Tag: business

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Updating

Please accept my apologies for any bombardment of your inbox in the next several days as I get things updated on the website. I THOUGHT I’d found a work around to keep you all from getting notifications with each post, but it may not be working. It’s a bit hard to tell from this end.

cordwood shed at bird's nest garden farm
The cordwood shed sits snug as a bug

Most of the backdated posts are pulled from my newsletters last season. So if you are one of my veggie share people, you may feel some deja vu.

It actually is a bit fun to review last year’s season in this condensed way. Plus I’m loving seeing all that colour when all outside right now is white and assorted neutral tones.

Rest assured, I’m deep into crop planning and inventorying seeds.

In six weeks I’ll get my first little seeds started and the growing lights turned on. By that time the days will be longer and there will be more daylight to run our off-grid system.

So, settle in and review last summer or delete at will. Or wonder of wonders, maybe the workaround worked and you’re thinking I’m off my nut. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you are seeing at your end!

Keep well – Erin

 

 

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To Market

Erin Gundy selling tomato plants at the Wiarton Farmers Market May 20 2016
First day for Polka Dot Hen Produce at the Wiarton Farmers Market. We sold tomato seedlings, herb divisions and herb bundles. Glad I had my helper/photographer along!

 

Our First Market Day

The weather was perfect.

The customers were engaged.

The other vendors were welcoming.

What a nice start to our season.

Spring was definitely in the air, so many folks at the Wiarton Farmers Market were ready to talk gardening. It was really fun to geek out on the heirloom tomatoes. Customers were interested, or at least very kind, and let me prattle on about the wonders of Saint Pierre, Cherokee Purple and Matt’s Wild Cherry. I also learned some great new tips for using catnip and lemon balm. I could have easily spent all my earnings with the other vendors at the market. Vending next to the chocolatier…deadly. And so good. I will have to pace myself.

However, there was quite the wind-up before this long-anticipated day. So many things to learn, so many things to consider. Where to start? Continue reading “To Market”

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Thankfulness

So here we are on the verge of Thanksgiving. We have so many things to be thankful for, even though we can get caught up in the day-to-day whirlwind of life: school, chickens, garden work, cleaning up to host family for the holiday.

I’ve slowed down enough for a quick reflection here, just before I dash to meet the bus. If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few thousand words of gratitude from our homestead to yours.

Peter and Talia Allemang
Daddy and daughter celebrate another season of dance completed. My Hearts.

 

Black German Shephard
The dog I always dreamed of…even though she can be a dork at times. She’s a great companion to my new work.

 

Broody chicken on nest box
Chickens give us healthy eggs and meat while they improve our soil. They are also very entertaining. Henny Penny, pictured above, finally got to brood a clutch of eggs and be a momma to an Icelandic chick.

 

Hoop house at Polka Dot Hen Produce Bruce Peninsula
The hoop house. Building it was a huge undertaking, but the benefits of this protected growing environment are phenomenal. We have just scratched the surface. I’m already planning for next season.

 

Vegetable cooler at DeJong Acres farm store Polka Dot Hen Produce
Nothing can compare to doing work that you truly believe in. This was a great season of learning for me. Thank you to everyone who bought our veggies this year at DeJong Acres. I’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving this weekend…or in November…or both!