I should know better

I need to remember that April and May are the months were I need to just play farming sims and work on improving my farm structures. They are not months for planting and getting my hopes up for a jump start growing season. I'm pretty sure the blueberry bush that I just planted this year aren't going to make it. But I have been surprised by plant survivability before. But after having 2 weeks of 60 degree days to now having a week of snow every other day I'm not going to get my hopes up.

I have lived in the U.P. for almost 30 years and I do this every year. I have a plan though I'm going to map out a calender for next year. Starting in Jan going through Dec, I'm going to make a schedule that I"m going to make myself stick to regardless of what the weather is outside. 

Time to deport the chickens

So I'm planning a trip down state to see family and friends. It's hard to have someone chicken sit while the chickens are still in my house. Add to the fact that the chickens are out growing there current home. I need to move the chickens out. But the huge issue is that we have a cold front that has taken hold and wont let go of the area. Not cold enough to hurt the chicken but cold enough to keep my in-laws off the island (the end home for the chickens). So i'm stuck I need to retro fit my old coop to hold the additional chickens and insulate it (it's not suppose to get cold enough to hurt the chickens but I don't want to risk it, no one can predict Mi weather).

I also have to wash out all the outdoor feeders and waters to the chickens will have plenty of food and water. The in-laws are more than willing to stop by and care for the chickens. But, when last year my sister-in-law kept check the turkeys for eggs because she beleived that they were chickens (lets not even bring the ducks into this) I think I have reason for pause.

Oh well work, work, work I have to love it or else I wouldn't be a farmer right!

So ADD strikes again!

So all of Michigan got struck with a HUGE warm spell with temps 45 degrees about average and 30 degrees about the record (God bless Global Warming). Even though I knew our cold weather would spring back I couldn't resist (it didn't help that TSC had all trees and plants on sale) I bought and planted 3 blueberry bushes and an apple tree. I do have 2 raspberry bushes and some rhubarb that I bought but didn't plant (the only reason they didn't go in was because my kids hit there limit with gardening and than I had to work). The apple tree should do just fine it didn't have any buds yet, but the blue berry bushes did have leaves and they lost all of them. It should be fine I really supped up the ground I planted the berries in so they might just make it (more on that too later)

I did however get an ego boost while working outside. We had HUGE Earthworms everywhere! No matter where I dug I was turning up some of the biggest earthworms I have ever seen. When I first moved to this place the lot was in very sad shape I couldn't even grow weeds! But now 7 years of working to improve the soil (truly only 2 years of active work to improve the soil) I have earthworms an awesome sign that the dirt is healthy and improving every year.

It's time to go chicken!!

For everyone that doesn't know Tractor Supply Company is now running there huge chicken sale. Every store across the country has in-stock over 1000 chickens (and some ducks) ready to go home each week. Now I know the rest of the country is in the start of spring weather but the day before TSC started selling there chickens we got 20 inches of snow over night. Not very conducive weather for young chicks! BUT...

This does open an opportunity for well planned farms to save a truck load of MONEY. Now most farmers (and want a be farmers) look at the weather outside and say "Hmm I will give it a few weeks so the snow will be gone by the time the chicks loss there down." So many of the chicks go un-purchased for while the next shipment comes in. So in the finest business practice they put the week old chicks ON SALE!

Now there are two benefits here. First chicks that were going for $3 are now going for $0.50 (that's about 80% off) and for anyone that has raised chicks before you know that the first week is the hardest to keep chicks alive. So TSC has done all the hard work for you. Not only are you getting cheap chicks but your also getting hardy chicks at a great price.

Now I have complained (and no dought will continue) about living where I do because it's hard to be a farmer up here but there are some benefits if you know where to look.

Finally a post about planned Urban Farming activities!!!!

So with this month devoted to research and bibliograghing, I find myself using what I learned in college. That's right PROCRASTINATION!!!! So instead of working I'm doing something funner!

My plan is to develop my long-term investments. I have always looked at a farm as an investment agent. Weird, I know, last thing I bet you thought you would hear someone compare there farm to. But let me break it down for you. As a farmer I'm using my land to provide me with food. Now investment accounts provides you with money to buy food. So they are related.

Now investment accounts have short term savings, mid-term savings and long-term savings. A farm needs to have short term food, mid-term food and long-term food. Good examples of each would be chickens and garden plots are short term food in less than a year of starting you have food. My mid-term food is berry bushes and meat-cows both of these take from 2-3 years from start to producing food. While Trees are long-term food taking 5 to sometimes 25 years to start producing food.

Now seeing that I don't plan on dying or moving anytime soon and even if the unthinkable happens to me my wife and children will still be around, I'm starting this year with long term investments. That's right it will be a summer of trees and bushes. Walnut, apple, raspberry, blue berry, and more.

Sadly because I explained this to my kid's grandparents is looks like i will be planting two properties with long term investment this summer.

First round was a tie

Just to keep everyone updated I presented to the Planning and Zoning on Monday and it was interesting. The head of the board is 100% against Urban Farming and I was informed the next day he was in the Township Supervisors office trying to find some way to block this from even coming to Planning and Zoning and effectively killing it before it began. Luckly the advice I got from my supporter on the Township Board was very valuable. The board made an offical action to send the Ordinance to Planning and Zoning so they have no choice but to go through the whole process with me. But I know it will be an up hill battle. The next meeting is the second Monday in March. I have been charged with editing the ordinance with what I felt were reasonable request for changes and to gather a packet of research on the topic of Urban Farming. I'm also going to do a patition drive of residents and letter drive from local businesses to show interest and support. I'm also getting all my research (and more of it) in a packet along with making an annotative bibliography to explain where and why each section of the ordinance came from. It's a lot of work but I feel I have enough time to get it all done.

My big hope is someday soon I will be able to fill this blog with more fun stuff on farming instead of just political stuff. The last thing I want to become is the Yooper C-SPAN blog!

Step One check

So I have passed step one for making urban farming legal where I live. The township board approved the first draft of the ordinance to the planning and zoning commity. At the meeting I learned some interesting information out. It looks like of all the people on planning and zoning only one is 100%  against the idea. But this person likes to make big waves.

I also had a surprising amount and kinds of people come forward to say they already practise urban farming in my community. I even had one of the higher ranking police officers tell me not to go though the headache of getting an ordinance and just do it as long as the animals kept confined and not free range. I was shocked by all this but I'm still going though with the ordinance, just to insure our rights are protected despite who is on the board or in the local police department.

So I now have all weekend to double check my facts and get a presentation for this Monday's meeting OF JOY

(oh and to throw something else into the mix my wife gave birth to our 3 child this weekend so I have a new born to care for too)