Disclosure

So, the truth is (for those of you who have never been here) we don't actually live on a farm.
As Wylie often reminds us, "Real farms have fields of vegetables, and cows and pigs and hay fields. This is not a real farm."  He says this with conviction, and some disappointment.

I get it.

We know a lot of true, honest to goodness farmers.  We are literally surrounded by CSA's here in Waldo County.  Check out the beautiful words and pictures from our friends over at Village Farm.
Now that is a real farm.
My sister and her family have suddenly, excitedly found themselves as caretakers of an amazingly beautiful farm and have launched right into it with sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens, not to mention plenty of gumption.  There's is a farm.

In that sense Frogwater farm is not a real farm. We have a handful of acres, mostly wooded, and half of them in a marsh.  The Frogwater part is legit.  We call it a farm because frankly, Frogwater homestead doesn't sound nearly as nice.  We like the alliteration.  It has never been our goal/dream to support ourselves off our land.  We do however hope to sustain ourselves--food wise and soul wise. In that regard we are a farm--though a tiny one to be sure.

And even though there aren't any milking goats yet (or ever depending on who you ask) we do have a few animals:

Eleven ladies--laying hens of various ages, breeds and personalities.  More on the ladies in another post.  Also Ollie, the cat we share with our tenant.

New this year are between 30 and 60 thousand (in one hive) Carniolan honey bees.  The bees officially live down the road a bit, but will hopefully make their way to Frogwater next spring.

In the past we loved having runner ducks, but they have gone to a better place...
across town to a farm where the dog won't try to eat them.

And Marley.

(Does this look like the face of a duck killer?)

We do aspire to grow most of our own food someday, and perhaps some pigs in the near future...

For now though, when people ask about our farm, I tell them, these days we're mostly growing children.

Most days that feels like plenty to sustain us.

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Monday Morsels

Its been beautiful here... then raining... then hot and muggy...then pouring buckets, followed by a sun so bright and a sky so blue it almost hurts.  All of which has made for some amazing green around these parts, with everything growing in leaps and bounds, including somehow, the children.  The maples and oaks are all leafed out and our yard suddenly feels as if its enclosed in a lush green envelope. Its at times a little claustrophobic but mostly perfect. We've been busy doing all kinds of things in the yard and garden, alternating with inside quiet time, lots of audio books, and a new home school routine that seems to be working well for us (details to come).  Which is to say I haven't made much time for blogging, but here's a bit of whats going on in our little green corner of the world.  

Morsels: Tasty bites from the past few days...er weeks.  

Me:  "Grampy's going to come soon, on his motorcycle."

Kale:  "Its not a motorcycle, its a MOTORCYCLE!" (insert loud vrooming).

 Juniper has been taking a little tumbling class, and is extending her repertoire of somersaults, bridges, and frog headstands, to include the trapeze.  Our own acrobat in the making.

When I posted this photo the first time, it occurred to me how silly (irresponsible?) it looks--me in full bee gear while Wylie lays about in shorts and a tee just feet away.  But truly, that's how docile these bees are!  They are incredible really.  More on the bees to come I'm sure.  

The other busy bees around here have started their own garden (in the remains of our raised beds from the old garden site).  They're growing peas and beans with big plans for a money making venture curbside (or gravelly edge side.)

Model airplane kit;  $3.00 at a yard sale;  Several hours of focused concentration:  priceless.

Conversation between Kale and a Robin:  

"Oh hi birdie, hi!  What you name birdie?  Robin that my name, ha!"

First blooms on our peach tree ever!  

                     Rock star brothers

Garden in progress (from last week).  The tiny hoop houses are for the tomatoes, built from left over fencing and plastic.  I hope to put up a few more, with row covers for the brassicas and squash to go in this week.  

One of our favorite salads these days::  shredded cabbage (red or green), shredded carrots, sesame seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, and raisins.  Dressed with olive oil, apple cider vinegar with a bit of honey and a pinch of sea salt.  My kids eat salad regularly, but this is the only one they enjoy.  

Chicken Lovers 

(Kale's tee was one I painted for Juni when she was 4, her friend Eve, above, had a matching one)

Enjoy your weekend!

morsels

Last week was like summer again, and we made the most of it--especially knowing that a week of much needed rain was headed our way.  A brief glimpse, and very few words about what we've been up to, and a few new things around here:

Boats in the outdoor tub.

Brothers digging in the yard (clothing optional).

New leaves!  These were trimmed by a road crew and we couldn't let these tiny leaves wilt just hours after opening.   

A little planting in the garden:  peas, carrots, beets, kale, and assorted greens.  And we built a frog pond. 

Also new to the garden, a sink!  Just in time for our first harvest, dandelion greens (and we didn't even plant them!). 

New fire truck jammies for our truck loving toddler, details soon.   

Summery snacks in amazing colors

Lovey, Maxi , Sleepy-Peep,   

and Betty Lou,  Oh my.