Aila-Grams: Monastery-Gram #2

Dear all,

Sorry. I meant to get these up earlier, but ... (*see previous post, "there is a lot of work to do on a farm.")

It's something of a fallow year for the farm, but even the minimal rows are a never-ending mobius strip of weeding, watering, and weeding (again).

Oh, and chasing the turkeys out of the rows. That happens a lot too.

Lots of harvesting, sometimes even at the right time.

Who says zucchinis don't grow on trees?

The porch off the chapel has become the default spot for hanging things to dry. Oregano, tarragon, thyme, mint, and shallots, plus a lot of garlic (in close proximity to a lot of crosses and holy water = perfect place to ride out any imminent vampire attacks).

The house flower gardens need their share of love and attention. (Which, quite frankly, they don't always get. You know how I am about flowers.)

The ladies get checked a few times a day - water, feed, and eggs. (And sometimes I feed them the contents of the beetle trap. Which is probably the most exciting thing that's happened to them, ever. Each and every time.)

The babies are starting to figure this laying-thing out!

Though some of the details remain to be worked out. Three hens to a box might be a bit much, ladies.

What I don't have pictures of include helping to cook meals for 18 people (3-5 brothers, 1-2 interns, and assorted guests), doing basic upkeep of grounds and buildings, dodging the garter snakes that live in the main house gardens, moving irrigation hoses around, stripping poison ivy off rock walls (carefully, but unfortunately not carefully enough), mowing and weed-whacking, and spraying rows with biological pest-control to remove the leaf-miners, hornworms, potato bugs, lily beetles, and all kinds of other non-approved garden guests. Oh, and bees! (Those are approved guests.) I don't have any pictures of that because today's my first day helping with the bees. And let's be honest, I think I'm going to be a little bit too preoccupied with staying calm to take any pictures of it. But never fear, there are photos of other fascinating events to come ...