Sunday, July 29, 2012

Organic pest control

This post is for Susan.  :)

National Organic Program (NOP) standards state that producers must use management practices for pest control.

When our inspector asked us how we plan to control pests, Bill and I asked, "are barn cats allowed?"  She said absolutely.

We don't have an issue with an overload of barn pests - although we don't have any feed supplied in our barn to draw them yet - when our neighbor's cat (who is a skilled mouser) had a litter we thought it would be a good time to get some kittens.  We took the whole litter:  3 males, 1 female.  We had them neutered/spayed and vaccinated under the "barn cat sterilization program" at the local animal hospital.

 Clockwise from upper left hand corner
Sylvia
Mr. White (we are watching Breaking Bad right now. 
This cat has professor-like patches on his elbows.)
Thomas
Oscar

Sylvia and Oscar both see a barn swallow swooping by
Mr. White - paws crossed, doesn't care
Thomas - well (can you tell ?) he's the alpha


They are 7 months old, friendly, and enjoyable to have around.  3 Flat Acres first official animals!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Harvest is curing

The garlic harvest is in and curing. The 100 degree heat and the rock hard soil slowed us down but we got it in.
We anticipate having our sales page activated by mid-August.

Hanging in bunches of 10 bulbs

The drying racks are 12' tall and each have six 5' bars


5000 bulbs m/l


Friday, July 6, 2012

New website is up!

Soon our garlic varieties will be for sale!

www.3flatacres.com

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Harvesting

The garlic harvest has begun. The soil is rock hard due to Wisconsin's drought situation so the digging is challenging. We've gotten the Asiastics and one of the Porcelain varieties hanging to cure. We are curing this year in the shop due to the barn still being under construction.




Bill devised a drying/curing system with untreated wood and conduit. The bundles are hung with hemp twine.