Chicama Run Farm Blog

Well today we went to church.  It’s been awhile and I really think it’s needed.  So I did my research to try and find a church that can combine my thoughts/views with some of Joe’s (he was raised Catholic and I was raised Methodist) so I was looking for a traditional service + (very important) a good kids program.  I wanted something established that wasn’t going anywhere.  I found on the internet a church that seemed to match what we are looking for.  It listed Sunday service at 10am – hey we can make that!!  Because Joe works until some unknown hour on Saturday nights I wanted one a little later, plus we do have chores to do in the morning.

So here’s our adventure…… we get to the church about 10 minute before the service is supposed to start….. the place had a TON of cars yet it looked like a small church.  There is NO noise!!  I mean dead quiet out there.  It was a little freaky to say the least.  1st building…. no one there…. 2nd one (actual church) it’s very very quiet so I open the door and it’s THE END of the service or at least close to it!  The pastor stops the service so we can find seating…. 10 minutes later…. fellowship time!!

 Ok – it was just a special weekend where they combine the early and later service together and it happens only about 4 times per year.  The people where extremely friendly and I’m sure we made quite a 1st impression!  We promise to get there on time next week.  I am hopeful about this church as we felt welcome and it was a good mix of people - young and old.  Fingers crossed!

On to other stuff – the kids finished their school year!  They tested and apparently I did not ruin them as they tested in the dead middle.  So we are gearing up to start their next year of schooling since we do this year round.  I plan on taking a different approach to it this year as I honestly felt it was a “warm-up” year and get used to mom being the teacher.  It’s still a learning process for both myself and the kids but I think we are trudging along pretty well – though I must admit we have our moments!

Farm life is taking off – and of course it is since it’s Spring!  We are now getting 220 eggs PER DAY and had 300 more laying hens delivered and they haven’t even started laying yet!  Soon we will be getting about 350 eggs PER DAY – WHEW!  Joe installed a dis washer in the garage so I can wash eggs out there.   I know what you are thinking “Dish Washer???” Well on the rinse cycle – no detergent – in 6 minutes it can rinse off about 7 dozen eggs in warm water!  That totally saves my hands and now since it is seperate from the inside one – I can wash dishes more often without having to worry about needing to wash eggs.

We are now supplying Tuscorora Mill & South Street Bakery with 15 dozen eggs each per week which is exciting to have our product in stores.  Then Whole Foods contacted us this past week making it even more exciting – THEN a little specialty grocer is interested also!  Things are looking up for us which is great.  

I will be at the Leesburg Market and Lovettsville Market this year – and Jacob will be helping me in Leesburg on Saturday mornings.  It should be fun and busy!!  It will be nice having help – and he’s learning the cash register so I don’t have to be the only one knowing how to operate it on the Spring Farm Tour as well!

Time to wash and package up eggs to deliver tomorrow!

What an incredible day outside.  Why am I stuck inside no matter what I try to do?  Besides working on the website, getting stuff ready to sell at the market, and so much more – I just can’t seem to get organized enough to get outside and stay there!

Joe is out doing fencing – the pigs broke out the other evening and luckily we caught them and got everyone (including our big sheep and the llama) back in the field for the night.  That was fun (not).

Kids are playing down by the creek – so at least they are outside.  No computers on days like today!  We are even planning on cooking out and having burgers.  YUM.

This is the time of year stress starts kicking in because we can get so busy.  It’s why we need a break in the winter time, yet we don’t seem to be getting one at anytime.  I tried to take a weekend off and it didn’t happen – we needed the money to pay for stuff that had to be ordered so I needed to get to the market.  It’s funny, most people don’t realize how expensive it is to farm. 

Want to know why your eggs are $4/dozen instead of $2/dozen which is what I was charging 2 years ago?  Feed went up from $7 per 50 lb bag to about $11 a bag – and that’s only if you get it a ton at a time!  Need fencing?  I don’t even want to get into that pricing!  Chickens themselves start out at $1.25 each including shipping.  Heck and to stay natural without all the chemicals including fertilizers – it’s a $5 per bag difference.

Is it worth it?  Some days yes – some days I would really rather be out on a cruise ship sitting by the pool being waited on by some cute pool guy   But on the whole, I wouldn’t trade it in.  It’s fun, it’s active, and it’s actually something that is fun to watch grow no matter how much work goes into it.   But honestly, if you were to ask me today if I would have done the same thing if I were to do it over – I’m not sure what my answer would be.  I wouldn’t trade the land in for anything – I love all the space we have.  Would I have my little ark of animals?  I’m not sure if I would have expanded it this much.  I think now I would love to stream-line it but not sure where I would do that. 

I know it sounda like pouting and a little regret.  But somedays it’s like that, most days it’s not.  I think about it more as I do the taxes for last year and SEE where all the money went.  It’s scary!  No wonder not many people want to strive to be farmers.

Oh well – off to be back outside and help Joe do something.   Then it’s on to the next thing