down on the farm - 1st week of september & Giveaway

our patron and namesake … 

On Saturday we had our 'grand opening' and also celebrated the Feast of St. Fiacre the patron of Gardener's and our little farm's namesake. We had fruit filled cornucopias, garden salad (with fresh garden tomatoes) and 'garden' pizza from from our favorite local pizzeria, Panzenellies!

Download a free picture book about st. fiacre here!

In the kitchen … 

Breakfast! I know exciting right?! Its been so busy on the farm I forgot to take pictures this week you sort of get a day in the life of ;-) Homemade sour dough english muffins with homemade blueberry (sugar free) chia jam and a cup o tea in my favorite tea mug.

Honey Cinnamon Pears canned with Tattler's reusable lids. Thanks to my sis in law these ones did not spill over and make a sticky mess, though I did have one seal fail. Still learning how to use the Tattlers. The pears were a gift and a gift they will be to our table come winter time!

Our little shop is open and our first order out in the mail! Some Noggin' Tea and Farmer's Wife blend to a sweet friend. Click for more details on our tea.

In the garden … 

We have doors framed in! Yay! The debate is over using plastic to close them in or wood. We have been using gifted scrap lumber for a lot of the building but ran out so now we are up to buying either one or the other leaning towards the plastic.

The end wall at the opposite end also got put up over the long weekend and the door frame will be next on that end. 7 of our 9 boxes have been planted. Lots of lettuce, kale, beets, carrots, and cilantro with some turnips, chard and radishes still waiting to be planted.

Pablo lettuce is coming up!

Cilantro sprouting…

Our over grown herb garden! Time to transplant a few herbs before the mint takes them all over.

Every few days we have a new chili pepper ready to pick and go into the dehydrator for our spice storage. That and maybe a cayenne muscle salve or two ;-)

Oh strawberries, you have been neglected… they need to find a new home very soon…

If it were not for my 'green thumb' we might have enough of these beauties to be canning now but I seem to be an over ambitious pruner when it comes to tomatoes and took the tops right out of them. One year I'll get it right! For now our 8 tomato plants are just enough to give us a few every couple of days.

Fall is coming quickly, so many large pine cones around we gathered a bunch to save for winter crafting.

With a wee bit of rain the calendulas are super happy this week, they make for a beautiful view our our dining room! Pretty and useful at the same time!

View out the dining room window… now if only the whole hill side looked like this instead of black berry brambles… some day…

farm animals … 

Aren't they cute?! They were just sitting there posing for me… well for long enough to get this one before they scattered. Its too bad they don't stay so small soon they will have to find new homes before we have a cat farm.

I know it doesn't look this way but these are two different kittens, twins! The children call them 'baby mama cat' 1 and 2 since they look just like mama other than the blue eyes. All the kittens have climbed out of their little box and have been exploring around the house.

giveaway!

Enter to win a free 4 oz tin of Baby Bum and Body Balm. Our tried and true diaper salve used on many little baby bums in the past. A salve we use personally here in our house, clothe diaper friendly and chemical free! Just leave a comment on the blog post about what brings you to St. Fiacre's Farm and what you look forward to seeing here on our blog or in our shop! Giveaway ends September 11th, 2014 12 pm.