What's New at Bumgardner Farm?

I've been incredibly slack about blogging over the past year. I decided it's time for another update about what is going on around the farm. Wow, so what's happened since April 8, 2012? Here's a quick summary: 

May 4: I officially became a Bumgardner...we tied the knot!

During the spring I planted like a mad woman - we grew corn, beans, squash, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, and gorgeous sunflowers. I believe I canned over 70 quarts of green beans! Our freezer is still full of corn, squash, and zucchini. Our tater box is still plentiful and we have seeds saved for next year from the good stuff! In a not so great attempt we tried peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes, pumpkins, hanovers, and okra. Definitely an attempt and not a very good one. We did get quite a few Hungarian Hot Wax peppers from the only plant that made it. We also ended up with about 4 Sugar Baby watermelons, 1 gorgeous pumpkin, and 2 okra. Maybe next year! 

During the spring we also purchased 8 chicks. I absolutely love raising them! We are now up to 11 great laying hens. Our eggs range from a beautiful light brown, to dark brown, even teal!

Here lately we've been discussing where we want to see the farm go this year and beyond. It looks like we're going to be raising more chicks this spring with hopes to start selling eggs in the fall. Plus, we're working on a more productive garden plan so we'll have produce to sell. We will only be using organic methods plus we're doing our best to avoid any seeds produced by the corporate giant. Most of our seeds are being ordered from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Their website is www.rareseeds.com and they have a HUGE selection of open-pollinated, heirloom seeds. 

Be sure to check back to keep up with what's going on here at the farm. I promise I won't go so long between updates in the future!

How to Scare a Chicken

So you're curious about how to scare a chicken? First, you take the chicks one by one to a dog crate on the back of a pickup. Then you shut the tailgate. This alone causes them to jump. After already scaring them, you then start the truck and drive 100 feet through a bumpy field. So now you're asking "why didn't you just carry them to their house?" Several reasons, the main one being Max, the german shepherd. He looks at the chicks like they're his next meal. The chicks don't realize the danger of getting free yet so I'm sure over 100 feet they would have wiggle their way out of my hands. Some of them came close just going from inside the garage to the back of the truck! Once you have driven the 100 or so feet, take the dog crate (chicks still in it) and place it inside of their house. I've never seen a chicken's heart beating in it's throat before...until now. Another way to scare a chicken...look at them, talk to them, move in any way. There's a reason they're called chickens.

Each time I checked on them Wednesday, this is what they were doing, hiding in the cage:

In their comfort zone

By the end of Thursday they finally got brave! Here they are on the outside of the cage:


Enjoying scratching around

We took an old shed located on our property and turned it into their home. It's been sitting for a while unused so there was quite a bit of patching and fixing up to do. You can see where all the boards don't match. I really doubt the chickens will mind.

Outside of their new home

These are the same nests our chickens used when I was a kid. Glad mom hung onto these!

Their nesting box which still needs a ramp

Here is the backside of their pen. Chicken wire is not as easy to work with as I thought it'd be! Hopefully no critters will find their way in. 

The back side of their pen