It has been only been about two weeks that we have gone from a blanket of snow to being able to do a mucky walk-about.  We were excited to see how the orchard made it through the long winter, crossing fingers it was without too much weather or wildlife damage. 

Thankfully, there was very little damage seen.    A bit of breakage here and there from ice and snow load, some nibbles on tips of branches  from deer.  Overall, though, the orchard and it's winter - weary owners are doing a happy dance with spring finally here.

  We spent the weekend finally breathing life back in to the orchard via spring plantings of elderberry plants and flower seedlings.   Wildwood, Adams and Marge varieties have found new homes in the rows.  They look happy and a bit strange with their pretty green leaves next to their naked, stick - figure older family members. 

All the elderberries were inspected and a healthy late pruning was had by most, where it was necessary, before the growing seasons begin. 

Our favorote mulching system, coffee bags, which are repurposed beneath and around most of the plantings had worn thin and broken down with the time and winter weariness too.  H. went about and relayered fresh burlap.  That will keep moisture and nutrients in as the heat comes on, as well as keeps the grass from encroaching too far into the trees and bushes. 

True to the time of year it has rained off and on for the last several days, but peering between the raindrops, it is great to see vibrant green again stark against the brown bags, and rapidly greening field.

Garlic and Onions.  A dynamic duo for fighting colds and germs.  The research on the antibiotic, antiviral  properties  of garlic is well researched, documented and respected through the ages as part of mother nature's medicine bag.  The legends both mythical and historic also regale the tales of the mighty powers of this mighty bulb.  We know the citizens of Transylvania were undoubtedly anxious and ever vigilant, certain to never leave home without it, but their evil was of a different variety.  

And speaking of sore throats.... ahem.

I am on the tail end of a one myself, I have been inspired to create  a Garlic Soup today.  I have a recipe that sparked me, but will adapt somewhat I think, for a healthier version. 

Michael Phillips and Rosemary Gladstar.  Need i say more?  Since this is a blog yeah of course I should. :)  Michael Phillips is definitely my go to guy in figuring out how to best grow the orchard holistically and beyond organically.  For the herbs its Rosemary Gladstar all the way.  Can't say good enough things about them and highly recommend their books

Glad I was able to get the guild covered with leaves. 3 or 4 days later it looked like this:

One of our neighbors told us he was glad we were getting their road rid of leaves, but that it would be a penny a leaf.

As this picture attests, we are almost finished mulching this fruit, herb and flower guild with leaves.  Truckloads of leaves were brought into the guild and then shredded using our push mower.  The reasoning behind this went beyond providing a nice cardiovascular workout and mystifying the neighbors!  First, it will provide a base layer to suppress the grasses, and second, it will deliver an abundance of nutrients to the soil.  In the spring, which is a mere 4 months away,  we hope to add an additional layer of wood chips over the leaves.  How are we going to get all those wood chips?  I'm glad that you asked.  We signed up to have wood chips delivered free @ www.freemulchabouttrees.com
This website hooks you up with a local tree service to give us their wood chips instead of putting them in a landfill somewhere.  Please check it out to see if this is something that perhaps you or someone you know could use. 

We use coffee bags as a mulch, which is provided to us by a local and complefely organic coffee shop.  The burlap has done wonders in keeping grass from overtaking our elderberries.  Its very shallow root system don't appreciate any competition from the densely rooted and nutrient sucking grasses.  The bags decompose in about three years, and need to be replaced every year or two.  Can you say "recycling." lol.  The hope is in 2016 the elderberries will form a true hedge and eliminate the need for us to cover the ground.

This is one of our Sea Berry/ Sea Buckthorn Trees, which we started from seed in late January.  This year it's getting rooted in.  The second year it's supposed to have much more growth.  We'll see, but so far so good/happy.  A family member fondly remembers all the wondrous virtuous of the "Sea Buckthorn" from her childhood through a young adult, while living in Russia.  She shared and provided an introduction for us into this amazing tree.  One of the ladies who currently manages Teal Farm in Vermont, refered to it as Sea Berry.  She graciously gave us a tour of Teal Farm this summer, sharing with us the growing habits and many uses of the Sea Berry, as well as her vision of a change in direction for the United States agricultural system as we know it.   

Recap and other "essentials"

After dropping our little A off to her home, we were greeted with this in the back yard.

Today we picked the few remaining elderberries that were still steadfastly clinging to their branches.   It truly amazes me how much juice can be squeezed/extracted from these tiny dark purpled berries. 
Walking through our orchard before the snow flies, I reflect on another growing season coming to an end.  The Aronias seem pleased with the wheelbarrow-full of seaweed they each received when planted in the spring of 2013.  There were two significant storms that spring that I took full advantage of.  Following the storms my truck hauled several loads of these nutrient - laden ocean wonders to our orchard.    I knew there was just enough seaweed for the voyage back to Snowfire Hollow, when the front of the truck lifted towards the sky at just the right angle. 

Picked the berries that were ripe today.  We are collecting about 5 pounds every other day or so.  Charlie and Mimi, my two dynamic "Scarebirds" ( because it's an equal-opportunity scarecrow, I hope) seem to be taking to their jobs nicely.   Flock-off!  ...at least away from our elderberries, is their motto.
I am not certain if the birds are being scared away, but we don't appear to have flocks of any size descending. Nor are we observing a significant berry loss.  Any bare spots on the umbrels seem to be where the earlier beetle damage ate away the blossoms before the berries could set. 

 

Large Elderberry umbrel over and above H's outstretched hand!