Farm Tour Friday 1/21/2022
Yes, it's Friday! We made it through a tough winter week of snow, ice , and low temperatures. Winter has taken her hold and is here to stay.
The sun setting before the big snow storm.
We had a snow storm at the beginning of the week that we were as prepared for as we could be. Before the fluffy white stuff started to fall my dad, Mark, and I were busy getting a few last minute things done. We put de-icing cables in the gutters of our large gutter connect greenhouse. Getting up on top of this house to clear snow is not impossible but we don't like to have to clear the snow from it. It is a very strong structure and has made it through many snow storms before. By adding the cables in the gutters we were hoping it would prevent ice build up and keep the snow melting. I am happy to report it worked great.
We put the de-icing cables in the 3 gutters the greenhouse has. T his is the middle gutter.
Then we set off to the next task at hand, removing the shade cloth from a few of our smaller high tunnels that were covered through the summer. We use shade cloth to keep the high tunnels cool during the summer months. In the winter they have to be removed because the snow sticks to it and will accumulate causing too much weight for the structure to handle.
A few more things to check off our list before the snow came. We finished hooking up the heated water system we have for our chickens, ducks, and geese. We gave the birds extra feed and bedding to get them through the storm. We put a portable heater in the dahlia tuber storage area to keep it around 40 degrees. The family had been working to get as much firewood in the house as possible as well. We had good food and lots of games and a puzzle to do, we were finally set for the snow.
Some of our high tunnels with the shade cloth on before we took if off.
Our chickens gathering around the feed bucket.
It snowed for the next 24 hours with a total accumulation of 12 inches of snow. I went out several times to clear the snow from our 6 high tunnels. I called it a night when I came in at 1:30 am from clearing snow. The next morning I could not even tell that I had done any clearing of snow at all anywhere. It was still snowing but now the wind was blowing and the drifts were deep. It took me all day to clear the snow but it was worth it as we had zero problems with any of our structures. All of our preparation paid off.
The farm covered in snow.
Kate clearing the high tunnels for the 2nd time.
The heater in our propagation house worked great through the storm and kept all of the plants in there nice and warm. To my surprise the ranunculus corms had started to grow. It was a great feeling that the plants were still growing even if the farm was covered in a deep blanket of snow.
A ranunculus corm starting to grow. The white strands are the new roots.
We worked on a 2000 piece puzzle while it snowed.
By mid week the sun had come out and started to melt some of the snow. We were able to move around the farm a little bit better. Just in time to prepare for winter's next blow of below zero night time temperatures. It got down to -8 degrees Fahrenheit one night. We placed additional row covers over the anemones in the gutter connect house and gave our birds more straw for bedding.
Mark using the tractor to clear the driveway of snow.
Kate’s girls heading out to play in the snow and have some winter fun.
We always get asked what do you do in the winter? Or, farmers are off all winter right? I wish! Sometimes we say we work harder in the winter months than during the growing season. The cold temperatures and snow make the normally quick daily tasks a bit harder and we dress in many, many layers to keep warm. We don't mind the work because it just has to get done and knowing that there is a nice warm fire waiting for us in the house makes it a bit easier.
Thanks for joining me for Farm Tour Friday. Have a great weekend!
