What a year this has been…
What a year this has been
We certainly have no more reason than anyone else to think about 2020 as one special year. No need to rehash the litany of what has been or what hasn’t been. But we do have a litany of observations about Bezold Farms and what goes on around here.
The garden
The gardening year got off to a slower start than intended due to Martin’s off-farm employment that wouldn’t end…until the pandemic’s rise in March. Even with the slow start, the garden was exceptional. This year was the first time we planted and harvested enough garlic to sell, save, and use for seed stock. Our squash plants did well all summer even with our planned succession plantings. Amazingly we are seeing fewer squash bugs although we still must work around the squash vine borers early, yet later the plants seemed to shrug off downy mildew as it swept through, a credit to soil building. We grew for the first time luffa gourd, cutting celery, papalo and Aji Dulce peppers with all of them slated for space in next year’s garden.
The pigs
Henry raised 17 pigs this year. The most he’s ever tended, and they were healthy and happy all season. The pandemic did raise its ugly head though, when he had difficulty finding open slots at the processor. Through tenacity, luck, and friendship, the pigs have been sent to processors as the year has unfolded. Of the 17 pigs raised, 16 ¾ were sold direct from Bezold Farms to customers. A big thanks to our loyal customers. That is a very successful year!
The chickens
The first brood this spring of Cornish X meat chickens were taken to a processor. They were processed into cuts as well as whole chickens and sold at Findlay Market. Two more broods were raised and processed on farm. For those keeping score, 450 meat chickens were raised on Bezold Farms this year. That’s a production increase of 80% over the previous year.
We refreshed our laying hen flock with Rhode Island Reds, very lovely birds. It’s a sad day when a flock of layers becomes spent hens. We thank them for having been our lovely flock of laying hens and process them ourselves. It is a sad day but part of the circle of life.
Plans for the future
Sometimes we think we’ve landed in Oz……
Tin Man: Well, what happened to you?
Scarecrow: They tore my legs off and threw them over there! Then they took my chest out and threw it over there!
Tin Man: Well, that's you all over.
We’ve identified that we are all over…..this place. Our plan for the future is a farm building to consolidate washing station, tool and equipment storage, produce storage, and in general any Bezold Farms related activity. We’re at the start of the planning process so we still have a long way to go. Wish us luck!
From Bezold Farms, we wish you the best through the rest of 2020 and into the new year!
A view out our front window one afternoon. Happy (front) wanting to come inside and Cloud, the goat (middle) eating the plants he shouldn’t be.