The March Into Spring Continues

Hey There !

Dave from McElhoes Family Farm/Belmont here.

Suddenly it's warm and dry! I spent most of the last week preparing and mulching our truck patch. The few extra veggies and fruit we had last year were purchased even before we could finish building our Farm Stand. Hopefully we'll have it finished and stocked up soon.

Thank you all for your interest in lambs this year. I am sorry I didn't have enough for all of you. I am still trying to my Mom squared away after Dad's passing, but maybe we can get back to growing the farm and more food for ourselves and for you. We are keeping any likely looking ewe lambs this year, and are scheduled to get a new ram from a neighbor this summer. Fingers crossed we'll get back to our regular herd size soon.

I noticed the first of the coltsfoot blooming this past week. Such a neat little plant. It grows best on lousy soil, and blooms before it even grows. The leaves don't really come out until the flowers are long gone. Even the Ancient Greeks thought they were two different plants.

Our garlic, too, is just starting to pop up through the mulch. This year we have planted even more varieties. We have Music, Chesnook and Georgian Crystal as well as our usual heirloom "Uncle Louie's." For the first time this year we are also trying a new heirloom named for the friend who gave it to us "Ken Myers", as well as one we call "Wild Redneck"... I guess after... me?... Dunno. It will be interesting to compare how they all grow, as well as how they taste. As a kid who grew up never tasting garlic, it always amazes me how much variation there is among different types.

I have two slots left for our chicken club before I will have to close it off for the year. Please if you are interested hit reply now so I can reserve enough birds. I can still get a few of our special order French Gourmet Country Chickens despite the current shortages, but like Ron Popeil used to say "You gotta act now!"

Thank You for Your continued support,

Dave