Nursery and pasture

Before...

Our new 1/4 acre farm plot in Langley is part of the lower pasture that has been graciously donated to us by Chocolate Flower Farm.  Now that we have scheduled the pasture to be tilled, it is time to get ready to make babies...Plant babies!

Babies need a warm place to get their start, so we cleaned up an old Chocolate Flower Farm greenhouse that has sat unused for a few seasons. In the northwest a wild greenhouse becomes a weed jungle pretty quick.

...Later

There were blackberries going all over the place. Grass was growing along the entire inside edge, and bindweed (morning glory) was beginning to take over one whole side of the structure.  I lost count of the number of spiders I saw under all the pots and platforms.  It was not for the faint of heart.

The spiders were not the worst of it though, and we were lucky it is still winter.  Even in the middle of winter the wasps were beginning to stir inside the greenhouse.  We found dozens of yellow jackets just beginning to wake in the warming air of the sunny greenhouse.  Small dormant wasp nests were all over the place; in boxes, under tables and throughout seed trays.  Removing them made me feel like a one-man bomb squad as I carefully investigated each wasp infestation before gently carrying them outside.

Despite the hazards, we made quick work of the weeds and were able to begin organizing the jumbled interior.  Much organization remains, but after a day of work we can officially claim this greenhouse ready to nurse some baby plants!  It is not a moment too soon as we are finally getting the pasture opened up this weekend.  Very soon we will have baby plants going in the greenhouse, and a new tilled pasture ready for them when they grow up.

Flying Bear Farm's new digs - 1/4 acre of former horse pasture

 - Ben