The tractor sort of works!

Exciting news from Frank's shop... The tractor was for the first time in months! For a few hours, that is. A few weeks before I arrived, Frank was plowing a new field that he decided to lease for a few years, when the tractor started smoking. The smoke then turned into an engine fire, which subsequently devolved into a full-blown brush-and-diesel fire that engulfed the tractor and a good sized portion of the field. It was so hot, the radiator, tires and other metal parts surrounding the engine block melted. The fire department eventually came and put it out. So, ever since then, Frank has been working tirelessly to get this 1960 Massey-Harris tractor back into working condition... and it happened! A few days ago, the tractor ran for the first time, although it was hemorrhaging fuel out of the fuel lines. Frank, who is now a bit wary of fire, decided to work on it some more. A few more tweaks, and it was out running in the field! Then, a few hours later, it blew another fuel line, and it was back to the shop. But those few moments were GLORIOUS! Here's Frank looking like a proud dad. We're pulling for him to get it running again, but it needs parts that aren't made anymore.

Other exciting news... we got two new bee shakes (boxes full of worker bees, shaken from an existing hive into a box, along with a new queen) to put in the previously-vacant hives on the farm, just in time for locust season. More bee posts to follow.

Even more good news... Cari arrived on the farm last Thursday. Our productivity is through the roof. The grass is greener. The chickens are staying in their coop. Kale now tastes like ice cream cake. (SO much kale!) Cari and Julie talking business...

Cari and I manned our own stand at one of the farmers markets last Saturday. It was quite fun... I had to make up a lot of my "knowledge" about the plants.



Here's our greenhouse...




And here's a picture from on the drive to Asheville...


Quote of the week: "Ginger: I'm going to let the flower die, as a celebration of its ephemeral nature. Isiah: (5 y.o.) Is that really celebrating its ephemeral nature, though?"

Next week: Bee pictures, exploring the cemetary on the farm, Spring Creek, the abandoned automobiles of Let It Grow Farms, and maybe some other stuff.