This September will be a bit different due to the excessive drought.
We did not have a hop harvest at all this year as it was just too dry for them to grow. Hopefully still coming is the much-anticipated harvest of the unique Monocacy hop currently being grown, and irrigated, at the Univ. of MD research farm in Keedysville. It is a much later hop and probably won’t be ready until mid-October. We also did not get a second cutting of hay this year. While we should have enough for our own animals it does mean we do not have hay to sell. Hopefully with some rain we may be able to cut some later this fall. We have continued to mow to keep the weed seedheads at bay.
We were able to dig potatoes this year including more varieties. Look for Red skins, Russett, Yukon Gold, and Kennebec vatieties in the mercantile. We had almost no issue with scab this year due to adjusting the soil pH based on soil test recommendations and planting a resistant variety. Beds are being tilled to plant fall / winter crops including turnips, onions, and kale.
Lambs are really starting to grow up. The boys have been separated from all the girls as they are quite capable of breeding even though they are not yet a year old. We will soon be sitting down to determine which ewes to breed to which rams around the end of October. We look forward to welcoming Nate – a new for us colored ram from Pa. Eamon, our current white ram will probably be joining the Clark family flock. We try to use different rams every other year or so to avoid issues with inbreeding. In the meantime, we will plan to get all of the sheep shorn in time for them to grow back enough fleece to be comfortable in the cold weather.
Not making hay has given Tom time for other projects. He has been working on refurbishing his old 8N Ford tractor that he originally drove, in 1971, from Gainesville, VA. to Rockville, MD. Look for its debut with new bright red paint!
We are looking forward to the first day of Fall, and finally cooler weather! And hopefully some rain!