First Dahlia - Crop's Gonna Pop

We planted 410 Dahlias this season. Colors lean predominately in the “bridal” direction - whites, pink blushes, and burgundies - but with a few of our “weird stuff” varieties like “Peachy Momas” and “Big Birds.” The first Dahlia flower of the season is pictured below. This pumpkin/coral variety came in a freebie package along with a large order of Cafe au Laits, so we are not aware of its name.

We added a drip irrigation network so that each Dahlia grow bag receives its own, adjustable water supply. Maintaining adequate water pressure was a challenge, requiring multiple circuits with their respective timers. Dahlias are thirsty.

Peony Panic

We started 42 Peonies last fall in grow bags and then transplanted them in the ground this spring after they started to sprout. One of the pics below shows them in two rows between the Dahlias and tunnels, in the ground. These are perennials that are hardy to Zone 3 and that produce beautiful, fragrant flowers. They generally do not produce flowers for 2 to 3 seasons, so Peonies are a serious investment in terms of original cost and time to production. But they are known to last over 75 years and produce spectacular blossoms when established.

But we had a problem.

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Peony sprout this past spring.

Peonies growing in the ground along the tunnels.

Our Peonies started to wilt and were losing their healthy, green color. Not good. Upon examination, we found that they were flooded with water and were essentially drowning. Peonies are not swamp dwellers but, rather, like well-drained soil. As it turned out, the water from the Dahlia drip system (Dahlias like LOTS of water) was leaching into the Peony field and killing them.

We grow our flowers in grow bags for several reasons, one of which is to ensure good soil quality and aeration for plant roots. But, we endeavor to plant our perennials permanently in the ground, since they will come back year after year and do not particularly like to be moved. However, as we discovered, the soil in this field is substandard; comprised mainly of clay with essentially no nutritional value or natural drainage. Gary immediately moved them back to grow bags which is a far more controllable environment.

Peonies rescued by grow bags.

Most of the Peonies have come back. We lost 4 plants but it could have been worse. One Peony actually put up a single bloom, which is extraordinary for the first season after planting. Hopefully, a good sign of things to come.

The one and only Peony blossom of 2020.

Anemone & Ranunculus Experiment

We grew some Anemones and Ranunculus this spring as a test bed in one of our high tunnels. They were charming and exquisite little flowers, but their germination process was a challenge for us (we lost 60% of our bulbs) and mildew was a chronic problem. Lamentably, we decided that they were more trouble than they were worth. Our focus will continue to be on Hellebores, Dahlias, Peonies and Hydrangeas during the next few seasons.

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Hellebores Galore

Beautiful Hellebore perennials are in. These delicate looking, but tough little guys are members of the Ranunculaceae family. They can take more than their fair share of abuse from the Indiana climate, even late snow, which we had 2 weeks ago. Our Hellebores love living under the shade from the gigantic White Pine and Norway Spruce trees on the farm. Available for Mother’s Day.

Naturally grown Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) for early Spring.

Several color variations among these Hellebores.

Hellebores are very successful when planted under our White Pine and Norway Spruce trees.

Walk-In Cooler Update

Here it is in its new home, the upper story of our old bank barn. I discovered from labeling that this former Diary Queen cooler was built in 1982. Sounds old until you compare it to a nineteenth century barn. Note the bark on the joists above. Probably pulled from our forest, stripped of its branches, cut to length and lifted in place. Farmer pragmatism.

Craigslist Walk-In Cooler

I am not sure if small farmers could exist without Craigslist. This is where we find used tools, equipment, and supplies at affordable prices. Case in point - an 8’ x 8’ Walk-In Cooler (without compressor) for $500. This unit was being used by a Dairy Queen for storage of its diary products before they moved to a new location. Once installed in our old barn, we will give it an insulated floor, and then add a new LG air conditioner and CoolBot controller to economically keep the temp at 36 degrees. The flowers will like that.

8’ X 8’ X 7’ Walk-In Cooler from Diary Queen

New Tractor for 2020 Season!

Nothing will bring out the 12 year-old in a man like a new John Deere tractor… We chose the JD 2038R, with a Loader, Tiller, Box Blade, Pallet Forks and Chipper. Thank you Casey Krueckeburg at Kenn-Feld Group of Woodburn, Indiana for your expert guidance and great pricing!

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For you John Deere tractor aficionados, here is a list of the tractor gear that we’ve acquired for the 2020 season:

JD 2038R with 220R Loader/Bucket; iMatch; LED ROPS Rear Work Light Pkg & Guard Kit

WOODS RTR60.40 60” Tiller

WOODS BSS60P Box Blade

Frontier AP11F 42” Pallet Fork

Betstco FH-BX42 - 4" Wood Chipper

Restoring Our 1870s Barn

Thanks for visiting our new website!

One of our big projects last year was our Barn Restoration. The roof was leaking badly and the structure was essentially sliding off of the foundation. If not arrested, the barn would have collapsed within a decade.

The building was constructed in the 1870s, so I would be sagging too if I was around 150 years old. But note the pictures of the hand hewn oak beams in the upper story. Worth preserving.

So, we added a new metal roof, gutters and had major structural work done. Replaced the center beam support columns and footings. Also replaced the entire north side wall footing/foundation and related support columns and lower wall framing.

Thanks to Kurt Gardner and Paul Hayden of the Indiana Barn Foundation for your advice regarding what needed to be done.

The work was very quickly and professionally done by Marvin Schwartz Construction - (260) 414-2897.