Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Free Sneaker Contest
Joes Farmers, Go to http://www.tips4running.com/ follow the instructions to enter and possibly win a free pair of running shoes!!! Joes Farm was interviewed on this awesome and informative website http://www.tips4running.com/ . We talked about my competitive running and sustainable farming methods. So check it out if anyone still reads the Joes Farm Blog.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The Rapture
The Rapture was big news for a few days and everyone said the crazy old man Harold Camping was wrong. Well, Joes Farm is here to tell you that he was right and there was a rapture. Although the rapture did not occur as Harold Camping had predicted on May 22nd, 2011, it did indeed happen. We at Joes Farm were able to witness and participate in the rapture one day late on May 23rd, 2011. The rapture did not involve people it involved demon squash bugs. It was not god that performed this rapture it was the hand of Joes Farm that reached down and raptured the hell out of these squash bugs. It was an joyous rapture to witness.
For the seasoned Joes Farm reader you are familiar with the problems that we had last year with squash bugs. They decimated the squash harvest and we went with out last year. This year we were able to identify and deal with the squash bugs before they have became an issue. We are not in the clear just yet but things are looking good.
When the squash bugs were first identified the hand of Joes Farm struck down the squash bugs and their filthy offspring with a good old fashioned rapture. We then followed that up with some research on the squash bugs. The first thing that we found in our research is that they suck. The second thing that we found was that there are not many organic ways to deal with these filthy insects. The best information that we were able to find is that they need to be dealt with by hand. So we started to squash the squash bugs. We knew from last year that they also stink when you squish them.
After sending those squash bugs to hell we had to put an end to the vicious cycle and find the eggs. The squash bugs lay their eggs on the bottom of the leaves of the plant and they are pretty easy to see. The approach that we took on Joes Farm was to cut the leaves off that had eggs on them and then set them on fire. This may seem like a drastic measure but if you had suffered the loss that Joes Farm did last year you would understand. Joes Farm had a score to settle.
The battle has been won, but the war continues on. The squash bug is sneaky combatant. They hide towards the bottom of the plant and come out at night. They suck the juices from the squash plant and they inject poison. If you see one there are bound to be more so you must be vigilant in your squash bug defense.
Here are some photos of the rapture.
For the seasoned Joes Farm reader you are familiar with the problems that we had last year with squash bugs. They decimated the squash harvest and we went with out last year. This year we were able to identify and deal with the squash bugs before they have became an issue. We are not in the clear just yet but things are looking good.
When the squash bugs were first identified the hand of Joes Farm struck down the squash bugs and their filthy offspring with a good old fashioned rapture. We then followed that up with some research on the squash bugs. The first thing that we found in our research is that they suck. The second thing that we found was that there are not many organic ways to deal with these filthy insects. The best information that we were able to find is that they need to be dealt with by hand. So we started to squash the squash bugs. We knew from last year that they also stink when you squish them.
After sending those squash bugs to hell we had to put an end to the vicious cycle and find the eggs. The squash bugs lay their eggs on the bottom of the leaves of the plant and they are pretty easy to see. The approach that we took on Joes Farm was to cut the leaves off that had eggs on them and then set them on fire. This may seem like a drastic measure but if you had suffered the loss that Joes Farm did last year you would understand. Joes Farm had a score to settle.
The battle has been won, but the war continues on. The squash bug is sneaky combatant. They hide towards the bottom of the plant and come out at night. They suck the juices from the squash plant and they inject poison. If you see one there are bound to be more so you must be vigilant in your squash bug defense.
Here are some photos of the rapture.
Dead Squash bugs
Squash bug eggs
Squash bugs and their eggs burning in grill hell
Friday, May 13, 2011
Celebrate Good Times
May 14th will prove to be a great celebration at Joes Farm. Why? Because May 14th is naked gardening day. Joes Farm appreciates the human form and so should you. So why not celebrate with friends and family? Get naked and go do some farming. Here are some naked farming resources.
For naked farming information:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43018053/ns/today-today_people/t/not-dirty-play-dirt-world-naked-gardening-day?GT1=43001
For the Official Naked Farming website:
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK
http://www.wngd.org/
For naked farming information:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43018053/ns/today-today_people/t/not-dirty-play-dirt-world-naked-gardening-day?GT1=43001
For the Official Naked Farming website:
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK
http://www.wngd.org/
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Amending Soils
The questions are flowing in almost faster than we are able to handle these days on Joesfarm.blogspot.com. No need to worry, we will find a way to answer the questions in between harvests and crop cultivation. Our latest question was submitted to us from Jim OC who is representing the bitter cold northeastern United States of America.
Jim OC, The northeast of the United States of America is a region that I am all to familiar with. I am a little concerned for your farm this coming season. In a perfect world you would have turned that lawn over last fall and mixed in some manure or perhaps some leftover leaves and other organic materials and just mixed that into a big hot steaming pile of dirt and organics. This way you give it the winter to join together in the form of healthy, nutrient rich soil that will turn out some of the finest vegetables east of the Mississippi, north of the Mason Dixon line, south of Oswego, and northeast from Marcellus. Long story short, they would have been delicious, nutritious, and bountiful.
You are going to be alright. You are blessed with good soils in the northeast, so if you heed Joes Farm advice everything will come up aces.
At this late stage of the game Jim OC this is going to be my personalized game plan for your farm.
Step 1 - Just dig up that grass and maybe use that to start your compost pile.
Step 2 - OCRRA is the location http://www.ocrra.org/yardwaste_sites.asp and get as much compost as you can carry, wear cargo pants and put some in your pockets. If you have it available bring a wagon, or you could go to the local nursery and purchase some compost from them.
Step 3 - Extract the compost from your person and wagon from step 2 and till it into your field.
Step 4 - Stop! and let it sit for a few days to a week to settle in. while this is under way make sure to plan the farm layout.
Step 5 - Farm Time! - Plant your crops
Step 6 - And then eat your crops
Step 7 - Redistribute your crops. Your farm is so abundant that there is no possible way that you could ever eat that many vegetables.
Step 8 - MMM, Solve world hunger.
JimOC, if you ever get into a pinch and forget a step of the plan just think JoesFarm and you will remember. It is proven to work. Look at this carrot harvest from Joes Farm.
Jim OC, The northeast of the United States of America is a region that I am all to familiar with. I am a little concerned for your farm this coming season. In a perfect world you would have turned that lawn over last fall and mixed in some manure or perhaps some leftover leaves and other organic materials and just mixed that into a big hot steaming pile of dirt and organics. This way you give it the winter to join together in the form of healthy, nutrient rich soil that will turn out some of the finest vegetables east of the Mississippi, north of the Mason Dixon line, south of Oswego, and northeast from Marcellus. Long story short, they would have been delicious, nutritious, and bountiful.
You are going to be alright. You are blessed with good soils in the northeast, so if you heed Joes Farm advice everything will come up aces.
At this late stage of the game Jim OC this is going to be my personalized game plan for your farm.
Step 1 - Just dig up that grass and maybe use that to start your compost pile.
Step 2 - OCRRA is the location http://www.ocrra.org/yardwaste_sites.asp and get as much compost as you can carry, wear cargo pants and put some in your pockets. If you have it available bring a wagon, or you could go to the local nursery and purchase some compost from them.
Step 3 - Extract the compost from your person and wagon from step 2 and till it into your field.
Step 4 - Stop! and let it sit for a few days to a week to settle in. while this is under way make sure to plan the farm layout.
Step 5 - Farm Time! - Plant your crops
Step 6 - And then eat your crops
Step 7 - Redistribute your crops. Your farm is so abundant that there is no possible way that you could ever eat that many vegetables.
Step 8 - MMM, Solve world hunger.
JimOC, if you ever get into a pinch and forget a step of the plan just think JoesFarm and you will remember. It is proven to work. Look at this carrot harvest from Joes Farm.
Joes Farm Carrot Spokes Model of the Year 2011
Congratulations Susan!!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Joes Farm Fans
I would like to take this time and valuable web page real estate to spend some time answering a user submitted question. The question is from Larson & Sons Farm in Baltimore Maryland. Larson & Sons Farm asked about the different varieties of wood that was used in the construction of Joes Farm. Larson & Sons Farm has been a supporter of Joes Farm from Joes Farms inception. While Larson & Sons Farm is thousands if not millions of miles away from Joes Farm they have been there every step of the way.
For those who have been following Joes Farm from the early days know, we (Joes Farm) built our first field out of cinder blocks. We chose cinder block because it was inexpensive and easy to use. After the first season of farming, Joes Farm knew that cinder block was not going to cut it. The reasons for that are the lack of soil depth and the overwhelming heat that the cinder blocks absorbed. Joes Farm then scoured the world looking for alternatives. We found that there are some affordable options available for field construction. Pressure treated lumber was recommended by the Home Depot but the fact that it is laden with chemicals it was crossed off the list.
Through Joes farm research we were able to decide on Premium Douglas Fir. It comes in a variety of sizes and did not have the pressure treated chemical after taste. It is more affordable that the finer woods like cedar and redwood. I would also recommend a pine or a maple. They come in untreated planks like the premium Doug fir and are in the same price range. There are options available in composites but Joes Farm wanted to stay one with nature. What we give up by choosing untreated wood and non-composite wood is longevity. Joes Farm is starting to see some deterioration on the older fields after one year. That is the trade off that has to be made.
Just thinking out loud right now, I think another option would be to head on over to Patterson Park and chop down a Horse Chestnut or a Babylon Weeping Willow. That might present some logistical issues and I don't imagine you have access to a saw mill. Good brain storm. Any how, my suggestion to you would be to look into some Premium Douglas Fir, Pine, or Maple from the local hardware store.
Happy farming to Larson & Sons Farm and all of the other Joes Farm Fans.
For those who have been following Joes Farm from the early days know, we (Joes Farm) built our first field out of cinder blocks. We chose cinder block because it was inexpensive and easy to use. After the first season of farming, Joes Farm knew that cinder block was not going to cut it. The reasons for that are the lack of soil depth and the overwhelming heat that the cinder blocks absorbed. Joes Farm then scoured the world looking for alternatives. We found that there are some affordable options available for field construction. Pressure treated lumber was recommended by the Home Depot but the fact that it is laden with chemicals it was crossed off the list.
Through Joes farm research we were able to decide on Premium Douglas Fir. It comes in a variety of sizes and did not have the pressure treated chemical after taste. It is more affordable that the finer woods like cedar and redwood. I would also recommend a pine or a maple. They come in untreated planks like the premium Doug fir and are in the same price range. There are options available in composites but Joes Farm wanted to stay one with nature. What we give up by choosing untreated wood and non-composite wood is longevity. Joes Farm is starting to see some deterioration on the older fields after one year. That is the trade off that has to be made.
Just thinking out loud right now, I think another option would be to head on over to Patterson Park and chop down a Horse Chestnut or a Babylon Weeping Willow. That might present some logistical issues and I don't imagine you have access to a saw mill. Good brain storm. Any how, my suggestion to you would be to look into some Premium Douglas Fir, Pine, or Maple from the local hardware store.
Happy farming to Larson & Sons Farm and all of the other Joes Farm Fans.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Spring 2011 Outlook
Joes Farm is once again going full steam ahead and plowing through spring 2011. Warm weather has returned and we have big bold plans for Joes Farm again. Due to the incredible performance of Joes Farm over the past several seasons we have recently received approval from our land trustee to more than double the size of Joes Farm. Needless to say we (Joes Farm) are delighted.
The construction of the additional fields is nearly complete. Our last and most important step is the creation of the world famous Joes Farm soil. This is no easy task. We are awaiting the delivery of the aggregate to complete this mixture.The aggregate is only a small part of Joes Farm world famous soil mixture. The most important portion of this mixture comes from the i care organics composting/vermicomposting facility that is operated by Joes Farm. Joes Farm i care oragnics compost and vermicompost is proudly made by Americans for Americans. Upon completion of the soil creation Joes Farm is going to begin planting crops in the new fields. We (Joes Farm) already have crops growing in the older more established fields. Winter crops are nearing harvest, spring time crops are growing by leaps and bounds, and Summer Crops are in the Joes Farm incubator.
Here are the new fields as they are being built. Please Enjoy.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
STORM WATCH 2011
Joes Farm brings you good tidings for the new year. We had a monstrously successful year on the farm in 2010 and there is no doubt that 2011 will bring another record breaking harvest. Although we have the highest hopes for 2011 it has had a rough beginning.
Much like the rest of the country, Joes Farm has been under the grips of STORM WATCH 2011. We have been receiving arctic blasts of cold air and blizzards of biblical proportions. With temperatures plummeting as low as 30 degrees. While the farm is still thriving we did have our concerns. Our fans and followers have also had their concerns. I wanted to assure everyone in the world that Joes Farm not only survived STORM WATCH 2011 but that we thrived in during STORM WATCH 2011. Thank you all for your concern. Below is a picture of the damage and destruction from the winter storm that ravaged the las vegas valley.
Much like the rest of the country, Joes Farm has been under the grips of STORM WATCH 2011. We have been receiving arctic blasts of cold air and blizzards of biblical proportions. With temperatures plummeting as low as 30 degrees. While the farm is still thriving we did have our concerns. Our fans and followers have also had their concerns. I wanted to assure everyone in the world that Joes Farm not only survived STORM WATCH 2011 but that we thrived in during STORM WATCH 2011. Thank you all for your concern. Below is a picture of the damage and destruction from the winter storm that ravaged the las vegas valley.
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