Month: March 2020

Some more spinach, leeks and the hazelnuts that wintered over have been added to the entry garden. A lot of this is in response to the whole COVID-19 thing but since we’re here most of the time now why not learn and maybe get some food that’s better for us and should be tastier. So here’s the updated photos since last weekend.

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I bought some leeks from the garden store. Not sure what they think people are supposed to do the way they have 150 plants in a 3 inch pot other than to break them up and replant them. So that’s what I did. About 8 plants per pot. I’ll see how they grow and the ones that take the best I’ll cut out and plant into 3 10″ pots I have waiting for them. Saw a great video on Home Grown Veg that makes me hopeful that if I can get these to grow along with the potatoes going in next week I’ll be able to make a potato leek soup later this year. They just look like little wisps now but we’ll see how they turn out.

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And I took a couple pictures of our daffodils. I do love the Barrett Browning because they reming me of my grandfather Dr. Barrett Brown.

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It’s a rather sad situation when hospitals are asking the public to make masks for their use but such are the times. This serves as a good reference even if not used now.

Please only use new fabric for masks. Do not use used t-shirts or bedding.

Supplies and cutting instructions

• Exterior fabric
  • • Cotton fabric: tightly-woven fabric such as quilting cotton
  • • Cut one piece 9” wide by 6” tall
• Interior fabric
  • • Knit fabric or flannel
  • • Cut one piece 9” wide by 6” tall
• Ties
  • Cotton fabric: tightly-woven fabric such as quilting cotton
  • Cut two pieces 2”wide by 44” long -OR- use pre-packaged bias tape, extra-wide double fold (.5” wide)

Step 1: Make ties

To create your own ties, use a 25mm bias tape maker -OR- the fabric can be ironed by folding the width fabric (2”) in half and press. It will now measure 1” by about 44”. Then, unfold the fabric and fold each raw edge into the center crease and press. Fold in half once more. The tie will now measure 1/2” by about 44”. Set ties aside.

If using pre-packaged bias tape, cut two pieces that are about 40” long. (It’s OK to cut at 36” long so you can get three ties out of a package!)

Step 2: Sew mask

Place the exterior and interior fabrics right sides together. Sew the top and bottom (9” side) using a 1/4” seam allowance. Turn right side out and press. Next, create the pleats. Fold the fabric so there are three even pleats on each side, and top stitch using 1/4” seam allowance.

Step 3: Attach ties

Match the center of one tie and the center of one pleated side. Slide the raw edge of fabric into the fold of the bias tape tie. Pin or clip in place. Start at one end of the tie and sew along the edge from one end to the other. When you reach the mask part, go slowly and make sure NOT to sew over any pins! Repeat to attach the second tie.

Reference site (could be different instructions) https://sarahmaker.com/how-to-sew-a-surgical-face-mask-for-hospitals-free-pattern/

Started the first two fermentations for the spring. A Chilean pinot noir and a French merlot. Will follow-up with a California sauvignon blanc and an Italian pinot grigio. Compressing wine making a bit this year by starting primary fermentation of the second two a week after moving the first ones into carboys.

First round of spring planting is in the books. Radishes, lettuce, celery, carrots, onions, green onions and spinach. It snowed on the plantings first thing this morning but by evening when I was done all looked good and there are no more freezing temperatures forecast in the next couple of weeks.

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Grow bags get here on Friday and I’ll use them for potatoes and some more carrots. Also get the lights mounted to start the mid-season crops from seed next week as well.

During the normal busy course of my life I’ve found it hard to keep up on posting the goings on here at Oak Moon Farm. There’s certainly been plenty happening but when we’re only here on weekends most of the time seems to be taken up doing those things rather than talking about them on the site. But 2020 has changes all of that.

As of last week things are completely turned around. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us, as well as many others, to work from home. We have to socially distance ourselves from people to flatten the curve of the spread. For us that means staying at Oak Moon except when my wife has to get payroll out for the folks at Gerstner Electric. So it seems like an appropriate time to start doing a better job of relating what we’re doing here to others. Maybe it will give others ideas of projects they can undertake. Maybe it will just provide people with a little something fun to read. Or maybe it will just be something the grandkids can read after we’re gone to better understand these crazy times.