Sunday, March 8, 2015
The Greenhouse
This year I decided to add hanging baskets to my long list of projects. Several years ago I worked at a nursery in Murray and fell in love with the flowers and greenhouse life. What girl doesn't like pretty flowers right? So after some time and thought I decided to take the opportunity.
Today I set out 350 baskets and 100 patio pots with the help of my granny. I love the process, working with plants is so peaceful to me. I will be growing red geraniums, red verbena, pink and purple calibrachoa and some combination baskets. These should be ready the middle of April. I'm hoping to market these along with my strawberries and maybe make some mammas happy on Mother's Day!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Home Spun Christmas
This year we started off the Christmas season with a trip to Branson Missouri, bedded in the Ozark Mountains. Our family is large and we have a bunch of kids, but that doesn't slow us down when it comes to family outings. We operate on the buddy system, every big kid has a little kid to walk around with. It can be a long car ride and loud, but we usually make it work. Time devoted as Family Time is important and we cherish the trips we're able to take together.
Every night in December we read our advent book which tells of a young Jewish boys' journey leading up to the birth of Christ, the last reading being on Christmas morning. After the reading we head downstairs for the presents. It can be kinda crazy at our house, wrapping paper and boxes everywhere. The smell of baked cinnamon rolls and fresh brewed coffee fill the house, and we spend time playing with our new toys and trinkets. This wraps up the Christmas morning and then we head over to Granny's for Christmas dinner.
Many things come to mind when I think of Christmas: family, lights, hot cocoa, caroling, sewing, that barbecue ham my papaw makes, playing games, sledding and warm fire places. It always leaves a warm feeling inside and most of all reminds me of the night my king was brought into this world. Merry Christmas everyone!
- The Harris'
- The Harris'
Harvest Happenings
Combining beans and corn is another phase of the harvest. My role in the row crop harvest is helping move equipment, bringing lunch to the guys, and often making trips for equipment parts when we have a breakdown. Combining with dad is very popular at our house and among the neighbor kids. Everyone wants a ride in the big green machine.
The Last stage of harvest is stripping tobacco. Our migrant workers usually have our dark fired tobacco stripped by mid to late November. This year, my brother and I decided to save some money and strip the 10 acres of burley ourselves. This could potentially drag out until February making for some cold work days. My boyfriend, Logan, has been roped in along with a couple of friends to speed the process up and help pass the time. Although the work is long, cold and fatiguing, I enjoy the time and memories made; singing along to the radio, sharing stories, talking about what we'll do on payday and arguing over who's stripped the most.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Sweet Corn For Sale
Summer On The Farm
Summer is a busy time on the farm, there's never a dull
moment. June and July bring about many hours spent in the tobacco patch, planting watermelons, harvesting sweetcorn, work in the garden and fun nights at the fair.
We are growing Honey Select sweetcorn, a yellow corn that is very sweet! My brother and I have been growing sweetcorn for seven years now. This year will be our eighth year and we have expanded from 2 to 4 acres. We are very excited to see how this year goes. Every year my mom puts atleast 90 dozen up for our family. This process can be long but each of my siblings and myself are put to work shucking and silking so it goes by fast. The coons and deer always give us a good fight however we've learned that fireworks can provide more than just a recreational activity. The family now gathers at the sweetcorn patch for this event.(: We hope to have corn ready by the July 7th!
Topping and oiling tobacco is another big job. It takes a crew of six people, one driving the sprayer and five oiling. Our crew consists of my brother, boyfriend, 3 migrant workers and myself. Each plant must be topped ( break off the flowering bud) and oiled from top to bottom. Breaking off the top influences the size and the oil prevents unwanted suckers.
If you would like to get on our email/calling list for sweetcorn or watermelons you can contact me at (270) 252-6605. I also have a facebook page "Harris Farms" that I will try to keep updated on when produce will be available!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Strawberry Girl
They call me "strawberry girl." This past month has been strawberries nonstop. Our little patch of berries performed excellently, enabling us to provide berries to five different school systems and to the public. This winter produced a few challenges, but we were very pleased with this years crop.
My family helped me tremendously during this time. I was so blessed to have the school systems as my main market, and the support of my family, friends and community. I couldn't have asked for a better year!
First basket of the year. So excited to see the hard work finally pay off! |
My little helpers |
Group effort in the strawberry patch! These kiddos were up at 5:30 when I got up and spent long hard hours picking and helping me sell at stands.
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