There was only one update from May 2016 until now. Last years drought was tough. We did have pretty good blackberry crop in the spring. After that the rain stopped. We had 3 measurable rain events from June through August. Each was only a few 10ths of an inch. Most of the fruit trees dropped their fruit. The ones that didn't had small pest infested fruit. This was the first year we didn't have rain. Our luck continued to get worse as the year went on. We do not have utilities at the farm, no water or power. We decided to dig a well. We had just enough money to dig a well and put in a pump, a tank and some pipe. Unfortunately we didn't hit water in the first place we drilled. We drilled in a second spot and hit water but low flow rate. We didn't have enough money to purchase the pump, pipe and holding tank. We do have a hole with water in it but it didn't do any good for watering the trees. The local ponds went dry and the creek stopped flowing. My bees had no place to get water. There were very few flowers that bloomed late season not even the weeds. I placed a feeder station about 200 yards away from my hives and the bees fed all summer there but I lost my hives this winter. They were robbed or robbed each other late summer and had very little honey in the brood boxes. Of course I tried to feed them but it was too late. I should have put out water and start the fed station earlier but being new I didn't catch the fact they were burning through their honey until it was too late. One week it was there the next it was half gone.
On a positive note, we only lost 6 trees. All the mulch around the trees and the fact they had such a good start kept most of them alive. Most of the blackberries lived and they are looking good. I will post some pictures in next weeks post. After a long year I will share how everything looks. Overall the Orchard looks great. I have ordered replacement trees. They should be in next week or so. I am out of wood chips. I will be calling the power company next week. Hope they have some free chips soon.
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Kevin HarrisI'm building a working homestead with the intent that it will provide health food for my family and yours. This will be a place for you to come pick your food and connect with where it was grown. Archives
February 2017
CategoriesComing Soon
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