Spring has Sprung!

The calendar says it's still 2 days away, but Spring has cast her green hue on Bessette Family Farm. Spring always makes her entrance in this manner here in Esmont...like a jack-in-the box...the crank turns through the month of February; the tension builds as we wait, and then POP! Up rise the tender blades of grass and the thicker "spears" of the approaching daffodils. Trees present their buds in a very well orchestrated sequence. Maples leading the charge!





On the farm, we have planted "snow" peas, which hopefully will produce 10x better than average due to the 10x better than average amount of snow this winter! Sounds logical, right? I love the idea of companion planting, where certain plants naturally improve the growth other plants. So, I try to plant in friendly pairs. Surrounding the peas, we have spinach, parsnips, mustard greens and radishes. Last year Dennis built cold-frames and positioned them for early planting. The soil in these boxes has been warming, in preparation for our first plantings. Cabbage plants went in, potatoes are next.People around here say potatoes should be in by St. Patrick's Day, but I have found that waiting another week or so is better!



Our farm mission has always been to produce as much of our own food as possible and share the abundance with our community. This works well, because we are our own primary "consumers" (pardon the pun)! We work diligently to produce the best tasting meats, eggs, pastas, breads, milk, cheeses, veggies, fruits, jellies and more....selfishly, because we love to eat delicious gourmet foods. We can't eat as much as we produce, so we sell the extra. If it's not good enough for the Bessettes, then it's not good enough to sell!



Although our vegetarian efforts are just beginning, our meat production is well on its way. Duroc piglets are happily rooting, getting fat on hickory nuts an grubs. Holly, the Jersey cow is due to calve in May. Jersey cream, butter, ice cream, mozzarella cheese mmm mmm! Violet, Austyn's bottle fed Angus, is awaiting her 15 month birthday, so she too can become a productive member of our farm! Flower, our Alpine goat, gave birth to 2 bucks this year. These guys are enjoying her milk now, but not for long! Fresh chevre', feta and yogurt are coming soon! The egg production is rising and the eggs sell faster than Lainey can collect them. New this year, is a slower growing variety of chickens for meat. We actually hatch them right here on the farm from our own breeding flock. Traditionally, farm-raised chickens for meat are purchased from a hatchery as day old chicks. They are shipped through the US Postal system and sometimes don't eat or drink for 3 days. They can survive for up to 72 hours without food or water, but it is certainly not ideal. I can tell you that they are ready and willing to eat and drink just hours after fluffing up! We are more comfortable with hatching them at home as it seems more humane and is certainly more sustainable. Our chickens spend their entire life on our farm...not a bad life considering how beautiful it is here!



God provides most of the beauty here on Bessette Family Farm...but Dennis and Alex sure do help. They are always busy building some new structure, from movable chicken pens to luxurious decking around our pool! We want to enjoy the view here at the farm. We guard against taking on an "industrial" farm look. Aesthetics are very important to us. We have seen many productive farms get junky over the years. We hope to be productive, but not at the expense of the beauty of this place.



Wow, this is a much longer post than I expected. The whole family will be contributing to this blog in the future, so readers will share in the experiences of the whole family, on this family farm.