Last Day

5/25 Day Twelve

Hours: 6

When I arrived at the farm at 8 AM it was already over 60 degrees. By mid-day it reached 90 degrees. In the morning I went about my daily routine recording temperatures and doing chicken duty. Then lay black plastic, weeded, and secured the pea fence. Today was a flower day so Kat and I planted flower bulbs in the hoop house. In the afternoon we continued to work on the chicken tractor. The tractor is nearly finished it just needs a few more details added. You can look for the chicken tractor and five chicken in front of the meeting house on Thursday morning.

Herding Chickens

5/24 Day Eleven

Hours: 6.5

I saw a chicken lay an egg right in front of me for the first time today while doing chicken chores. A chicken was standing right in front of me as I was cleaning out the coop and all of a sudden out popped an egg. I picked the egg up to put in the basket and it was still warm. I collected twenty-two eggs. Kat, Tyler, and I moved the chicken tractor that Brewster resides in to a patch of clover near the raspberries. Herding the chickens 200 feet to their new enclosure was a true man vs. bird battle. We carried sticks in our hands and spread out creating a semi-circle around the chickens. We attempted to guide them to the new enclosure. But, just as we would get all the chickens together near the new enclosure one chicken would escape and then they would all run off in different directions. We tried various other strategies, such as luring the chickens with food, before we finally trapped them by bringing the fence around behind them.

Based of the moon phases today was a root day. I planted root vegetables in the field and lay drip tape. In the afternoon Kat and I continued to work on the new chicken tractor. We are almost done with the roof and started to putting up chicken wire and a door. I am hoping bring the chicken tractor and five chickens to the senior project exhibition on Thursday, May 27, from 10:00-12:00.

Friday

On Friday I got to to farm at 8:30 did chicken duty and recorded the temperatures. I seeded fruit into trays and beans into the fields. For the rest of the day Kat and I worked on building the new chicken tractor.

Weekly Reflection

This week on senior project I learned how to plant beans, build a chicken tractor, use a hammer and saw efficiently, move a chicken tractor, how to identify droids, worker bees, and the queen bee, and about germination need of different plants, and many other things. It is hard to list everything that I have been learning on senior project because I am learning new things every second but I am not thinking “Oh, now. Right now! I am learning. OK, now I am not. But, now I am”, as we do in classes.

The week went by smoothly without any surprises or confusion. Everything happened as I expected it would. really enjoyed the work I was doing this week. All the work that I do is worthwhile and beneficial to myself and the land. I am glad I was able to help build the new chicken tractor. One of my goals was to understand how a chicken tractor can benefit a small farm and to learn how to take care of chickens. What better way to learn about chicken tractors and chickens then to clean the tractor everyday, collect eggs, feed and water chickens, and build a chicken tractor? I will benefit from the work I do at the farm by gaining experience.

Just before senior project started I as worried that I wouldn’t be able to achieve the three goals I set in the fall when I wrote my proposal. But, after the first week I realized that all the work I was doing on the farm was helping me to reach the goals. I believe that at the end of the second week I have achieved my three goals. I haven’t completed all three activities that I proposed I would for each goal. I have done other activities instead of the proposed ones. I think that the activities replacing the proposed ones were practical and hands on. A lot of the activities I proposed were things that I already knew how to do like take photographs, make lists, graphs, and write explanations. I didn’t know what kind of activities would go into propagation seeds because I didn’t know how to propagate seeds. I had to learn a bit more about my goals before I knew what activities would steer me in the right direction. You can’t write your directions until you know the destination.

Queen Bee

5/20 Day Nine

Hours: 5.5

I started my morning at the farm as always with chickens and recording the temperatures. Brewster, the rooster, was a bit angry at me today for trapping him in the coop yesterday while I was in his enclosure. Seeking revenge Brewster chased me out of his enclosure today. I then went on to transplant broccoli into the field, work on building the new chicken tractor, water the plants in the green house and hoop house, and spread wood chips on young fruit trees. I watched Tyler and Kat open up and look inside the four bee hives. They wanted to find the queen bee in each hive. Its was so amazing to look inside the hive and see the honey comb the bees were making.

Chicken Tractor Construction

5/19 Day Eight

Hours: 6.5

It was wet and and cold at Two Mountain Farm today. The perfect weather for getting work done in the green house and barn. Other then chicken duty and spreading fertilizer on rows of lettuce, kale, and chard Kat and I worked inside. We seeded lettuce and ornamental grasses in the green house and started constructing the new chicken tractor in the barn. I have never done any carpentry before today. I still have some skills to perfect(or simply acquire) but I like helping build the new chicken tractor. After working with the chicken tractors everyday on the farm I understand the importance of a functional coop that benefits the chickens and the farmer. I left the farm at 2:30 and went back to work on a spreadsheet that shows the germination requirements of different vegetables and flowers. The spreadsheet activity is supposed to help me reach my goal to learn how to propagate seeds.

Here is a sample of the germination needs spreadsheet

Plant Germination Temperature (F) # of Day to Germinate Day Time Growing Temp. (F) Sowing to Planting Time (Weeks) Cucumber 75-90 3-5 70-80 3-4 Kale 70-80 5-6 60-65 5-7 Lettuce 75 3-4 55-60 5-7 Squash 75-90 3-5 75-85 3-4 Tomato 75-85 5-7 70-80 5-7 Watermelon 75-90 3-5 75-85 3-4 Snapdragon 70 7-14 - 8-10 Sunflower 70 5-7 - 3-4 Black-Eyed Susan 70 7-14 - 10 Ageratum 70-75 7-10 - 8 Bachelor’s Button 65-75 7-14 8

Seed Propagation

How to Drive a Tractor

5/18 Day Seven

Hours: 6.5

Today Kat and I moved the larger chicken enclosure and the two chicken tractors within. We moved the electric fencing then pushed the chicken tractors, basically chicken coops on wheels, to their new new site by the blackberries. I collected twenty-seven eggs this morning. I took pictures of all the different aspects of seed propagation. I hope to post some of the pictures in the very near future. For the rest of the day I covered two more rows with black plastic, spread lime and on a field, weed, and I had my very first tractor lesson. Kat demonstrated how to drive a tractor and allowed me to drive the tractor. I was a bit nervous at first since I don't know how to drive a standard car and sometimes question if I can even drive automatic. But, driving the tractor was much easier then I imagined.

Flower Day

5/17 Day Six

Hours: 6.5

I arrived at the farm at 8:30 and began my morning routine with chicken duty and green house temperatures. I collected twenty eggs that were laid sometime between seven o'clock last night and nine this morning. Just as I was finishing chicken duty I saw that one of the hens, who's notorious for escaping was running around in the grassy field just outside of her enclosure. I failed to out smart her by luring her to the fence with food. I ran around after her for a bit attempting to catch her but yet again the hen was undefeated. Later in the day she wondered back into the enclosure on her own. Based on biodynamics and the moon planting calender today was a good day to work with flowers. Knowing that today was a flower day many of the days activities involved flowers. Kat and I planted Dahlia bulbs that had been stored in the basement during the winter in plastic tubs filled with peat moss. We transplanted flower seedlings into trays of seventy-two, and Snapdragons into the ground in a hoop house. Two new bee hives arrived at the farm over the weekend. The beehives are a new design that some farmers in the county were asked to test. Rather then looking like a drawer the new hives look like a cradle. The new hives also have a glass window in the back so that you can look inside the hive and see the bees at work. Special attention was spent today making sure all the plants received enough water because it was so hot and dry. I spent some time today looking at the farm records for the past few years to see the kind of planning and organization that goes into running a small farm. In the afternoon we transported bags of fertilizer from the barn to a field planted with a cover crop. Kat and I worked on designing the new chicken tractor we are going to build later this week.

Weekly Reflection

This week on senior project I learnt how to take care of chickens, monitor green house temperatures, spread black plastic, set up drip tape, seed into trays, transplant, put up pea fencing, planting based on the moon cycle, and about beekeeping. I really enjoyed all the work that I was doing. I especially enjoy taking care of the chickens and collecting eggs. I haven’t had any surprises yet on senior project. The work I have been doing is what I was expecting. I have been doing activities everyday to achieve my three goals: to understand the organization and planning of a small farm, to learn how to propagate seeds, and to understand how a chicken tractor can benefit a small farm and to learn how to take care of chickens. The morning chicken duty is an activity that will help me fulfill my goal of understanding chicken tractors and how to take care of chickens. Recording the green house and hoop house temperatures and reviewing the yearly farm plans are activities to that I have done to reach my goal of understand the organization and planning of a small farm. I am working on my goal to learn how to propagate seeds every day by helping with seeding, soil-mixing, transplanting, and watering. I believe I am on track to achieving my goals and already have a greater understanding of chickens, organization and planning, and seed propagation.

What Kind of Vegetable Would You Be?

5/14 Day Five

Hours: 6

I arrived at the farm at 8:30 and started my morning routine of chicken duty and recording the max/min temperatures in the hoop house and green house. I collected twenty-four eggs from the three coops. Brewster gave me the evil eye but let me go about my job the first time I entered his enclosure. But, when I tried to get in a second time to refill the feed bucket he kept trying to attack me. For the rest of the day Kat and I work laying down remay on baby root crops in the field, transplanted flowers, seeded cucumbers, put hay in the hoop house aisles, and repaired a cold box. After leaving the farm I researched different kinds of chicken tractor designs. On Monday Kat and I plan to sketch designs for a new chicken tractor that we can build.

The question is what kind of vegetable or fruit best matches your personality? For instance. I like to think of a carrot as an introverted and kind person, a tomatoes as a spoiled diva that people love regardlessly, and a potatoes as a tough hard worker who enjoys sitting back and relaxing with a beer and a football game.

A Sight to See

5/13 Day Four

Hours: 6

I arrived at the farm at8:30 and began my morning routine which consists of chicken duty and recording the max/min temperature in the green house and hoop house. For the rest of the day I worked with Kat and Tyler laying out more black plastic, transplanting tomatoes and blueberries, putting up pea fencing, and observing the bees.

The chickens were posing for me to take their pictures this afternoon. But, in reality they were just following me around hoping I would feed them.

The chicken with the long tail feathers in the middle of the picture

is Brewster the villainous rooster.

Confrontation with Brewster The Rooster

5/12 Day Three

Hours: 6.5

I get to the farm at 9:00 and start chicken duty alone. I go to the chicken enclosure that holds twenty very friendly orange hens first. I refill their food and water, clean out the poop, and collect fourteen eggs. After finishing the first enclosure I feel a little more confident that I knew what I am doing. I prepare myself for the second enclosure where I know I will have to face Brewster the rooster. I arm myself with chicken feed and a rake. Before stepping over the electric fence I throw a handful of food in the opposite direction from where I will be working. Once Brewster falls for the distraction I go in. I quickly clean the chicken arc and collect seven eggs. I am mindful of Brewsters actions. Each time Brewster stops eating and starts coming towards me I throw more feed. I leave the enclosure to get a bucket of feed to leave in the arc. When I get back Brewster is waiting for me. I throw feed into the corner but Brewster isn't fooled this time. His eyes remain fixed on me. Brewster the rooster is giving me the death stare. I walk over to another side of the fence hoping to circumnavigate the evil chicken. Brewster follows me. I decide to reclaim my authority and conjure up the meanest look I can give. Brewster and I stand on opposite sides of the fence staring each other down. I attempt to enter the chicken enclosure but before I can get a leg over Brewster comes at me. Kat having witnessed the battle offers to ward off Brewster with a rake while I run in and refill the feed bucket. Brewster is out to get me. I am sure of it. Hopefully, we can find a way to work together so that I can complete chicken duty without entering into mortal combat. I have been scheming up ways to deal with Brewster. One idea that I have is to wear a rooster costume and gain control as the larger more dominant male. Does anyone have a rooster costume I could borrow?

Activities:

- Cover two rows with drip tape and black

- Put up fencing for peas to grow on

- Seed squash

- Shovel compost on blueberry row

- Transplant tomatoes in the hoop house

Chickens, Bees, and Drip Tape

10/11

Hours: 6.25

I arrived at the farm at 10:00. Kat guided me through the chicken chores that I will take over and begin my mornings with for the rest of senior project. The chicken chores include cleaning the three chicken coops, refilling the food and water, and collecting eggs. I am really falling in love with the chickens. There is just something about chickens that makes me laugh. Perhaps it's the way they bob their heads or the sounds they make. After working with the chickens we did some field work and set up drip tape and black plastic on two rows that Kat will plant later in the season. The drip tape will eventually water the plants and the black plastic keeps the soil warm, holds in the moisture, and prevents weeds from growing. We then transplanted several trays of flower seedling in the greenhouse before stopping for lunch. At lunch Kat explained biodynamic agriculture and planting by phases of the moon. After lunch we transplanted Kale and Collards into the field and set up a reemay row cover. 2400 bees we putting into two bee hives at the end of the field last night. Kat and I went down check out house the bees were adjusting. I am not scared of bees but there is something instinctually unnerving about being surrounded by hundreds bees and hearing buzzing from all directions and distances. I consciously knew I was fine but my subconscious must have been freaking out because my skin tingled and I became super alert. I asked Kat a lot of questions about the bees and learnt about beekeeping. Just before leaving for the day we shoveled sheep manure onto a row that will soon be planted with blueberry bushes.

Share Day at AEMS

Hours: 7.5

Day One. Share Day at Andover elementary/middle school. I should have had coffee at breakfast. I arrive at AEMS at 8am to help Kat with the school garden workshops she was running. I had forgotten how energetic young children are. I am used to the old worn down children that fill Proctors campus dragging their feet between classes. The kids in the workshop were filled with energy. Our job was to focus their energy on gardening. When we did our job right they would be fighting each other to water the plants. Other wise they would walk off and do cartwheels or count bugs (In case your wondering there are 19 ants and 4 worms in the center bed). During the workshops we transplanted Parsley and Cilantro from trays to four packs, planted two varieties of beans, carrots, spring greens mix, and radishes, weeded, and transplanted chard and kale into the garden. After lunch we went to Two Mountain Farm. Kat and I moved the chickens fencing so them could graze a new area. I was warned that the rooster is aggressive and that I should carry a rake when I go near him in case he tries to attack me. I captured and held a hen that had escaped from the fencing. My favorite thing about the chickens are their eyes. The eyes remind me of dinosaurs. After having some fun with the chickens we planted seeds into trays, weeded, and planted mixed salad greens.