Ready for a break?

First off let me say, we are still here, alive and well.  Things have been pretty busy around the 2 acre farm and I must apologize to all those who have been left with unanswered questions and comments.  After a long summer full of weeds, seeds, plantings, produce, and more weeds we decided we weren't quite ready for a break just yet.  So what have we been up to?  Take a look here: Opening Soon: Carlinville Market to Support the Local Movement 

As for all the comments and questions well, I'll get started on those right away.

2 Acre Farm on Facebook?

Today, 2 Acre Farm officially joined the Facebook revolution. To visit our page simply scroll down the blog and click on the facebook badge to the left of the screen. We're hopeful that Facebook will provide us the opportunity to reach the local market audience and keep in touch with our customers with quick posts and updates. We've even tossed around the idea of posting a weekly list of produce that will be available at the market on the coming Saturday, however, I'm not too sure I want to add one more thing to do Friday evening after harvesting...we'll see. Another great Facebook feature we're excited to try out is the discussion tab. There's so much to discuss about what's going on with the agricultural world and I think we have a lot to learn by creating a dialogue with our fellow farmers and eco-conscious shoppers.

So, tonight when your checking what Susie had for dinner or how many times Jim tied his shoe, check out 2 Acre Farm. Be sure to add your Facebook page to our News Feed by clicking on the "like" button at the top of the 2 Acre Farm page.

Annual Tree Hunt...bringing life back to an old family tradition

(back post 12.12.09) One of my favorite childhood memories, and perhaps one of my families only "real" tradition, was driving to Southern Missouri in the hopes of finding the perfect Christmas Tree. I grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis County and every year my grandfather would make the drive down from Springfield, Illinois and pick us up in his old blue truck. Year after year my mother and step-father would cram into the front cab with him and since the truck bed had a camper shell my childhood friend Katie (whom was always up for the ride) and I would ride in the back. Every year their was always this great sense of adventure and excitement as we traveled to the tree farm bundled in our best winter gear, riding along in the back of that old pick-up truck.

Finally, and usually after much debate, my mom would choose the perfect tree which we would cut down and then toss in the back of the truck. Both Katie and I were strategic in our plan to avoid the needles and squeeze around the tree. However, despite our best efforts neither one of us ever figured out how to completely escape from the short, stiff needles of the over sized spruce tree. I'm not quite sure why or what brought an end to our tradition, but once it was over the assembly of the artificial tree took the place of our family's annual tradition.

Normally Nathan and I take our daughter to pick out a tree from the local boyscout or VFW stands, which usually happen to sell trees cut from local tree farms. Like years prior, that was our plan for this year, but after seeing an article in yesterday's paper I was reminded of my favorite Christmas childhood memories. This year Nathan and I decided that we would bring life back to an old family tradition and make it our own. Hence...the "Annual Family Tree Hunt!" So, today we set off on our first excitement filled expedition and finally found the perfect, local, cut-it-down yourself Christmas Tree.

Pictured: (Left) Nathan & our daughter try to decide on a tree. (Right) Completely overlooked and a little neglected, we discovered our perfect tree hiding at the back of the field amongst the overgrown brush. Our daughter uses the saw to make the first cut...well she makes a great attempt! (Middle) The first Christmas Tree at our tiny 2 Acre Farm.

What Pond?

After several days of rainy weather (with yesterdays exception of sunshine in the evening) it was a relief to wake up to the promise of sunshine and warmth. This morning when I took Moonie (our rescue dog) outside, I went ahead and threw on my boots and walked to the back of our 2 acre farm to see how high the water had risen in our pond...well, we call it a pond. Actually, some 20-30 years ago it was a watering hole for the sheep raised on our property (which has since been divided and is now known as our 2 acre farm). At some point after the original owners sold off sections of their property, along with the sheep, they knocked down part of the dam. Despite the attempt, over the years the small natural spring which fed the watering hole has continually replenished, keeping the area highly saturated during dry spells and becoming a source of fresh water for the deer after heavy rains.

The pond is just one of our many projects planned for this coming spring. Eager to get started, Nathan has already spent several days clearing some of the underbrush and scrappy trees (which will soon become fence posts) that had taken over the remains of the previous dam. We will still need to backhoe some of the dirt and rebuild the dam but as long as the natural spring remains cooperative the rain should take care of the rest. The pond will undoubtedly provide us with a great watering source, endless hours of fishing, and since it will be hard to get away with a new baby, the perfect view for camping!

Right now the outside wireless weather station reads 61 degrees, a concept hard to imagine at the end of November in the Midwest, and I am itching to migrate outside and get something accomplished. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our little pond and the 2 acre farm!

click on any picture to enlarge

Quick and Dirty Book Review: Making Your Small Farm Profitable

The book that started it all was without a doubt Making your Small Farm Profitable by Ron Macher. This book is full of detailed information a person needs to know to make it as a small scale farmer. It is also full of
tips, suggestions, and inspiration.
If you're looking for a good read on small scale farming check out this book. I am sure you wont be disappointed.

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Me, My Crops, My Purpose

My name is Nathan Payne. I am a lifelong gardener, a ceramic artist, and a multitude of other things. I got my start gardening as a child growing gardens, fruit trees, and strawberries with my family which we always canned or froze for ourselves. I have always worked to keep these traditions alive for me and my family. Now I have reached a point in my life where I have decided to take my passion and way of life to a new level. I am starting this blog as a way to document and share my experience of transitioning from a gardener to a farmer.

The property that my farm is on (as the blog title implies) is roughly two acres. Approximately half an acre is wooded, one third of an acre is my yard, the remaining property is open to development. The woods contains about forty percent silver maple and box wood trees which I plan to tap this winter to make maple syrup.

In the second week of August I planted a fall crop of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, leaf lettuce, peas, beans, and carrots. I also planted a black berry patch that I will not be able to harvest for two seasons. For now the rest remains in grass.