Ashley Down Farm

C is home and life is getting back to a new normal again. School is still a month away, although we keep up with math and reading all summer. OT will continue until some undetermined time.

In the meantime we are busy harvesting elderberries to use for ourselves and to sell. I have been letting A practice driving while she takes me around looking for new patches. By default we found a plum thicket at the end of our road! Amazing. I was thinking of Little House's On the Banks of Plum Creek. I know Ma made preserves and probably dried them. I tried drying some last year but the skin is sooooo sour it isnt worth it. We suck out the insides and give the skins to the chickens!

The garden has not done well this year...I guess I have to actually get out there to beat the bugs!! Actually the volunteer pumpkin and squash plants are doing well. Cukes took over. Berries are coming nicely.

We have had a name for our farm for some time, but are trying some things to bring in revenue and to give people a taste of life on a farm and to be able to expose them to good food.

Our name is Ashley Down Farm. The name came from the name of a street in England in the 1800's. A missionary, George Müeller, ran orphan homes.  (One on Ashley Down) He NEVER once asked anyone for money or supplies. Not even food when they had none. He prayed. He relied on God to provide as He saw fit. And in his autobiography he has some amazing stories of God's miraculous provisions...down to the penny. It is our desire to have that kind of faith. And living on a farm you do need faith!

Next year B and I are planning to expand the garden to double the size, although I am hoping to fill in 1/4 of it with more berries. We want to plant Goji berries and try farmer's market. We are having a soap-making mother daughter party here this fall and in the spring I have planned an heirloom plant planting party and a spring farm day party. We are hoping to get more meat birds...now that I can get organic feed, and hoping to expand our flock of egg layers. We are going to plant 8 more fruit trees. It is our hope to make some money, yes; but it is also our hope to pay the girls for their involvment, thus motivating the younger girls to learn better work ethic. Doesn't everyone want to get rewarded for their involvment?! I know I do!

So it sounds like I could use some extra hands this coming year....come on out!!