My Urban Farm : Phase 1

So, we have embarked on a journey to create a farm in our own back yard. I am not sure if I can technically call it a farm, but I like the way it sounds. I have had a dream of living on a farm with lots of animals for a while, but also love to life close to others and have a community for my children to grow up in. John and I decided that we could have the farm I want and the wonderful neighbors we have at the same time by using every bit of space we have right hear in the middle of the city. I started last year with putting a garden box in out front yard and loved it. This year we have bigger plans. My vision is to have enough food for even friends and neighbors to enjoy. I want my children to really see where food comes from with their hands. I want to see how much I can grow on this tiny piece of land. Hopefully chickens are in our future too.

We started the transformation by cutting down a massive tulip poplar in our back yard that was leaning toward our house and starting to rot. Now we have sun and can start to grow. 

After we get rid of all this wood. Everyone got involved. Thanks Grandma Boo! 

Pilot had fun making this stump into a drum.

John got started building the garden boxes. We planned to make 9 in all.

Time to bring in the soil.

After the stump was ground down we had tons of mulch to spread over the garden. That was a workout.

Even with his back out John worked away happily. I am just glad he loves building stuff. 

Lots of little helpers made the work so much fun.

Grandma Boo worked through the rain and cold. She is one touch woman.

Enjoying my tea.

Planting begins.......so far we have planted watermelons, pumpkins, lettuce, kale, chard, radishes, arugula, cabbage, peas, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, plums and figs ................

The thing I love most about this is that we can do it together as a family. The garden brings us closer and keeps us grounded on the earth with a healthy amount of dirt under our nails.

::Check back to see phase 2::

Oh Easter Tree, Oh Easter Tree

It is a tradition in our family to make an Easter tree every spring to celebrate new beginnings. As a child growing up in Germany, I saw the most beautifully painted eggs and Easter trees each year.  I wanted to make sure our family made one every year. We start by poking small holes in either side of the eggs so you can blow out the inside of the eggs into a bowl, which is always fun and messy. (if you find that it is not coming out easily make the holes slightly bigger.)

Then we dye and paint the eggs adding some leaves and flower petals to some of them.

and hang them with string on our tree branches we find in our yard.

Friday: A Family Lives Here - Exhibit 1

This blog is a part of  Friday: A Family lives here from Alone on the Mountain top today. These are some of the pictures of our home from this week that will prove that a family lives here. I do truly believe you can have much fun without making a mess.

::Pilot with his marble maze.

::Water they collected from the storm drain on a rainy day.

::paint and clay project.

Picture day :: My little dancer

Pilot had his first dance pictures yesterday.  I wasn't sure how he would do in front of the camera, but when it was his turn he just had so much fun and was so comfortable. He really surprises me sometimes. He just loves dancing and performing and I just am so happy that he is getting to express all the different sides of himself. (Under all those nicely ironed clothes are bruises and cuts and probably some dirty feet.)

Pilot with his buddy from dance class. They are so cute!

Home Made Mayo

Home made mayonnaise is a great thing for kids to make. Yes, their hands will get a little oily, but that part of the fun.

::This Moment::

This is a special moment from the past week that I want to stop, savor and enjoy. If you want to see other moments being shared this morning, go over to SouleMama.

Building a Boat with Dad

John here.  Pilot has been obsessed with the idea of building a boat.  Every morning for the past two weeks he wakes up and asks "are we going to build the boat today?"  So we set a date to build the boat: Saturday morning otherwise known as "Daddy Day".

While Pilot and I gathered all the scrap wood that was stacked along the fence in our yard, Jetta decided to water our new berry patch.  

We took inventory on our wood supply and then planned our cuts.  Pilot and Jetta were great helpers with marking all the cuts for me. 

All that measuring and woodwork was exhausting.  So my crew took a 5 minute breather.

Then it was time to assemble all the parts we had created. 

Ahhhhhh, Pilot sure was glad to have his boat to kick back and relax in. It was a fun morning and a great project. I am glad Pilot had the idea and the persistence to make it happen.

Sheep Farm Trip: Sheering Day

It was sheering day at the Feederbrook Farm last week where we are taking part in a year long fiber co-op.

Payton getting ready to be sheered.

Payton getting his nails clipped.

All done!

Papa and Pilot watching the action.