Well the Asparagus had some aphid issues. I had been ignoring them in my hibiscus all winter and they flew over to the new shoots when they emerged, but thanks to a home made insecticidal soap recipe (water, lemon juice, soap and a but of rubbing alcohol) they seem to be better now.

I have finally seeded all the other greenhouse, warm weather crops. I was delaying thinking that it wasn't really spring yet, but now that its light out after supper and there is water in the garage... I guess its spring! Kevin and our wwoofer, Touria, trudged through knee deep snow all the way out to the trees to deposit  a couple of dead chickens for the coyotes. They worked very hard at it and got a very good work out! Rigel went out to meet them on the way back but was able to use their tracks so it wasn't so bad for him.

I am going to the Common Ground Event at Grant MacEwen tomorrow to look into Social Enterprise business models. New ground for me too! Maybe Good Note could/should be a non-profit farm. I'm not sure what is involved yet, but I'll keep up the research for a while.

The chickens are laying again!! 2 - 3 dozen a day as long as we get them before they eat them.... obviously we still don't have enough protein for layers to thrive. I will be planting Amaranth this summer to augment the current ration. And a whole lot more sunflower seeds too. I am starting to save eggs that are clean and diverse enough to begin the incubation project. So far three families have asked to partake. And I will be using the incubator for the Chantecler eggs too.

What a great day today. Completely surrounded by like minded, community oriented, gardeners who care about the planet and where their food is coming from! AND want to do something about it! Woo Hoo for you!

I love the connections with all the caring and proactive people I have met in the last little while.....such hope for the future. We have really started the process of fixing things... like the course I just took said: sustainable isn't enough we have to rejuvenate and these gardeners and farmers I met today are really doing it, and not just talking about it.

Please, if you can, come out and help us Celebrate the start of the 2011 growing season by coming to our 3rd annual Easter Monday Lamb Roast.

Monday, April 25 · 4:00pm - 12:00pm Location: Good Note Community Farm

Third Annual! Bring a potluck dish that goes with lamb. We'll be roasting all afternoon, with an Egg hunt planned for 4pm and dinner to follow. Those hoping to help in the lamb department can contribute $5.00 per plate, but please bring along a veggie dish if you aren't so inclined.

Bring instruments. We'll have the hay wagon set up as a stage and the pasture makes a great dance floor......especially if its dry (hmmm wishful thinking!)

Bring Big Boots and maybe hip waders for dancing!

Chickens:

If any one would like chickens, I will be asking for a $10 up-front charge per bird this year. That will cover the cost of the feed and some waterers I have my eye on. The final cost will still be priced per pound with the $10 coming off as a sort of deposit. Also the same plan as before will be in effect. Those who put in 10 hours of work over the growing season will get the birds at $3.50 per pound final cost. And  those that want to pay the full price and have their birds delivered at the end of the season would pay $4.50 per pound. This will be called working shares and non-working shares.

The birds will be ordered as soon as I know how many and I will order and additional 20%. They will possibly be the same breed as I got last year, which grew nicely on the barley, peas, oats and wheat diet, with whey poured over when available. I am still hoping to find a source of the older cornish cross breed that used to be available from Rochester, but now that they have combined with miller, well the selection has dwindled! I am checking out Saskatchewan and shipping etc. They will be more free range than other years, more fencing, less moving of pens and hopefully the dogs will cooperate in keeping away the coyotes at night.

 The work that is needed is:
1. Spring cleanup of chicken coop and getting ready the brooding area.
2. Re- building and reinforcing the existing moveable shelters, and fences. I sold the metal ones (thank goodness!)
3. Daily feeding, watering and moving while we are away at fiddle camp.
4. Collection of birds on "transfer day" (day they transfer their energy to us... Thank them!), delivery to St. Paul Processors and bringing them home again.

I would like the "deposit " by April 25th, also the day of our annual Easter Monday Lamb Roast!