What's up with Global Warming 2

So after a super wet winter and spring ( last year spring was wetter), we moved right into summer. The avg. temp was around mid 70's for a week then, KABLAMM 80's. Not just low 80's but mid and high 80's, that was for two weeks then, KAPPOW 90's first low 90's then high 90's. I mean it get's warm here but not that fast, it was 15 degrees above normal and not for just a small few days spike, but every day. So in my mind people who say Global Warming is not proven, just can't read a thermometer. Or they got their head so far up their ___ they can't see one if they new how to read one.

Ok maybee that's a bit mean, but on to other stuff. The plant's loved the heat. The Tomatoes took off like rocket's, and have flower's on. The squash is cruising along with growth rates that rival the kid with the magic beans. The Peppers had it a bit harder as it was a bit too warm, and challenged them to grow roots in all the hot hot heat, but now their lookin good.

This last week we transplanted run #2 of the Tomatoes. I lucked out and the weather cooled down so they won't wilt in the heat. and the second run of peppers will go in later this next week.

In other news, the last two weeks I broke two peices of expensive equipment, not only that but important. Other Farmers will tell you, broken equipment can make the strongest man cry, and cook the brain of the most budddha like Farmer. You see, when something breaks, I usally am using it and need to use it just about every day. Then when it's broke just about everything stops, except that all the things I was soposed to be doing isn't getting done, creating logjams, and mental frustration. Then of course there is the whole process of fixing the broken equipment. You see I don't have a shop or garage here so it's all done out in the open, where the sun beats down on you and bolts and stuff drop in the grass never to be found ( cept by some other farmer 50 years later). Then there's the expense, input shafts can be expensive, bearings costly, and someone else to press them in and out downright budget busting. OK one more then, then there's the whole why did I break the freakin thing in the first place? you see there's wear and tear, then there's downright stupidity. In my case it's both. Old equipment/stupid Farmer. Well, not stupid just first generation farmer stupid. You see when you grow up on a farm your elders either teach you not to break stuff, or they start you out on equipment that, if it breaks, they have backup and then you get to spend the next few days/nights in the shop fixing it, then they tell you why you broke it/how not to break it again. In my case I have to learn the hard way and don't always have backup, and it all get's backed-up. I did buy a second tractor this spring so now I do have some backup, but that of course needed to be worked on a bit. But it got done, tilling got done, mower got fixed before grass got to tall, and Farmer Matt got another lesson in Buddhahood.

About Time

Well it's about time. There are finally chicken's on the Farm. Strange thing, being they are my domestic animal totem. I must have been really stupid or just way to busy to get living quarters set up and start raising them. It could be that people that know me have always said " yeah that's all you need is another chore." I have to admit Lisa is the driving force of the chicken's. She came up with the design of the "Chicken Ship" all I did was provide manly strength when needed.

Well we now have 18 Barred Rock's out on the lawn/pasture, eating grass, checking out the new digs, escaping through the electric fencing, being thrown back in, and hopefully staying put. We bought pullets just starting to lay. A local hatchery guy has quite an operation. Really clean, happy birds, and an all around good feel to the place. The instant the birds got here they were milling around eating grass and generally being chickens.

Like I said it's about time. Chicken's are awsome. Just about everybody should have a few. And Farms should definately have them. I just hope that I don't spend all my time watching them, clucking to them, and catching them and putting them back in their pasture. If these work out they may become part of the buisness around here, as eggs sell like hotcakes at mkt. I just haven't had the time to start it all up and work out the kinks. Geuss that's the way I am, I really don't do something till I know I can make it work, or at least have the energy to work out the kinks, and take care of things. It's the same way with me and trees. I haven't planted many cause I want them to thrive, I feel horrible if I kill one, and almost worse if it just struggles along.

Also things in the field are going well, Tomatoes are in, Cherry tomatoes, Squash, Peppers, Eggplant, Basil, Cucumbers, and next Watermelons. Then of course it starts all over with second runs. But we've been hustling, gettin 'er done and it's shaping up around here.