Here are some pictures of stuff that is happening and growing on the farm.
A pole bean climbing up a corn stalk
Corn silk
A pumpkin blossom with a native pollinator bee
Sunflowers! my favorite flower
This one is growing in a unusual upright way
A down view of it.
Hand pollenating a zucchini blossom
The female zucchini blossom tied up with grass to keep the bees out.
A yellow zucchini blossom that is also tied, I hand pollinate to keep these zucchini from crossing with other c. pepo this is the family group that pumpkins, zucchini, and some of the other winter squash belong to. Then I will let this zucchini grow and make seed for next year. It is a bit of a challenge to do this, as I need to get out to the squash before the bees in the early morning. Also I try to get at least one male blossom from three different plants then the plant that has the female blossom on it, this is to insure genetic diversity. It makes me thankful for seed companies, but I want to learn this skill of saving seed as it is possible to adapt the plants to my locale microclimate by saving seed from the plant that do well.
Notice the wide space between the plants....
this is so I do not have to water.
Here are close up shots of the landrace and ancient grains we're trialling to see which ones do good in here in the area of michigan. The one above is emmer a very ancient ancestor to modern wheat.
Another type of emmer from Ethiopia called Ethiopian blue tinge it is planted in the spring. All the others were planted last fall.
I have cut and shocked the rye, it will dry for a little wile and then I will thresh it to separate the grain from the straw.
These are oats that I got from a gene-bank, they are no longer grown widely so have become rare I may be the only one growing them in the U.S. The one Above is an old variety called red rust proof. It looks like the oats that are grown here but taller.
These oats look a lot different then the others they must be a very old style that has not been toyed around with by plant breeders it is called Ujszegedi hungarian landrace oat.
10 comments:
Hi David,
What a wonderful crop! The variety is really terrific. How many different types (vegetable, flower, grain, and fruit) crops (approximately) are you growing?
Also, I was wondering why you don't want the bees to pollinate the zucchini? Is it to keep from genetically crossbreeding due to Biblical commands (Lev 19:19)? Or are you trying to keep the plants genetic lines pure?
Thank you for answering my questions once again! :-) I look forward to hearing from you!
Blessings,
Addie
David,
When I see these pictures I am so thankful! Thankful that all this is around me, thankful for you for your heart that serves and takes good care of the earth that God has given you. I am thank for Jesus and His life that He has given us and that He will never let us go hungry. Here is some parts of
Psalm 37 that mean alot to me. I wanted to post the whole thing but it was to many words for a comment:
* 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
*4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
* 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
*6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
*7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
*11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
*16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
*18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
*19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
*23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
*24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
*25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
*26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
*27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
* 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
*29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
*30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
*31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
*34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
*37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
* 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
*39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
*40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
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Kind of long for a comment, but I could not just put a few of the verses down. A very comforting word
your sister Grace
Addie
I do not want the bees to pollenate the squash I want to save seed from because I am trying to keep the variety pure. Zucchini and pumpkins are the same thing one is only a different shape then the other, so if a bee went on a pumpkin male flower and picked up pollen and then went over to a female zucchini flower some of the pollen would drop off and pollinate it. Then if I saved the seed from this I would not know what shape, size, and color the squash fruit would be. I do not do this as a way to keep God's law, Lev.19:19 is referring to what can happen if you cross different wheat type grains. If wheat and rye are planted together they may cross, the result is a grain known as Triticale and some times if planted it will not grow. God wanted his people to fill the land and prosper, if this happened to their crop the next time they planted they might not get a crop and then they would starve.
~David
Addie
I forgot to answer you question on how many different types of crops we grow. So here is a list, I put a number by each group to tell how many different types or varieties.
Tomatoes 8
peppers 4
potatoes 11
Egg plant 2
Tomatillo 1
Onions 5
Garlic 6
Corn 7
wheat 5
Emmer 2
Oat 4
rye 1
barley 1
Coriander 1
Cilantro 1
Dill 1
Fennel 2
Carrot 1
Beet 4
Radish 3
Anise Hyssop 1
Parsley 1
Beans 7
peas 2
Flowers many
Mint 4
Melons 6
Squash/pumpkin 10
Sage 2
Winter Savory 1
Oregano 2
I think this is all! Some of them come up on their own so we do not have to plant all this every spring and some are ones that are on trial or there just to cross with another. I am letting all the melons and some of the squash varieties cross naturally so then I can get a melon and squash that grow good here.
David,
It's always a pleasure reading/seeing what you are doing! Thanks for taking time to share.
It's a hot one today...stay cool and hydrated!
Blessings,
Lisa Thomas
David,
Thank you for answering my questions! You definitely have a lot in your gardens and fields. I'm sure it takes quite a bit of work!
Blessings,
Addie
The pictures and all the information are great. Thanks for sharing. I feel I learn new things when I read your blog.
Oh, I just love cornsilk! Have you ever made tea out of it? It's my absolute favorite tea. Great chilled in the summer too!
Blessings,
Kate
David- love you pictures! It makes me want to grow things too. How's the farm doing in the winter?
The winter is a bit slo as far as growing stuff. I keep busey doing butchering tanning and selling squash popcorn flouer corn and bees wax bees wax candles at the indoor farmer's market. I look forward to the maple sugar time wich is six weeks away. And then it will not seem so long till sping!
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