will be available for spring swarms to colonize. Life finds a way!
Paul Jones brought over four new hives to spend the winter.
Land clearing continued as the cooler weather has made the work less sweaty. Over the past 12 months, Brendan has cleared about 5 1/2 acres and we have plans to open another 4 1/2. We’ll divide the 10 acres into several paddocks with the intent to not only bring Gus home but also purchase a few cattle. Brendan is considering Angus but we’ll see what happens. We still have stumping, grading, planting, and fencing before we introduce more feet! Next month, Barry plans to bring over a small bulldozer (Cat 450) which will help the process along. With both Brendan and I fully employed, it’s going to take some night farming to make it happen.
The 9 chickens laid a record 229 eggs this month. We’ve been fortunate to gift eggs to neighbors and friends, and have even color-coded them: the Wyandott lay a beige egg, the Golden Comets produce a large brown egg, and the Leghorns gift us giant white dobbers. Like most hobby chicken tenders, we’ve run out of egg cartons and have taken to lending small baskets or wrapping them in paper.
Chickens visiting the home SEARCH office.
We picked 6.5 oz of hops from the Centennial hops mid-month. The Golding didn’t produce but that’s not uncommon for the first year. We’ll leave the hop bines standing until the first frost to encourage as much growth and energy storage as possible. The wet hops went into a 10-gallon batch of Farmhouse Ale for the second fermentation. We’ll keg it in early October and enjoy it for OctoberFest.
Hop cones ready for harvesting
The first apples are ripe and ugly. Thanks to the deer and wasps, there are too few to bother with cider but we did find a pulley and belt at the Somerset Steam and Gas show. We’ll attach it to the hit and miss engine next fall to run the cider mill. This year we’ll satisfy our curiosity by picking the best apples and deciding which varieties we like best.
Last but not least, Gus got some fancy kicks. Being a first time horse owner, it’s been quite the learning process. He pulled a shoe and had underrun his heels a couple of weeks ago. We tried going barefoot but I finally caved in. The new shoes will support his frog and give his heels a chance to recover.We’re lucky to be in a part of the country with good care and a great farrier.
Last year, as Halloween approached, we were asked to consider hosting the second series of Outrageous Pumpkins. Why not?? Who wouldn’t like Allyson Hannigan, 70+ strangers, and more than 10 tons of pumpkins taking over your home? Besides, it’s fun seeing your grandfather’s Model T on TV!
Let’s be clear. If you ask this question to a 100 horse owners you’ll get a hundred answers and every response will be right. That said, unless you’re the type that would “rather just not know” it’s nice to have some numbers. I thought I’d share my experience – as a first time horse owner and someone who grew up always thinking that owning a horse was something I could never afford to do.
Yes, owning a horse is expensive. There’s no question that everything involved with a 1,080 lb animal is going to cost more. On a fundamental level, Gus weighs 8.3X as much as me. That means he takes 8.3X as much medicine when he’s sick and his portions are weighed in pounds rather than ounces. He also has the rough and tumble habits of a four year old, extremely sensitive skin, and is impossibly engineered (but that’s another post).
A bit of context. The costs of owning a horse vary widely. We live in central Virginia – near horsey country but far enough away that most costs are reasonable (ish). Depending on where you live some items, such as feed or board, could cost a lot more.
I’ve broken costs into eight categories: Board, Clothing (for me), Farrier, Fist Aid, Vet, Feed, Tack, Training, and Misc. We’re planning to move Gus from his boarding barn to Glendale in the next 12-18 months and while we’ll save money on board, we’ll be installing $10-$15K for infrastructure (i.e. fences, gates, shelter, water) and we’ll still need to provide items like hay and bedding that are currently part of his board. It will definitely be a short-term increase in cost.
BOARD
We were unbelievable lucky to find this place! Wig Wam is an 18th century historic home in Amelia County that used to be home to Governor Giles. It’s not the fanciest barn but has big pastures, several miles of trails, a nice outdoor arena with lights, and no drama. I was welcomed as a beginner rider and have been supported every step of the way. Right now, board varies from $190 for pasture board to $390 for stall board, including grain. Gus and I pay $350 and I provide his grain and supplements. I also help out and work a couple of shifts each month with the feeding and turnout (25-30 horses) which takes a little bit off the total.
FEED AND SUPPLEMENTS
Thoroughbreds aren’t known for being easy keepers but Gus is pretty good. His first year, I spent an average of about $100/month on his grain and supplements. He lost weight during the winter and we increased his morning and evening feed to 3 lbs per feeding and added 1 oz cool calories (fat), and about 1 lb of alfalfa pellets. I also give him a hoof and joint supplement. I figure an once of prevention is a pound of cure.
CLOTHING
Equestrian clothing is expensive. On the bright side it tends to be well made and lasts if you take care of it. My clothing list doesn’t include a few things I had from before- paddock boots, tall boots, breeches, helmet, and riding gloves. Not exactly part of the cost of ‘owning a horse’ but if you’re going to ride, then they’re kind of important. The Air Pro 2 vest is my life-jacket – literally inflates on separation from the horse and protects my vital bits from impact. I started riding as an adult and I learned the hard way that I’m likely to break before I bounce.
TACK
Clothing for your horse! Some months I don’t buy anything and then other times I do. It averages out to about $50/month. Bits and pieces from the “essential” fly mask to the fun new saddle pad. No, I didn’t actually use the side saddle but I had a fun time shopping for it and learning about it!
FARRIER
Gus’ Jockey Club Name is “My Sweet Prince” and he is an outstanding Thoroughbred (TB). Like most outstanding TBs, Gus has tender feet. He’s been barefoot and was barefoot in Florida, but came up sore and lame in both front feet about 12 weeks after moving to Virginia. I caved in and he’s been in front shoes ever since. I love seeing him sound and galloping across the pasture. I don’t love the $100-$110 for shoes (vs. the $45 for a trim) every 5-6 weeks. We may try to transition him to barefoot this winter but it’s a long-term goal and for now, he’s just a happier horse in shoes.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
A horse is always learning what they can get away with and unless you’re reinforcing good behavior, your doing something else… Lessons where I am range from $40 to $70, with the higher end consisting of a one-of-one training session with the instructor coming to barn and working with me and Gus for over an hour. It’s a great way to get back on track and have someone put eyes on what I don’t even realize I’m doing wrong. It’s also great for confidence.
In addition to lessons, I bought a lot of books- reference books for pasture management, books on riding techniques, and books that are just fun. In my opinion, it’s all educational and printed material is so much more reliable than the internet!
I spent $124 in 2020 on training but…. ended up in ICU with a broken back and a bill for my out of pocket maximum. Without insurance the bill would have been over $50,000. If there’s one thing I learned it’s not to ride if you don’t have health insurance. In 2021, I decided to invest more in lessons!
FIRST AID
Every horse owner needs a first aid kit (and a friend who can show them how to use it). I can usually tell how good the horses are feeling by the marks and scuffs they sport. They don’t call it horse play for nothing!
The most common first aid items I buy are preventative – fly spray, antifungals (that Gelding funk!), wormers, and hoof hardeners. Other basic items on hand for the inevitable abscess are Epsom salt, duct tape, and diapers (for wrapping hooves, not for messes). Spray-on Band-Aids and Corona cream are great for little cuts and anything that doesn’t need a vet. I’ve learned that horses generally heal well, but only if you can keep the wound from getting infected. $272 spent.
VET
Sometimes you can’t fix it and you shouldn’t try. Plan on Spring and Fall shots, maintenance dentistry (floating the teeth), and at least one whoopsie. In Gus’ case, we’ve been pretty lucky that he’s come up lame at the same time we had a regular vet visit. The farm call for coming out has been between $40 and $55. It depended on the vet and where they’re based. At the barn, we save a little money by combining farm calls and splitting the call-out fee. Over the year, I spent $669.
Board
3847.75
Monthly full board ($350/month) includes hay and stall
4225
Barn help in September
-158
Barn help in October
-123.75
Barn help in November
-95.50
Clothing
457
Clothes for riders
140
Pad, half pad, neck warmer
67
Point 2 Air Pro Vest, Used
250
Farrier
830
Front shoes (every 5-6 weeks) x 8 times
First Aid
272.95
32 oz hoof kevlar ($25)
28
Banixx
20
Betadine and Saline Wash
31
Bot knife
4
Coat Defense and Wormer
38.95
Epsom salt and hoof pad
14
Fly spray
72
Ivermectin for June worming
10
MTG
20
Panacur Wormer
13
Pyrantel dewormer
10
Safeguard dewormer
12
Misc
22
Feed bucket
6
Jolly Ball
16
Supplement/Feed
1169.69
500# Blue Seal LS Performance Feed
464
2 bales alfalfa from David Smith
18
30# Redmond Gold ($65)
94
Alfalfa Cubes (40 lbs)
18
Alfalfa Pellets (50 lbs)
32
Cool Calories, 8 lbs
29
FlexMax (25 lbs) Joint Supplement
287.89
Manna Pro (10 lbs) Hoof Supplement
216.5
Tractor Supply – Salt Lick
10
Tack
526
Bell Boots
19
Blanket cleaner and waterproofing ($50);
51
Effax lether balm and cleaner
40
Kavallier saddle pad
67
Leather bit replacement
8
Leg Straps
12
Lunge whip, dressage whip, manure scoop
68
New fly mast ($28) + shipping
32
Reins
45
Side Saddle and Saddle Soap (for fun)
106
Training halter
78
Training/Education
124
Horsekeeping on Small Acreages
6
How to think like a horse
8
Lesson
60
Lesson/Trail Ride
40
Manual of Horsemanship
10
Vet
669
Exam; Teeth Float
268
Vaccines and lameness test
266
Vet Chiropractic adjustment
135
Grand Total
7918.39
So that’s about it. I started this draft a year ago and will provide an update sometime soon. With all new things there’s a learning curve and I spent more the first year than the second (or third).
At long last, in 2021, our first crop of apples is ripening in the orchard.
Hot humid days and warm evenings; the delights of summer are manifest in shades of deepening green, with dewey mornings that give way to oppressive days that make us long for cool, crisp nights of fall delight. Not yet. Summer passes slowly with light changing from bright yellow to softer amber as days begin to slowly shrink and evening lengthens. Across the county, hay is being cut. Corn stalks stand tall and dry and soy beans have begun to change from green to gold.
Bush hogged trails
This month, after the grasses went to seed, the trails through the woods and around the fields were bush hogged. Each year Brendan opens areas and lanes, giving us access through thick brambles to parts of the farm that are soon overgrown if left alone. The lanes provide a pleasant path for walking or running, and create habitat for grazing wildlife including deer and turkey (Also, when Gus comes home, we will have a couple of miles of trails to trot and explore).
Sooty blotch!
By August, the apples are splashed with patches of sooty blotch and have swelled with tantalizing hints of sweet inside. This year our young trees are yielding a small crop that will ripen next month. The harvest will stretch into October – one or two apples from many of the trees although a couple may give up half a bushel, with their first harvest. We’re pleased at the modest yield. Our own apples – ugly and sweet.
The converted tobacco barn provides a cool retreat from summer’s heat, where Helen can build cutting boards and repair old chairs. This month the shop also serves as a new home for Ketch, where he can adjust to life on the farm, while he exchanges scritches and pets for a rent of lizards, mice, and bugs.
The thinkspace. Our newest member, Ketch, is a friendly, easy going guy from Amelia Animal Control, with an intelligent demeaner and a pleasant, people-loving character.
The garden… Lessons learned from the Spring 2021 garden:
Okra on the plant and pickled in the refrigerator.
Few pursuits are more frustrating than a garden that languishes or suffers from pests, especially one that spirals out of control under the misguided hand of a neophyte. Guilty on both parts, I can appreciate this year’s healthy dose of humility- a result of biting off a project too large but nevertheless enjoying the trip.
Plant like with like. The haphazard planting of seeds and plants may work in a small patio and yield a charmed and quaint appearance of bounty. Spread over 3,500 square feet it creates a cacophony of sizes and maturity dates that provide an ideal habitat for every known variety of weed and annoys your husband without end.
Don’t rush the weather. This year, a long cool spring put many plants into stasis where they stayed for weeks or months- not growing, not dying. We replaced some and left others. The new plants quickly outgrew the older neighbors. Plants sometimes languish and it’s hard to admit it but sometimes it’s better to start over. If you have space, keep the first ones and watch to see if they catch up. Sometimes they do (and sometimes they don’t).
Keep working the dirt. Green ground is the worst but it will keep getting better with time as long as you don’t give up. This year the plants were stunted and we think it may be the hard packed underlying clay. On the list for next month are soil samples along with a plan to deeply plow and punch holes in the underlying hardpan.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Don’t wait for someone else to eat the perfectly ripe cherry tomato. Try fresh corn straight off the stalk, pluck a baby okra, and sneak a fresh pea. Nothing tastes better. Period.
Have fun. Don’t argue about the location of plants or row spaces. You have all the time in the world to try something new if this year doesn’t pan out.
Stop and smell the roses. Really, just take a deep breath and breathe out. Oh and zinnias are the best!
Late August garden- the rows of tomatoes and eggplant are gone. Hops in the background and zinnias in front.
SR-627 was built about 1920. The residents living along our road including Brendan’s grandparents elected to name it in honor the local doctor, Mr. Cheatham, who helped deliver many of the residents but had no children of his own left his name on the new road. The old road that passed through the farm was abandoned and slowly reclaimed by nature so that today there is only a faint path worn by years of buggies and foot traffic, abandoned and eroded by rain and storms. Gently smoothing it into shape with the old Ferguson, we erected a two-rail split rail fence that followed the old path along the edge of the field into the woods. With a hand seeder, we spread 50 lbs of sorghum to reduce erosion. Not bad for a weekend’s work!
Making the old road new again
The grape arbor was erected on the north side of the garden and hosts Alachua muscadine grapes. Each of the three vines has been trimmed and trained to grow vertically next to a 4-6 inch diameter fence post. High tensile wire provides support for the frame and chain on either end works to lever and tension the wire. The wire and tensioners were purchased from Tractor Supply while the posts came from Poultry Services, a local feed and seed store.
The sunflowers bloomed amidst the self-seeded millet.
The garden, so ambitiously started, got away from us this month. We struggled with grass and weeds. Despite 15 cubic yards of compost and four loads of leaves early in the spring, the ground is still green. An entire row of pepper plants melted into black goo and the squash borers attacked a large patch of 8 patty-pan squash. The tomatoes performed moderately well with a few specimens on each plant. Not a bumper crop but enough for some tasty gazpacho with the Sumpter cucumbers and sweet basil! The carrots were fantastic and tiny. The corn was spindly but managed to pop out an ear or two that was ripe by the end of the month. The watermelon struggled anemically and the okra has only started to grow. The eggplant are lovely but the leeks that we started from seed in March have now reached the size of spring onions. Sigh.
Italian eggpant
Miniature carrots
Oddly beautiful
On a positive note, the zinnias are amazing and form a visual barrier blocking the rest of the garden from the house.
The golden comets and leghorn chickens begin laying in earnest. Production types bred for their egg-laying capability, we reached 6 eggs a day by the end of the month. Taking into consideration the cost of their fancy coop (~$500 thanks to the cost of lumber and materials), the chicks ($4 for a cheep or $10.50 for a pullet), brooder equipment (had to have the fancy heat pad), and feed (~$16 for a 50lb bag), we’ve paid an average of $3 per egg. Not exactly a bargain but then you don’t expect a cat or dog to provide a return on investment so the eggs are really a bonus. On a bright note, in July a dozen fresh eggs cost $2.77 after all expenses. A fair price all things considered!
Cluck cluck… 3 eggs a day from the little leghorns!
In other big news, Brendan started a new job with the Division of Historical Resources (DHR) as State Underwater Archaeologist. Hurrah! Two archaeologists full time from the farm!
Farm fresh eggs. The description conjures images of happy free ranging birds, hone cooked breakfasts, and self-sufficiency.
The little White Leghorm cheeps are all grown up and laying nicely.The producers. Purchased from Herschlers in Powhatan, VA for $10.50 a piece, these ladies began laying at 22 weeks old. They produce a large brown egg.
The gateway livestock for hobby farmers. They’re easy, delicious, and ridiculously fun to watch. 18 months into our egg-stravagent experiment, we’ve added five laced Wyandottes (three from our own eggs in Spring 2022). The 10 ladies are producing an average of just over 8 eggs a day, keeping us and our friends in plentiful supply. The cost of layer feed has grown (along with everything else) in the past year from $13 per 50lb bag to $17 per 50 lb bag. The ladies each eat about 1/4 lb of food a day- sometimes less if the foraging is good. So the cost to produce a dozen eggs, after feed, is just under $2. The quality is much better – lower in cholesterol and richer and creamier to eat.
We often have a surplus and I may be getting into the egg market. Reach out if you’re in the neighborhood and interested in trying some. Warning! If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with some chickens of your own.
A cool, dry Spring gave way to a hot, dry summer. Our new garden suffered but blueberries (transplanted from last year’s bare root plants) blushed purple and last year’s bee balm exploded in brilliant red and purple. We’ll take success where it comes and measure failures by lessons learned!
June Projects included:
800 lb of lime applied to garden (rate of 5 tons/acre)
6/16/2021
100# German millet drilled
6/17/2021
200# lime applied variously to yard
6/16/2021
2 additional bee hives on loan from P. Jones
6/18/2021
Hop poles erected
6/20/2021
Repaired trench left from running water to tobaco barn
6/20/2021
Hop dirt bed (5 tractor buckets of loamy sand from the creek)
6/21/2021
German millet broadcast seeded/Sudan grass on piles
6/20/2021
Hop bines planted
6/25/2021
5 acres treated with 1.5 tons lime/acre (8.3 tons)
6/28/2021
June 1, 2021
June 30, 2021
By all accounts, it’s been a challenging year for gardens in central Virginia. Note the new hop poles and a little more green!
Brendan spread 1,000 lbs of lime across the garden and Southern States delivered and spread another 8.3 tons across the newly cleared pasture (approximately 5 acres). This year bulk lime is $55/ton (delivered and spread), an increase of 10% from last year, but still a lot less than buying it by the 40 lb bag.
For small jobs of less than 1,000 lbs, a spreader and tractor do great!
The ‘giant’ pumpkin has gotten off to a slow start, our bell peppers have literally melted into the ground, and the garden squash have been attacked by vine borers. On the bright side, our spindly corn refuses to give up, our zinnias are blooming brightly, we have a fresh supply of sumpter cucumbers for our salads, and our onions are perfectly sized for cocktails!
We added three Wyandott pullets to our coop at the beginning of the month to replace three White Leghorns that Emily Jane adopted in Florida. It took about two weeks of pecking and squawking but the ladies are finally figuring it out and are getting along.
The new pullets investigate an egg laid by the Golden Comets.
I’ve decided to make the old greenhouse a bit of a project this year. In the past, it has served magnificently and variously to start daffodils grown by Brendan’s dad. It even has an old (and inefficient) propane heater. We’re now using it to start seeds and plants for setting out. My plans include setting up an automatic timer, fan, and mister. For now it’s a bit of a hot mess!
New things a-growing in the greenhouse
Outside of garden projects, we celebrated as members of the family announced their move back home to Virginia. How wonderful is is to reclaim the precious process of gathering!
In other events, Brendan and I hosted the Maritime Heritage Chapter (MHC) of the Archaeological Society of Virginia (ASV) for a Shipwreck Tagging Workshop. Started in Florida by the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), the program works with the public to tag shipwreck timbers and create a record of each artifact that can be used for future research. Each tag contains a unique ID that is part of a large and growing database. For the workshop, we cut, sanded, and glued more than 80 tags, which are now ready to deploy!
Past and future state underwater archaeologists John Broadwater and Brendan Burke work on assembling tags.
To grow hops in Virginia, you need rich, well drained soil, light, water, and structure. The structure, or hop yard, can be as simple as a trellis against the side of a porch, or as complex as a commercial yard containing rows of telephone poles and tensioned wire. At Glendale we’re walking the middle ground and have chosen to cut three cedar trees for a mini yard.
We ordered 10 bines (5 Golding and 5 Centennial) from homebrewing.org and in April planted them in several 2 gallon pots to sprout.
Our hop babies grew quickly and soon began to climb.
Meanwhile we began work on the Hopyard. We took high-tensile wire repurposed from the orchard (we decided the deer can share our bounty of apples rather than creating Fort Knox), two screw anchors, baling twine, and several scoops (3 1/2 cubic yards) of loamy sand from the creek to build a nice foundation.
Time will tell how they do. In general, hops take several years to establish themselves and produce a good crop of delicious cones for brewing.
