Seed To Harvest

All Must End

2020-07-07T11:21:00.000-04:00

Our new home

After nearly 13 years the Bossy Hen Homestead is officially closing down. June 1st we sold our home in Sidney N.Y. and relocated to the small town of Caroline which is only minutes from Ithaca N.Y. located in the Finger Lakes region.

I have known for some time that this blog post would eventually be written. As I'm sure you can imagine I have rolled it over in my mind many times trying to find the right words for something that has been so important to my physical, spiritual and mental health for well over a decade. I was able to pursue a number of interest with the full support of my wife on our small property on Orchard St. I raised backyard chickens, quail and rabbits. I was fortunate enough to explore beekeeping at the Muddy River Farm Brewery. As my confidence grew along with my gardens I was able to reach a personal goal and blog for the well known Mother Earth News Magazine and the long running GRIT Magazine.

Bossy Hen provided a sanctuary for me when I battled serious health issues such as trigeminal neuralgia and Lyme disease. Simply sitting among the blooming flowers and the swaying stalks of corn provided momentary respite. The ever growing orchards and herb gardens were instrumental in my struggle with mental health issues. Knowledge, laughter and silence were shared with my children among the dense tomato plants and skyscraper sunflowers. I cherish the memory of our old beagle drinking in the scents from our early gardens.

During financial hardships and layoffs our farmette not only put food on our plates but provided me personally with a sense of purpose and utility. There was a sense of pride that is difficult to put into words when a gourmet meal was served when there was little money in the bank account.

That small urban farm was a platform to venture into market gardening and CSA farming. Our entire family took crops to the local food shelters and gave fresh organic food to single parents struggling to make ends meet. We shared conversations with our neighbors and exchanged tricks of the trade with one another.

It was heaven. It was ours. Now, it is a memory I shall always cherish. I do not know which direction my love for food and earth shall take me in my new surroundings but I do believe that just like Bossy Hen Homestead it will be exactly what I need. I thank you for reading all of these years and look forward to sharing new stories with you in the future.

A Return to the Victory Garden

2020-03-28T12:41:00.002-04:00

“The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.”
~Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture~

After 15 years of living on our tiny homestead we made the decision as a family to move. I gradually started taking down the raised beds that had slowly taken root on our property over the course of 12 years. I finally gave in and took the hens and rabbits to the local livestock auction. Within a few short weeks Covid 19 reared its ugly head and turned life upside down.

We live in New York State. Though we have not been as directly impacted by the illness as our neighbors in NYC we are seeing the residual effect in our day to day life. Schools are closed. My wife is working from home and the markets are bare.

Initially I have to admit I was not too alarmed. But as time continued to move forward and the shelves continued to be stripped I quickly realized it was time to resurrect our gardens. I suppose on some level it provides me with some sort of purpose and a feeling of control in a time when normalcy has become a memory. But it is also grounded in the concrete truth of the day. We have two grocery stores in our small community. One is doing its best to keep up with the demand while the other is price gouging to take advantage of the situation. It has become clear that it is time to return to that which I do best, which is grow and raise food. It is time to pay homage to the Victory Gardens of the past.

I began by going through the lumber of the old raised beds and repurposing the boards that were in good condition. I then focused my attention on the dwarf fruit trees on the property, both apple and pear and began pruning them. A day before Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency I reached out to a few farmers I knew and purchased a small flock of laying hens. The drive to Delhi to get the birds was so peculiar. I felt as though I were driving through ghost towns, no one in sight.

I have spent the last few days ordering seeds online and defining the garden space. I have been hauling wheelbarrows full of soil and rabbit manure to the new raised beds and turning over the dirt in old beds. My youngest daughter, though only 5 has an eye for gardening and has been helping by pruning the grape vines and the blueberry plants.

In reality if our move date of August comes through I will not be able to get a full season of gardening in but I have to admit that it feels great to know that I have the space and knowledge to provide fresh food in the meantime. It is like visiting an old friend in troubling times. I am a sentimental person and I am very aware that this is most likely my last go around with this wonderful and fruitful landscape and that in and of itself is worth the labor.

If you are interested in doing the same there are a number of short season and cold hardy crops you can begin growing now to get you well on your way.

Radishes
Asian greens such as mustard and mizuna
Salad greens including arugula, lettuce and cress.
Swiss chard, kale and chives
Peas
Broccoli
Scallions

When in the eye of the storm it is difficult to remember that this will indeed pass. But in the meantime if you have the opportunity to do so a Victory Garden will produce great rewards. Stay healthy my friends!

Farmers' Market 101

2019-12-02T12:16:00.001-05:00

I have been considering becoming a market gardener for a number of years. Like most things in life my true hesitation was rooted in fear. Would I be able to grow enough produce on such a small property? Would I experience crop failure? Would I be welcomed into the market community and so on.

I eventually received an invite from a small but well established market in New Berlin N.Y. I decided to venture outside of my comfort and commit to setting up a booth for the 2019 season. Knowing that I was going to be attempting to not only feed my own family but weekly customers well before the season started was a huge advantage. It provided me with the opportunity to carefully plan my garden layout and my product line.

With the benefit of hind sight I can now confidently pass along some advice that will prove invaluable to anyone considering this vocation. Lets start with the basics;

Soil Health: Healthy soil equals healthy plants. Remember to feed your soil well ahead of planting with organic matter such as composted kitchen scraps and animal manures. We have had a great deal of success with rabbit manure. Continue to feed your soil throughout the season and when the plants are finished with their role in your garden remove them so that they do not continue take nutrients from the soil.

Weeding: We had nearly 16 raised beds running full time on our 1/16th of an acre. 14 of the beds had weed control methods such as black tarp. 2 did not. I spent twice as much time maintaining the 2 natural beds as I did the 14 beds that were mulched with tarp. Less time pulling weeds allows more time spent doing everything else you would like to be doing in the garden.

Harvesting and transporting your product: Some items, such as cucumbers can be harvested the night before market and not suffer in appearance or taste but most items should be collected in the early morning hours before market. We would gather the most delicate items such as lettuce in the early dawn before the sun had a chance to wilt the leaf. We would bring the fresh cut lettuce to a wash basin of cold water and once cleaned put it in properly labeled plastic bags which would then be taken to the refrigerator until market time. Then, throughout the early morning the rest of the vegetables would be harvested in accordance of tolerance to heat and withstanding transport.

In terms of transporting we would place delicate items such as greens in a a cooler with ice sealed tight until we arrived at our destination. Other produce that was less susceptible to damage such as squash was gently placed in wooded crates for transport.

Pricing and display: Pricing can always be tricky. It is important to garner a fair income for the hours of hard work that go unnoticed long before market day. With that said it is important to propose prices that are in line with the other vendors and reflect the market in which you are selling. I was fortunate in that the head of our market was always willing to research proper pricing for me.

In terms of display make sure your product is clearly labeled. We used neon index cards with the vegetable name and price clearly printed. The produce itself was raised to different levels on the display table to naturally allow the customers eyes to quickly determine what was available on any given day. If in a plastic bag it was labeled with our urban farms name along with the weight, price and edible contained within.

These are just a few helpful hints. Remember to be flexible and to be open to constructive criticism. I learned so much not only from my fellow vendors but from the customers as well. Every market is different and it takes a bit of time to fall into a groove.

I now wish that I had not spent so much time worrying and had gotten involved in markets far sooner. I was warmly accepted into the scene by vendors and customers alike. I was able to grow enough on our small property, 357 pounds of produce to be exact. And , no, I did not have crop failure.

I now look forward to increasing my forthcoming yield, offering heirloom varieties and possibly venturing forth into larger markets. If you have a similar goal pursue it! You will not regret it.

Bossy Hen Homestead

2019-06-10T18:08:00.000-04:00

From our family garden to your table

As I quickly approach my first season as a market gardener I thought that I should take a moment and introduce the philosophy behind our small homestead. As with all gardens or farms there is a story that is singularly unique while containing threads of commonality. This is our particular tale.

Bossy Hen homestead is small in terms of a farming project yet large in terms of a garden. Initially the property, which spans no more than 1/16th of an acre in the village of Sidney N.Y. ,was started as a hobby garden by two very proud new homeowners. Soon after we bought our home the Great Recession took place and the gardens expanded and literally provided food for a growing family through tough economic times, including two layoffs.

It was around the time of the second layoff that I, as the main vegetable gardener in the family, began to recognize the stability and power of growing your own food, especially in one of the most economically depressed counties in the country. Though we still grow food for our own table we began donating to the local food shelter after researching the staggering amounts of food that are wasted in American gardens every year.

We raise nearly 60 different items on 1/16th acre

As the garden evolved so did my approach to running and maintaining it. Though not certified organic I am diligent in obtaining soil and plant health through natural permaculture techniques. The goal at Bossy Hen is to embrace nature not fight it. After years of experimenting the homestead now provides shelter to local beneficial insects and animals by providing room for natural fauna among the crops. Mason bee shelters, toad houses and bird nesting are encouraged. Compost from green kitchen scraps as well as rabbit and chicken manure is added to the soil regularly to nourish the absolutely stunning amount of life that exist below our feet. Healthy soil means healthy plants. The soils health dictates everything from growth and production to disease resistance and even plays a crucial role in pest control.

With space being limited a number of growing techniques are incorporated to protect the land upon which we live while providing the largest yield possible. We use vertical growth with common garden plants such as tomatoes or cucumbers but also employ it in more unique settings such as growing pumpkins on a trellis. We use co-planting and the French intensive method to crowd plants into forming a healthy symbiotic relationship. For example the three sisters method which predates European arrival in America is a technique which has corn, squash and beans all growing in the same space. The corn, which is a nitrogen hog, grows upright providing a trellis for the pole beans which in turn actually return nitrogen to the soil via their roots while the squash vine provides a natural mulch by spreading low to the ground and retaining rain water.

We do our best to use heirloom seeds for a number of reasons. One, because we believe genetic diversity in our food supply is important. Two, heirlooms produce some of the most lovely and delicious items on our table. Lastly, is there anything more amazing than knowing you are eating a melon that was grown in France in the 1800's or a tomato from generations ago in Sicily? History literally upon your plate.

Few places I would rather be

Another aspect of our homestead that I feel is very important is that the food you the consumer will be eating is literally out of our family garden. If it is not fit for my children than it is certainly not fit for you. That is first and foremost. Take into account my experience with food scarcity in the past and understand that I (we) want to provide healthy and unique food for individuals and their families regardless of income level. This is my own private form of rebellion for lack of a better word. If you take any institution in this great country of ours be it education, health or exactly what we are talking about now, food, it is always about the bottom line at the end of the day. Now, it is true I am exploring an opportunity to generate income for my family but it is not about the money. It is about bringing the human relationship back into commerce. I know my small circle of customers. I harvest their food with my own hands. I wash it and package leaf by leaf. I sweat and toil with an eagerness driven by a love for the land and for the plants I grow. I am filled with immense pride when I am able to provide fresh food directly from my garden to another family to share with the ones they love.

Bossy Hen homestead is a small step forward in which quality is more important than quantity. Filling a belly is more important than filling a bank account (though that would be nice) and knowing that I am leaving the property in better shape than I found it when this is all said and done is far more important than exploiting the property for personal gain.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the market so that you can share this journey of bounty with me. Together we can over grow the system.

Mason Bees

2019-04-30T09:39:00.000-04:00

Photo: USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab/flickr

"The keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams." ~Henry David Thoreau~

If you are environmentally conscious you are aware of the rapid decline of the honeybee. What you may not know is that there are nearly 20,000 different species of bees globally. 4,000 of those are located in the U.S. alone. According to Dyce Lab, located near the main campus of Cornell University, there are 417 species of bees found in my home state of New York. Unfortunately, New York is not immune to the steady lose of these crucial pollinators as approximately 13% of the states native species are facing declining numbers.

It is difficult not to get discouraged when faced with the numbers but that certainly does not mean that there are not avenues worth pursuing in an attempt to halt this alarming trend. In fact, honeybees are not the only beneficial pollinator one can attract to their garden. One of the seasons earliest visitors is the Mason bee.

Mason bees are solitary bees and are very docile. Males do not possess a stinger and females will only sting if they feel trapped. These lovely blue, dull green and black bees are slightly smaller than the more familiar honeybee but can pollinate nearly ten times the plants that a honeybee can in a single day. A staggering number when you consider that honeybees can visit nearly 5,000 flowers in the course of a lifetime. In fact, three female Mason bees can pollinate an entire apple tree by themselves!

These modest but active bees derive their name from their tendency to place their eggs in small holes in which they cover with mud. Interestingly enough when they lay their eggs they place the female eggs in the back of the nest and the males in the front so that the first to emerge are the males who are patiently waiting for their mate to follow. In nature they will look among old elderberry canes for a proper nesting site but artificial homes are easily purchased at any reputable gardening store.

Mason Bee nest

According to the Honey Bee Conservancy there are a number of flowers you can place in your garden to provide an opportunity for bees to harvest pollen from spring to fall. Spring blooms include borage, calendula and lilac. In the summer consider cosmos, foxglove and hosta. In the fall zinnia, witch hazel and sunflowers. Bees are also attracted to any number of flowering herbs such as basil, chives and thyme.

As gardeners, environmentalist and stewards of the land it is our responsibility to ensure that the sacred dance of the bee, one which has existed between pollinator and flower bloom for nearly 100 million years, continues to succeed and flourish not only for our children but for the countless generations beyond that we will never have the pleasure to meet.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Sources;

https://pollinator.cals.cornell.edu/resources/
https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/plant-a-bee-garden/
http://beegone.eu/
https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/how-identify-different-types-bees

The New Year

2019-01-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

Glass Gem Popcorn

As the 2018 gardening season comes to a close I am able to focus primarily on the changes that are soon coming to the Bossy Hen Homestead. I am very excited to implement a number of new options to our thriving space.

The overall scope will be a refined approach to sustainable gardening which is turn will provide the opportunity for a few CSA options for interested parties. The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) will be seasonal organic produce with options for chicken and rabbit meat. Partners in the program will eat from the same exact garden that my own family eats out of. From my family to yours.

Structurally BHH will be different as well. Inspired by a visit to Common Roots, Inc. in Burlington, Vermont I will be removing old stone beds and replacing them with wood beds that will not only be more visually appealing but allow for more intensive growing. It will do so by providing more defined and contained growing areas and walking paths which in turn will allow pinpoint focus on direct soil health.

BHH will be moving away from laying hens and leaning more towards rabbits this season. Though we will have a few hens for eggs the goal is to condense and utilize space as efficiently as possible while maintaining healthy and happy urban livestock. Frankly speaking this is simply becoming increasingly difficult in regards to the hens with the massive amount of rainfall we now experience in the Northeast. Add the fact that rabbits are cleaner and quieter while producing top rate garden fertilizer it just makes sense.

Flemish Giant/Californian mix doe

Another goal this year is to provide a sanctuary for the pollinators and beneficial animals in the garden space. Mason bee nest will be added as well as homes for toads and snakes both of whom will eat nearly one thousand insects a day! Bird houses will be placed among the bramble too.

In an attempt to move toward a more professional setting the goal is to establish a sightly fence, paint the properties home and in turn make it more attractive to visitors.

Aside from the CSA BHH will also continue to offer individual sales of greens, garlic and seasonal produce. Another top priority is to take excess garden produce to the local food bank.

Last but certainly not least will be the Bossy Hen Homestead blog itself. 2019 will see more post on gardening techniques, garden produce, recipes and a bit of green philosophy. Big things in store for this little property!

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Bee Balm

2018-08-17T11:30:00.000-04:00

Bee Balm, or Monarda as it is called, is an indigenous medicinal plant that the Native Americans were using long before the colonist arrived. Fortunately our original host were willing to share the value of this unique flower with the settlers in upstate New York and thus became known as Oswego Tea in regards to the location of this gift of knowledge. Ever the historian I was so excited when my wife added this lovely edition to our gardens since we live a short ride from Oswego N.Y.

The petals and leaves can be used from this wonderful flower for a number of purposes. Typically the dried leaves are used for tea which in turn can help with everything from colds and congestion to nausea and even muscle spasms. Its petals can be used in salads as well as fruit dishes and though Bee Balm has an interesting aroma as part of the mint family it is an essence all its own.

This favorite of the early Shakers is an important plant for the pollinators of any organic garden. My family has spent countless hours watching the bees, hummingbirds and butterflies swarm the stretching red limbs of the Monarda flowers.

Every two to three years it is recommended that one divides this full sun loving plant. When transplanting just remember that it does well in slightly acidic soil.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Raising Quail

2018-08-12T17:26:00.000-04:00

"The song-birds leave us at the summer's close, Only the empty nests are left behind. And pipings of the quail among the sheaves. "
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Harvest Moon

It only seemed appropriate to begin with a quote from a distant relative of my wife and children as it is true summer is preparing for its final performance of this quickly fading season.

Recently I was presented with the opportunity to add a few quail to our homestead. I have been eager to add these timid birds to Bossy Hen for sometime.

To begin with the hens are extremely quiet which is a glaringly obvious benefit for those of us that are urban farming. The males do make a soft cooing noise that I have found very calming but in an effort to be neighborly I only took home a few females who are virtually without sound.

Another considerable benefit is the amount of space or lack thereof that is required to house quail. Though we provide far more room than recommended one only needs to accommodate their birds with one square foot of living space. Quail are also prolific egg layers. They typically begin laying eggs when eight weeks old and can lay up to nearly 300 a year. It is worth noting that their eggs are on the small side and it takes about four quail egg to equal the size of one chicken egg. There is far more yolk in the egg of the small game bird as well.

As I have mentioned in the past my family of six lives in a high poverty area so we are constantly attempting to supplement our food bill with healthy options right from our own yard. Now before I start with the benefits I should say I have read that quail eggs are higher than chicken eggs in cholesterol and I have read that they are not and can even help lower cholesterol. I will let you decide that one for yourself. With that said one tiny quail egg has nearly six times the Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) than a much larger chicken egg does. B2, which helps maintain body tissue, is fifteen times higher in a quail egg. These little powerhouses contain more Vitamin A, D and calcium than your Rhode Island Red just to name a few. They are also full of iron. Another fantastic benefit of these miniature eggs is that they are a source of the heart healthy Omega-3's. It is also believed that individuals suffering from respiratory ailments and diseases can benefit from adding these eggs to their diet.

Of course they are considered a bit of a delicacy themselves. I have been cutting back on my intake of meat over the last year but for those of you who enjoy animal protein something certainly worth considering.

If you do decide to use your animals droppings for fertilizer, which I do recommend, just make sure to compost it over winter because it is similar to chicken droppings in that it is a "hot" manure and will burn your plants otherwise.

I do want to mention that quail are considered a domestic game bird so Big Brother wants to make sure they get their cut. Be sure to check into the laws in your state just to cover your back.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Garlic for Sale

2018-07-20T21:34:00.001-04:00

Spanish Red

One of our goals here at the Bossy Hen Homestead is to provide members of our local and surrounding communities with the opportunity to enjoy gourmet quality produce at an affordable price. We firmly believe everyone should have access to healthy food and we are trying to do our small part to help bring that conviction to life.

This year we are proudly offering organic garlic from our small permaculture homestead. While our supplies last we will be selling the garlic 2 for $1.00 with a discount for bulk purchases of 50 for $20.00. Listed below are the descriptions of the allium we will be offering. It will go quickly so it is a first come first serve proposition. If this proves to be as successful as we believe it will be we may invest in a larger crop this fall.

1) Spanish Red- This is a variety in its second year of production. Our seed stock was initially purchased locally at McDowell Walker in Sidney N.Y. A rather small and compact head not much bigger than a golf ball , though this years seed stock looks very promising. Don't let the size or its lovely color fool you it very well may have the most bite of any of our garlic. A little goes a long way. Update! Spanish Red is Sold Out until 2019!

2) German Red- The certified organic seed stock of this cold hardy variety originally was purchased through one of my favorite heirloom seed companies, the Seed Savers Exchange. It is an excellent keeper and a full flavored hardneck variety that tends to have 8-10 cloves per bulb. Update! German Red is Sold Out until 2019!

German Red

3) Early Purple Italian-This all purpose, mild flavored garlic is our only softneck selection. It is another certified organic seed stock provided by the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. We have found through personal use that if stored properly Early Purple will last nearly a year before spoiling. We are considering offering braids of this garlic next season. Sold out until 2019!

4) Postman Garlic-So named because this flagship garlic was originally given to us by our postman nearly 5 years ago after chatting about our gardens one day. We traded some Golden Sweet Pea seeds that made their way to the States from Delhi , India for some of his bulbs. This strain is one of our largest in size but possibly one of the most mild in taste. A real beauty and delicious raw or cooked. Sold out until 2019!

Now if that is not enough to sell you on our delicious mainstay crop let me mention a few of the known health benefits of garlic. It lowers blood pressure and helps maintain bad cholesterol. It helps boost digest and regulates blood sugar.

Maybe that is not enough though. Perhaps you prefer a little history lesson to entice you. Well according to the Seed Savers Exchange "garlic dates to Central Asia 4,000 B.C. Fed to pyramid builders, used as currency, and found in King Tut's Tomb in Egypt. In Rome consumed by Olympic athletes and game cocks for strength. In Israel, for aphrodisiac effects, conversely avoided by celibates in other cultures. Used as medicine in India, China and by Hippocrates. Currently, over 600 sub-varieties cultivated all over the world."

Well there you have it! Hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much to all of you who ordered Bossy Hen Garlic. Hope to see you again next year!

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Right Below Your Nose

2018-07-01T18:34:00.000-04:00

When I was a 5 year old child I lived in the very busy city of Harrisburg Pennsylvania. My parents apartment was one of a few hundred packed tightly among the concrete and exhaust. The elementary school I attended, E.H. Philips, was a short walk from our front door. On the way was a very small patch of earth that had crab grass and small trees that had been planted in nice neat rows so that the lawnmowers could weave in and out of them.

One fine morning while making my way to school I noticed a talkative bird in one of the trees nearest to me. Without going into every detail of my adventure lets just say this, I never made it to class that day. The scolding robin lead me to discover all sorts of interesting natural treasures that I chose to explore all day long. In fact I was returned from my exploration when I noticed some of my classmates walking home that afternoon. I casually made my way back to the apartment recounting all that I had discovered only to find my mother was waiting in hysterics.

I bring this memory up to you because not much has changed in nearly forty years. I still love to fade into my surrounding and notice the little things. In particular I have come to really enjoy spying on the smallest of creatures that inhabit my gardens. This includes everything from the miniature trumpet shaped blooms of the wildflowers to the most persistent of insects that is forging among the competition found beneath the shade of growing vegetables. The snail, the slug and the emerging clover are all objects of my curious glance.

Forgive me for sounding like a nostalgic gardener when I say this but in a world that rarely slows down a moment of awareness would do all of us well. It provides nourishment for the empathy and the natural inquisitiveness that exist within us all. Perception and understanding of our environment in turns helps to create the same realization of ourselves. This in turn affords us the opportunity to teach our friends, family and community of the wonderful treasures we have discovered. When we begin to affirm the importance of all existence, well then, all existence is important.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Garden Therapy

2018-05-16T21:42:00.003-04:00

"At the bottom of freshly dug holes, I bury my problems alongside the waxen seeds.” ~Kelseyleigh Reber~

In the garden we connect with that which is deeply rooted in our primal past. The same ground is certainly a reflection of our divine meditation cast upon the field with aspirations of harvest. Among the soil one will find ants collecting in their armor and worms twisting blind and soft through the muck. The same cool breathe of wind that stirs the grass to sing touches the sweltering brow of the gardener on a hot July afternoon. Nature offers a siren song to heal the wounded soul.

A garden holds a mirror to our very being. It is a both a place of immense beauty and promise as well as a sanctuary of endless decay. Both blossom and shit share the same lush landscape and neither can claim the crown without the other.

With that said there is a peace found within the toil of seed and shovel that cannot be found anyplace else, this I swear to you. Science may speak of a decrease in cortisol and the good book may speak of Eden but the answer, I would suggest, may be far more similar to rhythm. It is the space between the notes that give life to the music and thus it is the same within the sacred space of soil and stone. The truth lies somewhere among the silence and the strife.

Once while in the garden I witnessed a falcon effortlessly streak through the branches of a large pine to spear a sparrow. A forest full of melody suddenly ceased as the soft plumes of the small bird fell to the earth below. There is a privilege provided for those of us patient enough to kneel among the briar and moss.

I have planted seed in the steady cold rain of spring. Provided a feast for the mosquito while pulling weeds in the humid dawn of summer. Been bitten by ticks while working among the wet leaves of autumn and stood humbled in the dark silence of winter. All the while blessed to call myself the steward of this small tract of land.

Heaven seems to exist among the rows of future harvest. I have washed away depression with sweat equity in my quiet corner. The demons tangled among the past that persist to hold on through PTSD and anxiety cease to gain a foothold when I watch the hens peck among sunflower seeds. The same can be said of the grumpy bumblebee warning me to back off from among the clover or the newborn rabbits that sleep as if the world beyond does not exist. Calmness cascades when I submit to natures pulse.

There is serenity to be found within the garden that goes well beyond the individual. It nourishes the soul, body and mind. How else can we discard our broken shells only to be renewed among the daisy and milkweed, the thistle and the storm? Our effort is a gift not only to ourselves but to those we love so that we can then break the bread of our labors with joyful abandon.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

The Right To Raise Your Own Food

2018-04-25T19:05:00.000-04:00

Cornish Rock

I have been considering how to approach this subject for sometime. When one lifts a knee to stand upon their soapbox they run the risk of simply looking and sounding silly if their discourse lacks a solid foundation. After much thought I decided that the best approach would simply be an honest account of my intentions with the hope that anyone who has planted a seed or raised an animal could relate.

For those of you who regularly read Seed To Harvest (thank you!) you may remember a piece I published last year called Urban Livestock. It described our experience with raising rabbits, chickens and Pygmy goats in a suburban/urban environment. Not long after this article went up on our blog I received a knock at the door from a local code enforcer. I live in a reasonably small town so I happen to know the gentleman who was at my front door. Basically, in a very apologetic manner, he quickly flashed some paperwork which stated I was violating a local code and that the goats and chickens would have to go. I happened to be ill with the flu at the time and was planning on selling a few of the animals anyway so did not argue it. My children were of course devastated and as I regained my health I became very irritated for a number of reasons.

To begin with I used to be a local councilman (please don't hold it against me) so I had done my homework reading the laws and even contacted local officials when making my decision to add urban livestock to the mix. Though a number of minor issues bothered me about the visit such as the fact our community is riddled with an opioid epidemic and yet a healthy lifestyle was being policed. What really got my goat (see what I did there?) was that I was being told by the local government that I did not have the right to raise my own food. In other words I am not allowed to feed myself by my own hand and labor.

Now, before I go much further I do want to say this. I have never had any direct complaints from the village about my massive vegetable gardens. But as soon as I added animals to the mix it changed. It changed to the extent that if I continue to do so, which I am, I can potentially face a number of fines.

Fizz Gig our lionhead buck

I added animals to the mix for a number of reasons. Initially the rabbits were brought in for their manure. Your garden is only as healthy as your soil, fact. We added hens, no roosters, for a protein source. Fresh eggs, not that garbage from the factory farms, are very healthy. They have everything your body needs except vitamin C. Not to mention you can always sell the excess and make a couple of bucks here and there which was a great learning experience for our children. Our family consumes meat so eventually it just made sense to raise rabbits and chickens for meat once a year. The numbers were small and we kept the area clean not only for our neighbors sake but most importantly the animals themselves. Admittedly the goats were a bit of an afterthought but in the long run we were hoping to have a source of dairy.

I got rid of the two goats, one duck and two hens. They never mentioned the two pairs of breeding rabbits so I left them. I also kept two of our hens. I just recently bought half a dozen chickens for the freezer and a few small bantams to replace the birds I lost.

I raise food for my family of six because it helps us financially to do so. I grow vegetables, fruits and herbs because I am educated on the hazards of not only synthetic pesticides but also organic pesticides. I raise small, quiet and healthy urban livestock because I want a safe source of animal protein for my familys diet and I want the manure for my heavily farmed gardens. I do it for environmental reasons, physical and mental health reasons, I do it because I have access to land and I refuse to have anyone tell me I cannot feed my family so I suppose you can say I do it for political reasons.

I have decided after all of this to simply carry on as if no one ever knocked at my door. I went nearly 3 years without a hassle. If I do have another visit I am going to fight it. I was elected by a record number of votes when I ran for office and I will gladly use that influence to make a positive change in our community again.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Year in Review 2017

2017-12-02T20:58:00.001-05:00

Rogue Sunflower

“Odd as I am sure it will appear to some, I can think of no better form of personal involvement in the cure of the environment than that of gardening. A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world. He is producing something to eat, which makes him somewhat independent of the grocery business, but he is also enlarging, for himself, the meaning of food and the pleasure of eating.”
― Wendell Berry, The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays

2017 was a year of accomplishments and obstacles. This, of course, is true of any of our lives in any given year but in regards to my continuing mission at the Bossy Hen homestead there were some glaring examples of both.

It has long been my goal to extend my growing season here in southern New York state by using row covers. Due in large part to the contributions we received last year from a number of like minded individuals I was able to invest in the equipment and do so. I used Agribon row covers which allowed me to plant my first seeds in early April which is a full 8 weeks ahead of schedule. One of the benefits of this particular row cover is that it protects young plant a few degree below freezing temperatures. The same technique allowed us to grow a fall garden of carrots, beets and greens well into November. Approximately an additional 6 weeks of garden production.

I had also added four new raised beds in 2017. Space is always in demand when homesteading on 1/16th of an acre so the beds were well needed. They were used for shallots, Swiss chard and Italian peppers among other delicious items.

She was just a baby when we started

Urban livestock was an adventure this past year. I decided to raise chickens for meat again this year as well as a few chicks for eggs. I lost a number of them to a nasty rodent. It was my first experience with that sort of thing and it forced me to be far more focused in terms of protecting young animals with properly built pens. I also bought ducks for meat but they never made it to the table. The female was horribly loud so we auctioned her off and kept the drake who seemed to prefer the company of our laying hens anyway. He is still around and seems to think that he is a rooster. I also added two pygmy/Nigerian dwarf goats to the homestead. I am slowly becoming more comfortable with them but there is a lot of learning and work to be done still.

In regards to the business end of things I grew and raised nearly $870.14 worth of fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and meat according to the U.S.D.A price market. My total expenses were $741.55 so I came out in the black! I do believe these numbers will only get better in both respects as I refine my technique. I do have to point out that though I did sell some items a large majority of the harvest was for my own family. There are six of us you know! The one thing that I absolutely have to get better at is waste in the garden and making sure that any left overs make it to the local food bank.

Ground Cherry

My major obstacle this year, aside from scheduling my time, was my health. Right smack dab in middle of the growing season I came down with acute Lyme's disease. It was a nightmare. I was bedridden for a month. The garden and animals survived simply because my kids and wife stepped up big time. When I was finally able to get out of bed I had brain fog and an overwhelming case of fatigue. It was a long walk back to health but I am getting there.

I do have goals for the coming season of 2018. I want to set the animals up so that they have ample space and comfortable quarters without invading the kids play area. I would also like to add a good fence around the property. Lastly I would like to add quail to the homestead for meat and eggs.

Now if you will excuse me I have to scour my seed catalogs while the fire burns brightly.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

Urban Livestock

2017-11-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

Our New Zealand mixes

Initially we started our urban homestead with a few vegetables. As the years passed and our desire to be more involved in our own food production grew we eventually added urban livestock.

The very first animal that we added were rabbits. Upon the suggestion of my great-aunt we purchased our first rabbits from a local farmers' market for their manure. As I began to investigate the slow food movement and factory farming I decided that I wanted to explore rabbits as a potential source of animal protein. With this decision our operation expanded slightly. Within the last year we have slowly cut back to two breeding pairs of rabbits.

So what are the pros and cons? Frankly speaking rabbits are an amazing addition to any small property homestead. For those of you who have chosen a vegan lifestyle they are extremely valuable as well. Their manure is gold for the garden. If properly cared for they are very clean animals that emit very little smell. They are so quiet that unless you put their living facility in clear view or tell someone about them most of your neighbors would not even know that they are there. If you do happen to eat meat they are a very healthy and lean meat. We try not to overtax our does and tend to only breed twice a year but it is not unheard of to breed up to four times a year. You can also make a little money off of breeding as well. You will not get rich but it does help pay for some of the feed cost if you sell some of your kits.

The cons are as follows. It is really easy to end up with too many rabbits, take my word for it! Not all does are good mothers. I am sure you are familiar with the old adage "they breed like rabbits" but some does are not good mothers. If you chose to keep your operation small this can be a problem. The next downfall goes without saying but it is really hard to kill an animal. There is a great responsibility in regards to this decision. So , if you plan on doing so yourself be prepared. Otherwise try to find someone who can responsibly do so.

Eventually we migrated toward backyard chickens. I grew up in a home that purchased nearly all their food from a grocery store. Though I had encountered chickens on the farms of family members I really had no idea what I was getting into. Initially I brought home four leghorns who were egg producing machines but extremely flighty and loud. After much research I became very interested in heritage breeds and brought home some lovely and rare Swedish flower hens. Nowadays we have five hens which produce plenty of eggs for our family of six.

Hand raised from a chick

The benefit of chickens is that they really don't need a ton of space. If you get the right breed such as a barred rock for example they are reasonably quiet. They will cluck a bit when they lay an egg but nothing that should raise any complaints. Once again depending on the breed you will end up with a lot of fresh eggs, a leghorn can lay 300 a year! They are great pest control in the garden and once composted because it is a hot manure their droppings make fantastic fertilizer!

The biggest con I have encountered thus far is that during the rainy season they stink! When their manure gets wet it is a lot of work to keep the smell down and your neighbors unaware of any fowl odors. (See what I did there?) Another issue to consider is what you are going to do with your hens when they become older birds and do not lay regularly. Are you going to keep them and let them live out their days as a family pet? Will you sell them? Do they end up in the stew pot? Something to consider.

"Donald" the Rooster

We tried ducks this year. Pekings are great for meat production. The females are loud! They make a mess and they tend to stink an area up. With that said they are mighty cute but I have to be honest they were not for us. We do have a drake that runs around our property who thinks he is a rooster but aside from being a potential source of meat they will not be added to our homestead in the future. Some people really love them and prefer them over chickens. They carry less disease, can lay large eggs in great numbers and will nibble all the slugs in your garden.

The most recent addition to our urban farm has been a pair of Nigerian dwarf/Pygmy goats.

Alright, so lets talk goats. Admittedly I am a bit of a rookie. I can tell you what I know though and what I am hoping to accomplish.

First off the rumor that goats will eat anything is untrue. These guys are not out there eating tin cans. They are very curious but they are picky eaters. Dry hay is important. Fresh water even more so and lots of it! Proper housing is a must, something we are still experimenting with.

They need to be medicated for parasites every few months. They need their hooves trimmed. They are not fun to castrate but then again who is? They are rascals.

Elvis our young buck

With that said they are adorable, loving and calm animals that have the potential to produce delicious milk which can be taken straight or made into a number of useful items such as soap, yogurt and cheese. They catch is you have to have a consistent program if you are going to milk and a clean environment is a must!

So there you have it. Our experience with urban livestock. If I had it to do all over again I would probably stick with just a breeding pair of rabbits and a half dozen hens but I have no regrets in terms of branching out and going well beyond my comfort zone and my gardens look wonderful as a result (free fertilizer!)

P.S. I would like to thank my neighbors for being so cool about it!

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

A Garlic Testament (Book Review)

2017-07-19T11:08:00.002-04:00

In regards to literature the gardening and farming market has become saturated. There are countless books espousing the latest trends. Others center around material that has been written about countless times while attempting to provide a new face to an old body of work. None of which is inherently wrong, personally speaking I would prefer to read those books rather than most other forms of literature but it has become difficult to locate books of true substance among the weeds.

I have an interest in garlic. Maybe a bit of an obsession would be the correct term so I am always on the lookout for a good book about my favorite allium. That is how I discovered A Garlic Testament: Seasons on a Small New Mexico Farm by Stanley Crawford.

I am partial to writers who are able to transport you to their very location. Crawford succeeds in doing so with an almost effortless stroke of the pen that reminds me of the great Wendell Berry. Within the pages of A Garlic Testament you are able to feel Crawfords uncomfortable departure from his fields as he makes his way to his early morning interactions with customers at the farmers' markets of Santa Fe and Los Alamos, home of the atomic bomb. You can smell the freshly harvested garlic straight from the dry earth of his farm. Your muscles want to ache when you read about the backbreaking work involved. You feel a sense of relaxation as he describes the end of a long day.

This is only the tip of the iceberg though. Stanley Crawford is a poet and philosopher who happens to own a garlic farm with his wife Rose Mary. He presents revelations discovered during the early dawn of farmers' markets. The seat of his slow moving tractor has become a sort of Bodhi tree which allows his mind to wander and grasp meaningful discourse that escapes most of society as it moves away from the land with frightening speed. His winters spent trying to capture the inner-dialogue of a genuine land steward.

I am humble enough to admit that my review falls far short of the exquisite text that is A Garlic Testament. I can only hope that I have sparked your interest enough to pursue what will certainly become a cornerstone in the library of any serious gardener or farmer.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

Purpose

2017-06-06T09:38:00.000-04:00

Add caption

I have been thinking about my purpose in life a lot lately. Now, maybe the fact that Sidney has had rain or severely dark and cloudy weather 75% of the last 75 days has something to do with my intense introspection. Maybe it is simply my age. The optimist in me hopes I am viewing life from my peak. The pessimist suggests I am already on my way back down the mountain side. Regardless of where the search of my existence stems from I cannot help but find my focus firmly rooted there.

I have responsibilities that I cherish and embrace with love such as being a husband and father. On some level these are very much my purpose. It is only natural to consider the fact that we can apply ourselves to a number of important opportunities. But I am speaking more along the lines of my individual purpose. The journey that I must intrinsically take alone in order to fulfill my very existence. I do believe purpose can fluctuate over time and that may be part of the confusion I am experiencing. But I also believe that if we examine our history we are able to visually navigate an unfolding passion that has slowly taken course over the term of our life.

Last night while I was in bed I began to think about my journey of working with seed and soil. It is not glamorous work. Truth be told I spend more than my fair share of time around manure and other forms of rot. Though I can see the earth worms and spiders most of what I aim to accomplish in the dirt is invisible to the naked eye and only becomes evident upon the unfolding of leaf and bloom of flower and fruit.

When their work is done

It is not an agenda that will garner compliments from strangers. Though once in a great while someone will offer a kind word shiny enough for me to pin to my chest so that I can parade my ego around my gardens. In the end though most of my work is solitary and quiet, much like me. When I am working with those I love there is conversation but inevitably talk gives way to the sound of ones own breathe providing a natural rhythm for the work at hand.

It was these lack of accolades that made me realize this is most likely my current purpose. To work odd hours in cold rain, hot sun and sharp winter winds because I do not desire to be any place else. The fact that, for the most part, the work goes unrecognized but still I perform regardless of health or illness spoke volumes to my frail ego. True meaning is magnetic not a vehicle for shallow triumphs.


Courtesy of Natures paint brush

Feeding the dirt so that it becomes soil is purpose. A purpose far larger than myself or even this moment of brief existence. Being a steward of the worms and the bees is as close to divinity as I could ask to be. A single seed, whether it is the spiked orb of a chard plant or the painted kidney of a bean seed is not only a handful of art but the past, present and future contained all in one moment.

I am not the first and I am certainly not the last to farm but what makes my purpose unique is that I am a walking history of every inch of my property. A nurse for patches of poor soil. A swift sword for plants eroding due to pest. A good host for rabbit, fox and wren. There is purpose in that. Some day when my limbs no longer cooperate with my mind I will have to once again reexamine why I exist. But for now my principal wish is to place my hands in the dirt to feed my soul.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.

In Winter

2016-12-29T16:08:00.001-05:00

I enjoy winter when it arrives at the homestead. Though the gardens are long since dormant there is still plenty to do.The rabbits and the chickens need constant care. A couple of times a day I have to break ice from the animals water and make sure they have enough warm bedding.

I don't mind though. No matter how cold it gets. There is poetry in the garden during summer. Birds sing with triumphant melody. Soft summer rains baptize new growth. But the winter features a more solitary form of art. For the most part there is a resonating silence that is a canvas for the occasional temperamental gust of wind and snow. These same squalls force the breathe from my lungs and scatter the frozen mist before my eyes. Then, once again, there is silence. As any good steward I try not to disturb this peace. If anything, I try to move unnoticed among it.

When it is cold enough the trees will produce an individual moan as they threaten to splinter in the darkness of the woods. They all have their own voice for those willing to listen. Some call low and bored while others seem to shriek with the inexperience of too few winters.

When the stars appear owls call in night as the light feet of fox and feral cat leave soft footprints in the snow as their only evidence of passing.

This is also the time of year when daydreams flourish and ideas take root in the thirsty desire that is the mind. Seed catalogs become dogeared while Jack Frost sculpts masterpieces upon my window panes. The warm glow of the computer lights up my face as I search for new and inventive ways to grow and produce my own food. A notebook with scribbles and proposals, a hot cup of coffee and the flicker of the fire light frame the early darkness as I sit at the large wooden dining room table my uncle gave me while waiting for the first light of the new dawn to appear.

There is much to do as the snow gently falls. Many dreams yet to be born and chores patiently waiting in the cold morning.

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

Bossy Hen Homestead Update

2016-11-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

I would like to take a moment and provide an update to those of you who read our blog as well as those of you who were kind enough to donate to our cause.

As many of you know we are beginning to refine our focus in regards to the short and long term goals of our urban homestead. Recently we have been able to take a few steps towards accomplishing our desires with the help of some very generous people.

To begin with, we were able to winterize the hutch for our eldest doe rabbit. It will provide her with a dry and warm home this winter with plenty of room to stretch her legs.

We purchased three new varieties of organic heirloom garlic from The Seed Savers Exchange to go along with our existing "postman" garlic. This in turn aloud us to plant well over 300 cloves of garlic. Not only will our family directly benefit from this planting but so will many of the members of our community who live below the poverty line and receive donations from our local food bank.

We also invested in seeds from Fedco Seeds in an effort to experiment with season extension. We bought short season greens and planted them under new row covers that we purchased with donations as well. Though we do consider this winter just an opportunity to stick our toe in the water so to speak the goal is to extend our own growing season so that not only can we provide fresh food to our own family for a longer period of time but also to be able to provide fresh local produce to our local food bank for a much longer period of time as well.

It has been a very exciting time period for us here at Bossy Hen Homestead. We have been reinvigorated and have allowed ourselves to bask in the potential of it all. We are pursuing the opportunity to grow gourmet mushrooms next year and are also investigating the potential of a few bee hives on neighboring property. We are also looking into a small coop and run in a quiet section of our property to go along with our current hen house so that we can add three more laying hens and thus have extra eggs for the food bank.

I have to admit that I have been rolling around the idea of turning this project into something more than just a hobby at some point but that is for a later date.

I will certainly do my best to keep you all updated. If you are curious about the current mission of our urban farm please go to the following link. If you are interested in knowing more or are interested in donating to our cause please feel free to email us at hermitmusic2002@yahoo.com under the header farm donations.

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead. Last, but certainly not least, you can also find his work at Tobias Alan Whitaker.

The Land of Plenty

2016-09-18T08:37:00.003-04:00

St. Fiacre

The idea that I am about to present to you is certainly nothing new. Wonderful organizations such as Ample Harvest, Plant a Row for the Hungry and countless food banks and pantries across the country have been confronting the issue of hunger in our communities head on for some time.

Food insecurity is a cornerstone of the human condition. A little research will lead you to discover a long history of charity in opposition. For example, the seventh century Irish Benedictine monk St. Fiacre who was a master herbalist eventually settled in France and practiced a reverse tithe by keeping 10% of his harvest while giving away 90% to those less fortunate.

Life is complicated, as we all know. There are no easy answers to any of the problems that plague our society but there are some very simple issues that could be addressed that could in turn have a ripple effect on a number of other dilemmas such as poverty, health and even violence.

According to the USDA 40% of the $161 billion dollars’ (you read that correctly, $161 BILLION) worth of food produced in this country is never harvested or it is simply lost in processing, thrown away in restaurants and homes or ends up rotting in America’s landfills because it does not fit the image desired by chain grocery stores. The Natural Resource Defense Council claims that 50% of our produce is simply never consumed. Simultaneously millions of Americans are not sure where their next meal is coming from.

Consider fresh eggs for your food bank

In the past I have been very vocal about people, especially those living in poverty, growing their own food, taking control of their diet in one manner or another. Recently I read a blog called Poor As Folk in which the author made a very strong case that some people simply cannot grow their own food, especially those truly living in poverty. Members of our society well below the poverty line tend to find themselves in positions where they are renting and may not have access to land. They may be dealing with serious health issues. They may be elderly and it is simply not possible for them to do so physically anymore. There are any number of reasons that I may have overlooked and been insensitive to initially. Though I am a big advocate for teaching a man to fish there are simply some people who just need a fish and I , along with my family, are happy to help them.

This in turn lead me to investigate my own small community of Sidney N.Y. I found that there are 1052 hamlets, villages, towns and cities in New York State. Sidney ranks 942nd in per capita income ($15,123). 1/5th of our population lives below the poverty line. 1/3rd of those in need are children and 1/5th of those are elderly. As you can see the need right here at home is great and this does not include the massive amount of people who live just above poverty in our community, in other words the working poor.

Your garden excess can go a long way

As I looked into it a bit more I found that an estimated 11 billion lbs. of produce is wasted in U.S. gardens each year. This, I realized, is where my family could have a small but significant impact. We have developed both a short term and a long term goal.

In the short term we are going to take our 1/16th acre urban farm and attempt to make it run as efficiently as possible. The goal will be to provide our own family with as much fresh food as possible, create a small niche crop or two to sell at local farmers markets in order to reinvest in our main project which is to take all excess garden produce to our local food pantry.

We recently took our first trip to the local pantry and it was a sobering moment. It was depressing to see so many good people in such desperate need within our own community. It only reinforced the need for a positive response from our family.

In the meantime the long term goal is to find a small farm within our community that we could transition to and engage the issue of poverty on a much larger scale while continuing to feed our own family, market garden and preserve heritage livestock and crops.

There is plenty to go around

Though I wholeheartedly acknowledge that some people simply cannot grow their own food I do still believe that it is important to "teach a man to fish" and would like to eventually provide opportunities for lower income families via community gardens, maybe even at the food bank. Education is the key and it is the most important form of empowerment.

I do not say all of this to you in an effort to gather shallow accolades but rather to impress upon you the potential need within your own community. A few random cucumbers or tomatoes from every garden in the country could have a major impact on poverty and food insecurity. These issues alone effect the cognitive development of our youth, the violence within our communities, which of course includes addiction, and the health of our families and neighbors. Food is political whether you want to acknowledge it or not. You and I are the solution, no one else.

We will continue our work and provide you with regular updates. If you would like to contribute to our mission please feel free to go to the following link. Maybe more important than a monetary donation is simply providing this knowledge to other urban farmers, gardeners and homesteaders so that they will become motivated to plant seeds within their own community.

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead. Last, but certainly not least, you can also find his work at Tobias Alan Whitaker.

The Year in Review 2016

2016-09-17T19:55:00.000-04:00

Though we are still some months away from 2017 I tend to measure the "year" in terms of our summer garden and its eventual harvest. I truly believe that this may have been our most successful year to date. We were blessed with cooperative weather, fertile soil and endless generosity from a number of friends.

We approach each season with a list of new avenues we are interested in pursuing. Some become reality while others are crossed off the list.

One new venture this year was raising chickens for meat. Though the birds were a little on the small side, due to my impatience, I still consider it a successful move forward for our little urban farm. We now know that it is possible on our homesteads limited property and will look to repeat the act with far more success next year.

Chickin' Pickin'

We also raised two litters of rabbits for the freezer this year as well. I understand most peoples hesitation, they are cute but they are such an amazing animal for the small homestead. They are quiet, clean and obviously reproduce rapidly. Plus their manure is amazing for your garden. They are also a very low fat and heart healthy source of animal protein this is worth investigating if you happen to eat meat.

We have raised hens for eggs for a number of years now and have found through trial and error that a half dozen hens are the perfect number of foul for our current set up. We began switching our flock over this year and began by auctioning off our old leghorns. They were replaced by four black sex links which are a cross between barred rocks and the productive dual purpose Rhode Island red. We still have our two Swedish Flower Hens who are now the senior birds in our flock.

All four of our lovely children took part in the garden this summer. Each had their own little patch and planted items ranging from zinnia to giant pumpkins. My wife added medicinal plants such as elderberry and witch hazel to our suburban homestead. We removed some unproductive trees and replaced them with dwarf pear trees this year also.

I could list each item specifically but I think that it is more important to mention that there was a common theme this year in regards to our homestead's success. The generosity of others was nearly overwhelming. It started innocently enough when we put up a request on Facebook to see if anyone had an old wheelbarrow they may be able to donate to our little operation. Though we had a number of offers our neighbor came through with a wheelbarrow that was far nicer than any we have ever owned.

We were then invited by close family friends to take part in a large potato patch on their property this year. We planted four delicious varieties and the yield was spectacular. I swear the worms in their organic soil were the size of small snakes, no joke!

We then decided to embark on a new path in life and pursue a larger piece of property in an effort to expand our growing space along with our passion for urban farming. At the suggestion of friends we set up a gofundme.com site and we were shocked at the response from friends and family! So much so that it is truly beyond our wildest imagination. Though the end goal evolved slightly from the initial launch date it has, in our opinion, only become far more focused and beneficial to ourselves and, most importantly, our community.

We are working hard to streamline our operation so that we can extend our growing season and in turn not only produce more food for ourselves but for the local food bank and a potential farmers market niche. The long term goal is to keep our eyes open for the perfect small farm but in the meantime take full advantage of our current space by employing permaculture techniques on our 1/16th acre urban farm.

Due to our successful harvest and the outpouring of love from those near and far we are feeling motivated to expand our operation to help those less fortunate in our community and to eventually develop a strong presence within some very specific food markets. . . .more on that later!

So until next time, thank you for reading and the support!

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead. Last, but certainly not least, you can also find his work at Tobias Alan Whitaker.

After The Rain

2016-07-18T19:46:00.000-04:00

~To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hands and eternity in an hour~ William Blake

Last of the blue berries.

I have not put up a post in some time because I have simply been attempting to be far more present. Rather than document every step of this wonderful gardening/farming journey I am just trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment.

Our young grape vine is starting to produce.

With that said we had an unexpected rain storm today. I went outside to feed the animals when I thought there was a break in the weather and got caught in the rain. It was beautiful. I just stood under the apple tree by the chickens and watched it fall until a rainbow appeared. I decided I would break my technology fast and grab my camera to document this lovely moment in time.

Lovely Liatris

The garden is in full swing. Garlic and peas recently harvested. Tomatoes poking their green bodies from the dense foliage.

After the rain.

Moments like this I really appreciate my little piece of land.

"Here comes the sun, little darling"

We are in full swing here at Bossy Hen Homestead.

Chard

Elderberry

2016-05-06T20:39:00.002-04:00

'The Russians believe that Elder-trees drive away evil spirits, and the Bohemians go to it with a spell to take away fever. The Sicilians think that sticks of its wood will kill serpents and drive away robbers, and the Serbs introduce a stick of Elder into their wedding ceremonies to bring good luck. In England it was thought that the Elder was never struck by lightning, and a twig of it tied into three or four knots and carried in the pocket was a charm against rheumatism. A cross made of Elder and fastened to cow houses and stables was supposed to keep all evil from the animals.'

~Lady Rosalind Northcote, The Book of Herbs 1903~

We have been interested in adding elderberry plants to our homestead for some time. When we found out some good friends of ours were ordering a number of plants we jumped at the opportunity to be included.

They are a very hardy plant that can easily be grown up to zone 4. Some varieties can survive in zone 3. When planting your elderberry remember that healthy soil equals healthy plants. It is also very important to keep in mind that these bushes have very shallow root systems measuring little more than two inches deep so be very careful once they are established not to damage the delicate root system when weeding around your plants. In fact, it would be worth your time to hand weed rather than use any tool and potentially damage your plants growth.

Another aspect of elderberry propagation worth remembering is that they need two varieties in order to successfully pollinate and produce berries.

When your plants are three years old you will want to prune their growth by removing any dead or broken canes from the existing bush.

Elderberries are an astringent and can be mildly toxic if not fully mature or prepared properly. You do not want to use the leaves, bark or twigs of the plant. It is also recommended that you do not give the syrup to children under two years of age. With that said it is worth remembering this plant has been a valuable asset to the human race since prehistoric times and when fully mature and prepared properly they are a wonderful medicinal plant that can produce syrup, wine, jams and pies. They are a valuable source of potassium and phosphorus and are also very high in the anti-oxidant vitamin C. If nothing else they make a wonderful hedgerow and drive away robbers, wink wink.

Dwarf Pear Tree

2016-05-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

~ People in suburbia see trees differently than foresters do. They cherish everyone. It is useless to speak of the probability that a certain tree will die when the tree is in someone's backyard. You are talking about a personal asset, a friend, a monument, not about board feet of lumber.~ Roger Swain

As an urban farmer I have to be very conscious of the limits of my property. Part of my goal this year has been to extend my harvest season and to introduce more fruit trees to the Bossy Hen Homestead. In an effort to honor this goal my family planted two dwarf pear trees on my sons birthday.

Pears are a wonderful tree to grow. They are hardy from zones 3 to 10 depending on the variety you choose. This year we planted a Bartlett and a Karl's Favorite in order to increase the chances of pollination by offering our local bees more than one variety of pear to scamper on.

When planting keep in mind that healthy soil means healthy plants. We composted rabbit manure in the area where we had decided to grow our trees for a few months to prepare the soil. If possible you will want to make sure that you establish your trees in a sunny location and space them approximately 10-12' apart. When fully grown your dwarf pear can reach heights of 8-15' depending on which variety you decide upon. The rule of thumb is that you can look forward to 1 to 3 bushels of fruit in return for your investment each year.

Some things to consider when choosing to grow fruit trees is that standard varieties may take longer to mature and produce fruit but they also tend to live much longer than the dwarf and semi-dwarf variety. They also rarely need staking as do some dwarf trees. The obvious benefit to the little guys is that they are perfect for the homesteader with limited space or for those that want to see a return for their investment at a much quicker rate.

Investing in the future with our future

By planting trees on your property you are not only creating a source of fresh fruit but are providing habitat for birds and other beneficial creatures as well as creating a natural wind block for your home and providing a shady location to relax under during the peak heat of summer.

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead. Last, but certainly not least, you can also find his work at Tobias Alan Whitaker.

Food For Thought

2016-04-07T12:17:00.001-04:00

“a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” 1928 Republican Party claim if Herbert Hoover won the election.

One of my favorite agricultural books is The Gift of Good Land by Wendell Berry. There are a number of elements at play in this particular piece of literature but one of the most interesting aspects presented is the idea that good farm land exists in a number of locations that tend to normally be overlooked as viable options. Most Americans tend to think of the sea of corn and soybean that the mono-culture giants produce in the Midwest. Berry counterpoints with his opening chapter, “An Agricultural Journey in Peru” in which he discusses his visit with the potato farmers of Peru who use ancient plots on steep mountain sides with great success. This is just a small window into the juxtaposition Mr. Berry presents throughout the book in regards to the polar opposites of traditional farming and the current monolith of American mono-culture.

With that in mind allow me to transition to my next point. If we take Wendell Berry’s assertion that there is plentiful and fertile land being overlooked throughout our country for crops and livestock why not consider a plot as small as an urban homestead or a simple backyard garden? How much food could we grow as a society if we left behind the fashionable notion of a green lawn and instead replaced it with edible vegetation? How come every neighborhood with available space does not provide the option for a community garden? Better yet why not transition our parks and recreation areas into edible landscapes free for the taking?

The answer is simple of course. It all comes down to money. The pesticide cooperations, the fossil fuel industry and the mammoth agricultural farms that use immigrant slave labor (paying tomato pickers a penny per pound for example) do not want to hand over the keys to the one industry that every human on earth has in common, food. Everyone must eat. This does not mean that as a society we cannot empower ourselves by growing our own food on small parcels of land. A good stepping stone would be to introduce school children to local gardeners and farmers in an effort to educate them on where their food comes from, or at least should, and how easy it really is to do! My family home-schools and growing food and raising livestock are central in our day to day lives.

I happen to have a passion for growing and raising food. I realize this is not the case for everyone. But consider for a moment if everyone grew a salad garden or pizza garden in a raised bed. What if they simply grew their favorite variety of tomato? The amount of surplus food would be shocking!

There are other options a bit less intensive such as growing berry bramble, dwarf fruit trees and herb gardens for those who do not want to spend the required time in a vegetable garden.

Since we are specifically talking about urban farming, homesteading and gardening let us consider not only its ability to have an impact on fruit and vegetable production but its ability to effect the meat industry. If you happen to be an omnivore it is possible to raise small livestock such as quail, chickens and rabbits in an urban environment. Not only do these animals provide a source of meat and eggs but in turn their manure can be used in your gardens creating a sustainable level of self-sufficiency on a small plot of land.

We live in an interesting crossroad of history. Industrialization has undoubtedly provided a level of comfort previously unknown. With that said, it is becoming glaringly apparent that it is not sustainable or healthy on a number of levels. We need to reevaluate our position on environment, energy and food and attempt to merge it with the best aspects of modern society. Mono-culture is not the savior it has deemed itself to be. If it were there would not be so many people dealing with issues of food insecurity in our country. It is difficult to morally comprehend how so many people (children & elderly included) can be going hungry or eating food substitutes when we have so much good land at our disposal.

Chickens, Rabbits and Fruit Trees

2016-03-24T19:16:00.000-04:00

We have been busy here at the Bossy Hen Homestead. After a household bout with the flu in February we were all eager to get outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm temperatures that have settled in southern New York State.

Our doe had a liter of six healthy rabbits so we went to work building a larger pen for her and her little family. It was a crash course in power tools since I bought a miter saw and a drill this winter. Previously I had been using hand tools that were long past their prime. (That is another very long story!)

The rabbits on our little homestead have been a focal point of late. One of our bucks passed away. We sold another at a local livestock auction. We have decided that we will keep a buck from the new liter. We then purchased a doe from a local farmers market to keep our bloodlines strong. Though our established doe and buck are doing rather well at some point it will be time to let them retire. They have really made me appreciate how lucky we are to have such healthy livestock.

We have weighed the options in regards to raising our own source of animal protein for some time and finally with the help of a local farmer are going to explore rabbits and chickens. It is never an easy decision. I take each life very seriously. I am not interested in getting on my soapbox but after much internal dialogue I felt that this was the healthiest option for my family. We eat meat and I am having a great deal of difficulty with the failing factory farm system.

Obviously our rabbits are already here and in a week or so our broiler chicks will be arriving via our local feed store. We will be getting about a dozen chicks for our initial attempt. If all goes well we will reexamine our effort next year.

Since we are an urban farm with limited space we do not have the option to raise heritage breeds for meat. We just do not have the space to raise additional birds for nearly 5 months, certainly not as long as we have hens for eggs as well. So we went with the Cornish Rock hens. Simply put they will be mature enough for slaughter within two months and it seemed like the most reasonable option given the circumstances. Someday we will explore heritage breeds but I do believe the Cornish Rock will provide us with a good learning experience.

So with that said we are in the process of building a brooder for the chicks and preparing for their arrival.

While all of that is taking place we are also trying to prepare the property for the arrival of two dwarf pear trees and a witch hazel. In order to do so we had to remove a dwarf peach that was simply not producing as well as an old lilac tree. Two out, three in. Seems like a good trade to me.

We also have plans to build a few new raised beds to better utilize an area of our property that historically has grown nothing but jewel weed. It is in a location that receives plenty of sunlight and will not interfere with the children's play space. The goal is to grow peppers and tomatoes in the beds in an effort to increase yield and production.

As you can see we have our work cut out for us but we are excited for our new ventures. We will keep you informed!

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. Click on the Mother Earth News logo at the bottom of the page for all of his post. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead https://www.facebook.com/seedtoharvestbossyhenhomestead/ which is a central location for his homesteading blogs and his homeschooling blog, A Mile In Her Shoes: Tales Of A Stay-At Home Dad found here https://amileinhershoestalesofastayathomedad.wordpress.com/