It's Harvest Time!!!

[Previous Rural Farmgirl, June 2010 – January 2012]

It’s garlic harvest time here in Elsinore! Over the past few weeks, our garlic patch has “ripened” from a patch of healthy deep green garlic plants to a patch of yellowing, drying drooping plants ready for harvest. Aside from hay and some grain, garlic is the largest crop we grow here on the farm (unless you call lambs a “crop!”), and it is always such a suspense-filled time when we dig and pull the first few garlic bulbs from the ground. Are they fully mature? Did they escape damage from pests? Are the bulbs pleasantly big and plump? Are their papery skins intact? This year the answer to all of these is a resounding “YES!”
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  1. Hollie says:

    Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm about garlic! We have a small garden and have planted garlic for our own family’s consumption. Someday {soon} we hope to own more acres and farm for a living. Hearing your story encourages me and will propel us on in our dream. . .

    Enjoy your farmily!

  2. Kate says:

    I so look forward to reading your blogs each week. And was so glad to hear that in Utah it went from winter to summer so quickly! Here in Texas, we can usually count on a good week or two of Spring, then the heat arrives! This summer has been one of the better ones as we have not had the severe droughts that usually occur. And I love to see your pictures and your boys always helping. Keep the news from your farm coming!

  3. Tammy says:

    Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed this post so much. I am just beginning to get into gardening. I have been researching so that come next spring I can have my own little space. Loved the photo of the little one helping bake cake.

    blessings on your week

  4. Cathy K says:

    I enjoyed your post once again. Here in the Salt Lake Valley it was the same. Cool to hot. My garden has not fared well at all this year. Besides the late start, we’ve had sprinkler issues and DH is recovering from back surgery. But the good news is that our apricot tree is bearing enough fruit to feed a third world country! Canning and freezing (and eating and sharing) apricots like mad…. And on the farm where I work, our corn is coming along very nicely!

    Your photos are great and I love that your farm is a farmily effort!! Hugs, Cathy

  5. My hubby and I tried growing garlic this year! Oh joy! Rapture! It is oh so gratifying to dig up those pungent bulbs! Our dream is to farm it full time, hopefully we can make it true next year, but until then, I shall live vicariously through you! We did start our own tomatoes and peppers from seed–100 maters and 150+ peppers as well as the other usual suspects(corn,beans,pumpkins, squash, taters, onions). Everything is so lush here in northern NY, I am just praying the weather continues as it has been. We’ve had unusually hot temps and occasional soaking rains, so there has been no need to water. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it will continue, because so far, so good.
    I love your posts. Thanks for helping to keep the dream alive!

    peace,
    the mitten lady

  6. Denise says:

    Sounds like a busy week for you and the farmily.I love hearing the younger generation (you) describe life on the farm.Keep up the good work.Your enthusiasm is a great asset.Oh!This year,we were told geraniums would keep mosquitoes away. I placed 3 pots at the edge of my picnic table. No bites yet but,our weather has been upside-down this year so I’m not sure if the flowers are responsiblebut they do look pretty.

  7. Debbie says:

    What a great post! I loved every word…. especially, the one you misspelled…
    FARMILY~ its’ perfect!

    Thanks for sharing your inspiration for growing garlic…I was right there with you in the big red barn!

    Have fun on the Farm!
    Look forward to your next farmily adventure!
    Deb

  8. Hi I also like the new word Farmily. It is great and keep it up, love the story about Garlic and have wanted to start some myself, just never have. I live in town and have a garden about 15×15. But we grow a good amount of vegetables, foe the two of us. I will try some garlic this year. Thanks keep up the good work. Juanita Massey

  9. Shery says:

    I know precious little about garlic in the garden. Do you have a cool cellar to store it in? How long does it keep…or do you can it? What a great experience to go to Pay Dirt school. I hope to go to MJF henquarters someday :o)

  10. Melissa says:

    I love your story. I had planned on planting garlic this fall and now I’m extra excited! I have been a MaryJane fan for a few years and now I just joined the sisterhood. We have been growing our own little "farmette". Chickens are my "crop" and we are hoping to get a few goats too. Until; you post again…

  11. Maria says:

    Love this, lots of work but beautiful outcome. For Cathy K. who’s blog I looked at, the porcelain piece is a spoon holder, it shoud have some spoons inside also made of porcelain. I believe they were used for tea. I have one just like it, only mine has painted roses and its beautiful. Thanks Maria

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The Good… The Bad… The Ugly – and The Fun!

[Previous Rural Farmgirl, June 2010 – January 2012]

It’s the main summer holiday in our valley – the Fourth of July. Now, we in Utah have Pioneer Day on July 24th, but that’s another story for another day. “The fourth,” as it’s known around here, is full of all things fun and wild, and at our farm it’s no exception. We had a bit of everything – the good, the bad, the ugly, the fun, the hospital, the racetrack… Pour a glass of something cold (green tea with mango is my current fave), have a seat and join my world – who knows? Maybe you’ll find a bit of your world here, too!

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  1. Shari says:

    It sounds like a lot fun to me…hope the toe is ok and would have loved to be at the races I love horses….I am disabled now and on oxygen so I love to read about others who can go to all te places I miss. Thank you so much for sharing

  2. Nancy says:

    Great article …what a great and generous weekend!

    love the basil, mozzerella and basil idea!

    it’s great to hear there are folks who are still in the homes their ancestors built. I hear you on channeling the ladies.

    While, unfortunately, our family farm was sold several years ago (upstate NY), I did spend time in the house and yes, the grandmothers, grandfathers and others "spoke" to me. Not to mention every plank, every window, every stone was a reminder of their lives and the contribution they have made to my life.

    To sit in furntiutre they crafted, in the house they built, to read their diaries, you know a special meaning of the word HOME.

    Blessings

  3. Suzy says:

    After reading this (and after hearing about all the festivities in "Aunt Jenny’s town!) my family as decided that when I meet with the Chamber of Commerce director this week to talk about some writing I’m todo for them, that we’re going to suggest that NEXT YEAR we MUST have some sort of Fourth of July festivities in our county and town! We have a BIG Veteran’s Day Parade and BIG BIG BIG Chrstmas Parade but we NEED NEED NEED this in the summer, both to show our respect and love of and independence in this land AND to give our folks more of a spirit of community! Thank you for this wonderful blog!!!

  4. Jean Thompson says:

    Back in Cub Scout Days one of the Mom’s had the boys make
    Som’mores with chocolate chip cookies– yummy they worked great.. and you didn’t have to buy candy bars..which in this Hot weather we are having here in Northeastern Ohio would melt.

  5. Pam deMarrais says:

    Libbie, you are a captivating writer! I was hooked after the vision of the kids flying out of the cars, and I tasted the s’mores, winced over the tale of your finger, and felt the rumble of the horses racing past.
    You had lots of events during your celebration of this great country, but the most blessed part is your description of "all of us" honoring our flag.
    Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your 4th of July.

  6. Karen Holderman says:

    I so enjoyed reading your aritcle. I am a suburban farm girl, but related to living in your family’s home. I spent so many summers in my gradparents home. They are with me in spirit always. By the way, have you read Cynthia Rylant’s story, The Relatives Are Coming? It is a children’s book about family get togethers. You would like it. Keep on sharing!

  7. Nancy J says:

    Hello Fellow Farmgirls,

    Sounds like alot of us had a great "4th" week-end…My family(some of us)met at my yougest son’s new home..we grilled hambergers, hot dogs and chicken…No one was hurt, thank God…he had bought a small atv and all the kids took rides on it around his back field…What a wonderful time making memeories…next time gonna remember those s’more!!!! I forgot until it was too late…gives us something to look forward to share!!!! Take care!!!

  8. Heidi says:

    What a wonderful description!! I can so relate to the kids exploding out of cars! I have 3 daughters, Ella is 7, Zoe is 5 and baby Merren is 1. It’s like a zoo around here with gut wretching belly laughs, crying, arguing and hugs. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

    Thanks for a fantastic romp through your 4th of July weekend. You made me smile.

  9. Dianne says:

    Libbie: I loved hearing of your 4th of July weekend. Evellyn is BIG and beautiful. Having a dream cow is a dream come true. I hope you and your hubby are both healing. As for the Mozzarella. Do you have a recipe to share or to suggest. I made a creamy cheese with herbs from Mary Jane’s magazine. It was fun. Have a great summer out there. My dream is to have a small farm someday. Maybe then I too can have a dream cow. Hugs Dianne

  10. Tammy says:

    Libbie, thanks for sharing your 4th with us. It sounds like a fun weekend well without the emergency part. HOpe your finger and little one’s toe heals fast. I love horse races. I met my hubby at the horse races. WE decided when I picked out the winning horse of the race we were good match for each other. Have a blessed weekend ahead.
    hugs
    Tammy

  11. bonnie ellis says:

    Libbie: What a fantastic time you provided for everyone. You must live on a big farm. Your telling makes me wish everyone could have an adventure at least once in their life. Thanks for sharing! Bonnie

  12. We love going camping and are planning a trip down to southern IL to go camping with my sister and I can’t wait for breakfast over a campfire. I know what I’ll be making! Thanks so much for that little tidbit.
    It has been years since I had a s’mores and I can barely remember how to make them a little refresher course would be lovely as we have a big fire pit out in our back forty and we often set up one or two of the tents and have some good old campfire fun with the kids. They’ve been begging for s’mores so help this old farm girl out and refresh my memory as I don’t want to disappoint my grandkids.
    Love your blog, by the by.

  13. kay says:

    Talking about smores……my daughter-in-law made them this 4th with Reeses peanut butter cups instead of Hershey bars…..yummo

  14. Tammie says:

    Good morning Libbie,

    I really enjoyed reading about your fourth of July weekend. It sounds like you had a wonderful get together stock full of love, family and friends. Thank you for sharing Emilie’s quote, I am inspired to post it at my desk…"I dwell in possibility." Gotta love it!
    Your campfire recipies sound yummy, especially, you called it bread sticks but my mind developed it into cinnamon buns on a stick, mmmmmm yummy. Just have a mixture of powder sugar and water stired in to a creamy paste to dip it in hot off the fire to give it a nice glaze and I would be in seventh heaven…till I looked at the scale again of course but hey, once a year right?
    I love reading all of the farm girl posts (and miss Rene, hope she is enjoying her new job) but at the same time feel like I’ve made a new friend reading your posts. You coined it just right when you said "I feel sort of like we’re all sitting down together chatting, and I love it." For some reason I feel the same.
    I love reading the responses you get as well. This is a wonderful virtual community that comes together through MaryJane’s farmgirls and their blogs. It is so refreshing to have a place to come and read something that always makes you feel good everytime your read it.
    Hugs
    Tammie

  15. Debbie says:

    Hey Libbie!
    What a 4th of July celebration you had on the farm! Sounds as if you had a wonderful time… The kind that you’re ready to be over, but happy you crammed in everything you did! Great memories for the youngters too!

    Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
    Deb

  16. wendy says:

    I found you through the magazine Mary Jane Farms which someone else introduced me to. (funny how these things…connections…happen)
    Anyway, I am kinda "into" reading ranching, farming, country type ladies now as I have recently been transplanted to a quarter section with a new hubby in alberta, canada. We have 4 horses, a dog….are retired and I am learning to become a "country girl"
    I moved here by the way from West Jordan Utah…..I miss the hot Utah days
    fun to read your blogs

  17. Bonnie Jobe says:

    What a great 4th celebration! Glad your finger is better…kinda scary. And hay no less!

    We make smores with a layer of peanut butter on the cracker which is similar to the peanut butter cup. I’m trying the peanut butter cup next time…less to haul to the campfire!

    I love to blog also – never did journal much so thinking about what might be interesting to share, taking a picture and then spending some time writing…its easy to see that you like to blog also.

  18. Erica says:

    I’m so so happy that I found your blog! What a great way to hear about what’s going on at your farm, Lib! I love that picture of you and Evelynn. I can’t wait to get back and pet her some more (it was my first time petting a cow, and believe me, Jack had to hear about it for almost the entire drive back home!). He thought that the next time we’re there you might even let me help milk her?! I would love to try sometime. Anyway, it looks like you always host a wonderful time, and you always have in my experience. Sunday was so much fun – a beautiful place and wonderful people. Thank you for everything. I’m looking forward to continuing to read about the goings-on at the farm – happy blogging!

  19. Aunt Jenny says:

    It was so fun to hear about your 4th of July..sounds like so so so much fun!!! Rural Utah is awesome in the summer time isn’t it?? I can’t beleive how close we are and yet we can’t manage to get together more often.
    Evelyn is just so grown up and beautiful like her mother!! I am so so happy that you have my "grandcow"..haha.
    Take care..you are doing an awesome job with the blog..I LOVE reading it and feeling like I catch up with you each time. Have a great week!!

  20. Sue says:

    Every 4th of July our small town holds the "biggest small town parade." Several hours before the parade the streets are lined with families from miles around and further. We boast 500 friendly people on the town sign but there are probably several thousand on parade day. Of course, this year the parade was on July 5th since the fourth fell on a Sunday. We are located in the largest Amish settlement in the world and rarely hold public events on Sundays as the Amish would not attend. The parade is always opened in silence as the color guard leads out with the flags. Everyone stands as the flags and veterans go by. Following the flags are the fire trucks from all of the volunteer stations in two counties. Supporting the fire department is taken very seriously in all of the small communities aound here. No matter who is in the parade, everyone throws lots of candy and the children are ready with their bags. Its a better haul than Halloween. The parade route comes right past our house so our yard is always full of friends and family. After the parade everyone stays to eat. Its all great fun.

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