In the fall of 2018 we cleared a small tract of brushy/wooded land to start a small no-till no dig farm. (See “Farm Build” page). Our goal was to grow chemical free vegetables for Rock Hill and York residents.
We performed an initial till using a rented tiller, cleared rocks, and debris and built 12, fifty foot rows. We added compost, trace mineral elements (azomite) and organic fertilizer. We installed a hydrant yard and tied it into our well. (See “The Build” page.)
We also use two 8×4 raised beds made of cinder blocks that are located next to our house that we set up about 4 years ago . We also use a number of grow bags.
We direct seed with an Earthway tiller or broadcast by hand. We use hand-tools only. We have about 5 tools, a rake, a shovel, a seeder, a pitch-fork, watering can and a scuffle hoe. (See “Pictures” page.)
We use no sprays or chemicals on our vegetables, Our inputs are CoopPoop (fertilizer), compost, and azomite (rock dust). See FAQ page for details.
We grow mainly green beans, peppers, lettuces, spinach, arugula, radishes and carrots. We sell our products to some friends who re-sell at the Rock Hill Farmers Market. We also sell to the Peach Stand as well as to a few friends and neighbors.
We also have chickens. I previoulsy posted they were free ranging (running around in the yard and the surrounding woods.). Sady we have had to contain them inside their electric fence and coop. I overestimated estimated the street smarts of my chickens as 3 of them at at various times flew over the backyard fence where the dogs made short work of them. I almost managed to save one. She was wounded and I attempted to nurse her back to health her but her wounds got infected and we had to euthanize her. Neighbor’s dog got another one which survived ($250 vet bill). Another was killed by a racoon. So for now the chickens are living a safe (but boring) life. We are down to 5 with plans to get 5-6 more in the spring of 2021. Our chickens are purely layers and will live with us until they die (hopefully) natural deaths. Even when too old to lay eggs, they will live with us in their retirement.
