Finally An Update! I'm back - technical difficulties!

First off - Happy spring! For 2016 I set off with the goal of doing more blog posts, being consistent and really letting the micro-farm expand on the social media scene. Everything was going to plan, until my 2009 MacBook Pro decided to die. I wasn't quite ready to buy a new one or switch to PC so unfortunately my blog posts fell behind as I waited for a new hard-drive for my mac (my baby!). A few hundred dollars later, still cheaper then a new mac - I must say, I was able to have it evaluated and updated. All in all, it took about a month and then some to replace, but I have it back. The computer technicians were also able to salvage my data and photographs! I did have my phone so I continued to post on Instagram. I started the Instagram in January and now I'm almost at 100 followers, not a big number by social media standards, but big news for me! Just like the blog, I like to include lots and lots of high quality pictures from my Nikon SLR.

So yes, I'm back! I think my computer has another chunk of years in her, so there will be plenty of new content coming your way! On a positive note, I've been forcing myself to take way more pictures since starting an Instagram, so that means more photos for the blog and even more creative content. I would like to post two to three times a week, but sometimes work, family and the micro-farm have me exhausted.

In my last post I talked about mini orchards and my dream of a glorious spring path of bulbs, bees, ducks and espaliered apple trees. The end of February was chilly, but we did have a few nice warm (deceiving) days, where the chickens enjoyed some fresh grass, worms and sunshine. Before my computer crashed I had a draft post of some pictures on that day and an update with my pepper seedlings. I'll post that after this big update post and go back to smaller subject updates.

Weather has been super weird in Southern Ontario, cold one day, warm and sunny the next. We've had at least three storms the last month. We got a good chunk of snow and then a pretty epic ice-storm. The days of sun and warmth prior to the storm had given birth to crocus and some new plant growth, most of which survived despite the ice. Many people had power outages and lost trees to ice damage. Older trees in some neighbourhoods were especially effected, pretty sad to see some nice trees split in half.

After the ice melted we had a few more days of sun and then last weekend we had a dumping of 10cm + of snow and some pretty cold temperatures. I'm worried some of my spring bulbs were damaged because they were already several inches out of the soil and less protected, that followed by nights of -10C has killed the tops of some early plants. I was tempted to grow some kale and things before these series of storms hit, and I'm glad I didn't. The long-range forecast shows a few chilly nights ahead, probably frost, but the days look increasingly warm. The farmer's Almanac predicts May 11th as the last frost date this spring.

I laid out all my seeds and did a quick evaluation to see if there was anything missing
for the upcoming season. I ended up ordering from Johnny's and Territorial seeds because I was short some staples.

It's always exciting when seeds arrive, bit of an overkill for Johnny's to send a medium
sized box for just 8 seed packets, but oh well!

Easter was a lovely day, I had the chickens outside free-ranging and I made Fintan pose with a basket of eggs, very stereotypical - I know. I had a few family dinners that weekend, but otherwise I'm not religious so it was nice to see family, catch up on micro-farm chores and have some extra days off work.

Looking forward for the rest of April, I have more seeds to start indoors, some cool new projects to work on and lots of garden prep. The rabbit breeding plan has changed and I would really like to have peanut, my silkie, raise a small clutch of eggs. Nothing is set in stone, but I'm definitely going all out this season with my flowers and edibles. I'd like to enter some amateur landscaping contests, but more importantly build some material up for my book!

Lots of sunbathing! It's so cute how they just instinctively know how to do that.

The girls really enjoyed Easter afternoon, after being cooped up
from the ice-storm

Fintan loves to be handled and cuddle in the sun, it's been really great.
He even lets kids hold him. I think he's got a great personality for the breeding program. 

I took this photo the day before we got a big storm and
they were covered by snow, when the snow melted back, they were
all wilted and damaged by the cold.

I got some free daffodils, but I ended up having to keep them in the
garage because of the cold nights ahead, I should be able to plant them this week.

Pink Fleshed Apples & Mini Orchards

Back in 2012 I had the most amazing fresh salad in San Diego California and I've been in love ever since. "Pink Pearl" thin apple slices with blue cheese, honey and diced almonds, candied kumquats - just amazing. If you read my blog, you can see I love unique edibles, beautiful fruit and vegetables, pink-fleshed apples are high on that list. Regular apples are pretty great, and I have two espaliered apple trees with over 15 grafted varieties, but nothing as showy as "Pink Pearl" or "Surprise".

There are actually dozens of pink and red fleshed apples and only a few of those have actually been fully domesticated and none of them have been altered in a lab or dyed. Check this site for a list of many pink fleshed apples. with Many wild type apples are actually pink fleshed, and over time farmers and orchard industry bred out the pink and started feeding the demand for larger white crisp apples. Today consumers know nothing more then a few varieties and expect white fleshed apples in pies and baked goods, clear golden apple juice and only recognize a few varieties based on either, green, red or yellow fruit skin. 

Peppers for this Year - 2016 Season

Everything is coming together for the new season! I've got all my tomato seeds ready (maybe...) and things are coming together! Starting today, room under the grow lights got more crowded with the first tray of peppers all planted. Febuary 17th marks day one and I want to keep track of the growth and process over the season. Check out my Instagram @suburbanmicrofarm for pepper progress updates and more.

One thing I noted about last year's pepper choices was a lack of flavourful cooking peppers and hot peppers. I chose edible peppers but they were really more for show and beauty then for amazing taste. So this year, during my seed hunt, I looked for varieties that bring in some decent flavour or heat and that add good colour and shape to my overall collection. 

"Ozark Giant" - "Grenada Seasoning" - "Early Jalapeno"

New Peppers for 2016
Corbaci

Buena Mulata

Albino

Bhut Jolokia White

Chocolate Georgescu

Giant Arconcagua
Grenada Seasoning
Ozark Giant
Early Jalapeno

Returning 2015 Peppers

White Lakes
Yellow Monster
Lilac Bell
Midnight Dreams
Fish
Chocolate Beauty
Purple Beauty
Violet Sparkle
Monzano Chile

I can't really say if there is a favourite new pepper amongst the 2016 additions, but I am excited to see them all in one basket and to start getting creative in the kitchen. I'll also be making more detailed notes on the growth habits of the seedlings. 

For those of you who are new to growing peppers, they are so easy! You can even save your own pepper seed very easily and start them anytime in the next two months. The plants themselves don't require much staking and support and are relatively disease resistant. I'm going to plant a few plants in more ornamental design locations and and space (especially the large peppers) in a more traditional field format. Tomato seeds will be started next week and I can't wait! 

I have a new seed starting area to show-off very soon, and just as quickly it will be full of seedlings. I might do a post about seed starting, what containers I use and the soil I prefer and tricks that I have learned throughout the years.  It's about to get busy, can't wait to see what 2016 brings!