Farm Life: July 2007 Archives

I promised everyone an update on the visit from my Dad.  As anticipated, it was less than a couple of hours before he was out in the garden pulling weeds.  We managed to tame some of the weeds but when you grow without sprays and pesticide this is a never ending task.  We also have a nice organized basement/packing area with storage shelves for all of our tomatoes and produce - I couldn't have done this without his help.

We are very grateful for the help around the farm and the boys enjoyed spending time with their Grandpa.  Grandpa also got to see our oldest, Cooper, get baptised as well as watch Eston enjoy a birthday cake with three candles.  

Dad has made it safely back to Kansas and is having a restful "vacation" from his vacation at Burns Best Farm.

We love you Dad!

Tonight I was working out in the tomato patch and noticed some black droppings by a few of our Green Zebra plants.  This could only mean one thing - the dreaded tomato hornworm (see photo).  I quickly investigated and sure enough found a good sized worm blending nicely on the underside of one of our stems.  I picked it off the plant and showed it to our oldest, Cooper, who just the other night told me that he wanted to be an entomologist. 

I was impressed that he even knew what an entomologist was.  Anyway, we observed the offending bug and doing what men do, quickly put it down on the ground and smashed it.  Hopefully another tomato plant saved.  Of course minutes later William and Cooper were looking for more of the bugs so that they could smash them.  There's something about bug guts that provides boys with the "ooooh gross" factor. 

Normally when the boys catch bugs they run them over to the portable chicken pens and feed them to the hens - it's free family farm entertainment to see which hen can catch the bug first.  However, a friend of ours informed us that the hens have a strong distaste for the tomato hornworm and to exterminate in the field.