2016 is now behind us, and it seems that a lot of people are glad it is over. For us, 2016 was a mix of needed improvements, along with some great achievements.
For 2017 we have a few goals. Besides getting another round of chickens, and planting another garden, here are some of our New Year's resolutions:
1. Bees For Honey
Currently we have no supplies for this new adventure. Luckily southern Ontario has suppliers of both bees and everything else you need for this welcome addition to our mini farm.
2. Plant More Fruit Trees
Currently we have a Honey Crisp, Royal Gala, Mutsu, and an Empire in the apple department. We also have 3 pears (Bartlett, Bosc and Anjou), and 2 Stella Sweet Cherries. Adding a Golden Russet apple, a couple peach, plum, and perhaps an apricot tree will probably make our orchard complete.
3. Reseed The Long Grass
We have some long grass around our property but it is getting quite weedy. This spring we will mow it down, plant some grasses, and also plant some wildflowers such as Black-eyed Susans, Coneflowers and New England Asters to name a few
4. Build Solar Bubbler For Pond
This is something we are going to have to build as purchasing one is kind of expensive. This will hopefully keep the water clearer so we can actually see our fish.
5. Eat And Pickle Asparagus
Finally we get to eat our asparagus next year! We are pretty sure we will also have enough for pickling as well.
6. Drip Irrigation In The Greenhouse
During the hottest months of the year, our peppers would often flag by the time we got home from work, even when we watered them first thing in the morning. Installing some kind of drip irrigation system will solve this problem.
7. Rain Barrels
We have had these barrels here since we started back in 2013, and they have yet to be made into rain barrels. Perhaps 2017 is finally the year.
8. Plant 2 More Rows Of Strawberries
In 2016 we had just enough strawberries for jam and for Marianne's Mom. Planting 2 more rows should be more than enough for everyone.
9. Plant 1 Row Of Blueberries
Now that we cleared some space in the yard, we have room to grow some blueberries for jam, and for Marianne's Mom to make some of her famous Blueberry Cream Pies!!
10. Plant 1 Row of Grapes
A grape vine would be a nice addition for both snacking and for making into grape jelly.
11. Keep Up With This Blog
There are still a lot of items that we haven't included in this blog that need to be added. This is especially true in the DIY, Gardening, and Nature At Home sections.
Well there is definitely enough listed above to keep us busy for the next 12 months. We will have to look back on this list in December to see which ones we actually checked off.
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