Farmers Market

Weather permitting, I will be at the Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market tomorrow.  A little rain won't keep me away but lightening and heavy winds will.  Please check out our facebook page for updates.  I'll have the following tomorrow:
Honey
Eggs
Veggie Grab Bags filled with: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, okra, and squash.  Perfect for a stir fry!
Potted plants:  Sage, chives, dill, oregeno, zinnias, mums, bee balm, and calamint
Cut Herbs:  chives, rosemary, stevia, sage

Hope to see you there!

Summertime

I just finished my second week of summer vacation and already, it feels as though time is slipping away.  I still don't feel that I'm able to get everything done on my neverending to-do list.  This week was especially tough to stay focused.  One week ago today I had to say goodbye to my best friend for the past 10 years.  My dog Maxx has been my constant companion. He's been on roadtrips, seen too many changes to even mention, followed me around, and loved me though everything.  Losing him was the toughest thing I've ever had to endure.  He was such a wonderful farm dog.  While out doing my chores daily, he was constantly by my side.  He would walk right into the chicken coop and they barely even noticed.  This week as I've been working in the garden, I've found myself looking up to see if he was sitting by the gate.  His absence has left a hole in my heart that has been very painful.  I am filled with wonderful memories and will cherish the short time I had with him forever.  If you are lucky enough to have a dog like Maxx, spoil them!  I wish he was still around for me to do so!
Things here at Two Bees Farm have been rolling along smoothly.  The garden is doing well for the most part.  Dealing with new beds and mediocre soil has been a challenge this season.  My plants aren't baring as much as I'd like to see but all in all, they are healthy plants.  I have tons of green tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, and okra that will be ready to pick after today's rain.  I'll be at the Beaufort Farmers' Market next weekend so come on out and enjoy the bounty! 
The bees are doing their thing.  I harvested about 4 gallons of honey a few weeks ago and it's already sold.  If only I had 50 hives and a constant supply of honey..
I was hoping to start work on the greenhouse today but rain interfered with my plans.  I'll start tilling the ground as soon as it dries out and will also start building shelves and getting things ready for fall.  I'm very excited to grow in a greenhouse.. a real one.. and can't wait to see how much more I'm able to harvest through the winter. 
For today, I'll veg out on the couch with some baked brie smothered in newly made plum chutney and read my gardening books.  It's a good lazy day on the farm!

Farm Life

Days like today make me stop and think about how entertaining things can get around here!  Here are a few samplings of random events on the farm...

• After getting my ring caught in the chicken tractor/goat pen and having to cut it off, I then lost it.  It was found  in a steaming pile of chicken poo... It's now on my hand. 
• I was actually excited to get up at 6 on a Saturday morning to go to the market.  I wasn't even selling today.. I just went out to help and enjoy the friendly faces.  I remember the days when a fire alarm was the only thing getting me out of bed that early on a weekend!
• I discovered a secret egg laying spot.. complete with 45 eggs that can't be sold or eaten. I crushed them up and put them around the plants instead. I almost cried. 
• I can't actually fit any store bought food in my fridge.  It's now packed with radishes, collards, and other unexpected treats from today.
• I took "redneck" to a new level today.  I drove the 4 wheeler on the main road down to the neighbors to collect horse manure.  I then drove back down the road with a steaming pile of poo with two flat tires.. with traffic lined up behind me.  At least my hair looked good, right?

Today has been an interesting day to say the least.  I was able to start it out in great company.  The market was so much fun for me, maybe because I got to just sit back, watch, and mingle.  Listening to good music, eating fresh off the farm beef hotdogs, spending time with good friends, and enjoying the beautiful town of Beaufort's not a bad way to start it out.  That bloody mary at Queen Anne's Revenge wasn't bad either!  I end my day with gratitude.  I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life, for good friends, good food, healthy soil, blue skies, and cool breezes.  Happy Memorial Day weekend!! 

Pinkie the Two Bees Farm truck

A HUGE thank you to my mom and dad for making my life so much easier!  I guess they felt sorry for me and the ragged out pathfinder... After a few years of begging friends for help hauling compost, farm supplies, trash, and everything in between, I finally have my very own truck!  Pinkie is a 1995 Ford F-150 and I couldn't be happier!  I've already made two trips to the farmers' market and look forward to many more!! 

Farmers' Market Break Memorial Day Weekend

In order to give my garden time to catch up, I will not be selling the weekend of Memorial Day.  I will be back the following weekend however, and expect to have the following for sale:

Chard
Sugar Snap Peas
Fava Beans
Beets
Broccoli
New Potatoes
Onions
Chives
Herbs (Rosemary, Basil, Mint, oregeno)
Potted plants:  tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sage, chives, dill, oregeno
Mother of Millions (succulent plant)
Eggs
Honey!!!!  yes, Honey!!! 

I hope to see you there!!

May 18 Farmers' Market

Two Bees Farm will again be at the Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market this Saturday.  Please check out our website at www.beaufortfarmersmarket.com.  You'll find more deatiled information there about upcoming events!  This week at the market I will have the following:
Eggs
Lettuce
Radishes
Beets
Herbs (rosemary, chives, mint)
Chard
Onions
Sugar Snap Peas

I hope to see you there!

1st Farmers' Market

I am so excited to report that the 1st Beaufort Farmers' Market was a huge success!  The crowd was waiting for us to open at 9 and we saw a steady stream of customers until around 1030 when things started to slow down.  I sold every bit of produce I had except for 3 onions and a few bunches of herbs! The other artists at my table, Susie Willis, Brian Wright, and Mandy Prodgyzinski all sold their crafts as well.  I'm just hoping that I'll be able to keep up with the demand.  Please remember that I am a one woman show!  I operate my garden, chickens, and bees on my own and run out of hours in the day to get things done!  I will continue to bring as much high quality, pesticide free produce as my little garden can grow!  I have not been able to harvest honey from my hives yet but anticipate an extraction in the next few weeks.  I know folks want honey and I'm happy to provide it ASAP!  As soon as I extract, I'll post an update but come quickly as it sells almost as soon as it is out of the hive! 
Thank you so very much to my family and friends who have been supportive in this venture.  Thank you for coming by the farm to lend a helping hand, for encouraging me when I get frustrated and behind in work, and for coming out Saturday!  I look forward to many more successful markets!