HeartStone Farmstead

Views of 2020 at the Farmstead

Sometimes after lunch, ya just gotta take a quick snooze before heading back to the nest. It's the first round of egg laying and hatching.

Well hello...welcome back. 😎

So ready to get going...after testing 3-color LED grow lights compared to white light...my goodness...( that's the purple photos )...the plants are loving it. They're growing lush instead of leggy and there's no chance of accidental burning since the LEDs can be placed much higher. Still will use the white grow lights to get things started since they throw off some heat and keep the greenhouses warm, but the LEDs are the go-to for growth. Just have to get used to seeing them in purple light... lol.

Waiting for Spring and ready to get started...tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, early cauliflower, three kinds of basil, rosemary, (from seed this year, wow), cilantro, thyme, and white sage...back at it for another year!

The end of the season...and a rough one it was. With personal family losses coupled with floods from a rainy season that never let up...it was difficult to stay positive. But, looking back with clearer vision, there was a decent enough gardening season to carry us through to next year with renewed hope. The garlic is safely planted and protected, as are the tender herbs...the kale is still providing and sweeter with every light frost...and the last of the carrots and winter beets are harvested and stored. We did alright and hope you did as well. Take care and see you in the Spring. 😊

The purple glazer garlic has performed beyond expectations. The heads are large, 5-6 enormous cloves in each...easy to peel and good flavor...not overly strong. Very good baked. Since there are so many, testing out making garlic powder for those times when a sprinkle of the real thing on toasted bread is just the ticket. 😊