Author Archives: Tom
The Apple Orchard at Sweet Rose Farm
After seven days, two blizzards, one heat wave, wind gusts to 50 mph, 4000 holes, and one unexpected day off, the apple orchard at Sweet Rose has been planted. The forecast turned cold and snowy when we started planting the … Continue reading
Posted in Fruits
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Just Being Neighborly
As much as we say it all depends on the weather, it actually depends more on who is there for you when you can’t make it without help. My neighbor Ivan was there for me today. The trees arrived today … Continue reading
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Waiting for the Weather
Well everything is in place for the apple orchard planting scheduled for next weekend. Up to a crew of six consisting of sons, friends and wives (I’ll leave you guessing on how many of each!) will be on hand to … Continue reading
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Apple Orchard Prep
I have been working steadily to get the apple orchard ready. I have driven all the end posts for the trellis and have opened the soil in order to facilitate the actual planting of trees. I have scheduled the delivery … Continue reading
Grass Fed Beef Starts
Last week, Ivan informed me he had a heifer ready for market. On Tuesday she weighed in at 1240 pounds and delivered to T & E Meats in Harrisonburg. The flash frozen vacuum packed beef should be ready in … Continue reading
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Pick and Choose
With the help of my very efficient web master, Frances Bevington, I have now created a “Products Fo r Sale Now” page where you can find everything that is growing or ready for sale at Sweet Rose. Currently everything is growing … Continue reading
Posted in Products for Sale Now
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Tomato Season
The tomato season has started. Over the weekend I started 225 tomato plants in my green room. I have the seeds on seed mats in organic potting soil. I laid out Black Cow processed cow manure on the rows in … Continue reading
Posted in Vegetables
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Post Position
I completed moving the locust posts into position alongside the rows in the apple orchard. I hope to drive all these posts as the main supports for the apple trellis. I moved some last week but had to wait for … Continue reading
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Maples Off and Running
I was down at Ivan’s Sugar Shack watching the maple water entering the holding tank. The trees started running in earnest a couple days of go and the miles of tubing used to link the trees to the tank are … Continue reading
Posted in About the Farm
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Posting Up
280 eight foot locust posts and 240 ten foot oak 3 x 3’s sit piled at the garden gate. They all need to get on up the mountain. I hope to drive some of the posts before planting the apple … Continue reading
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