We have been clearing out the weeds from around the fruit trees in the orchard, pulling out the summer crops, spreading woodchips around the trees, and planting delicious fall and winter vegetables. We planted carrots, radishes, beets, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, mustard, cilantro, parsley, and sweet peas. Thank goodness for a Southern California climate zone because the tomatoes and bell peppers are continuing to produce fruit and the basil is still abundant!
In the top photo are the snap peas that the 4th grade planted and the trellises constructed by the 7th grade.
Good news from the chicken coop! Most of the hens are laying an egg a day, which means that there are almost always fresh eggs sold by the half dozen in the Treehouse.
Fun facts about Highland Hall's feathered friends:
1. They are naturally curious and investigate every nook and cranny of the coop. Nothing goes unnoticed!
2. They recognize who feeds them and what is being fed to them.
3. They often double up in one nesting box when laying eggs.
4. They love fish, milk and yogurt, and grubs.
Last week, the 3rd grade built a cold frame for young seedlings. A cold frame is a sheltered space to grow seedlings in cold weather either in trays or directly in the ground. The cold frame that we built is made out of straw bales and old window frames propped up on top of the bales. Although the weather is not excessively cold, the seedlings benefit from being in a sheltered enclosure- free from the insatiable appetites of small birds, white cabbage moths, and grasshoppers. Building a cold frame is a simple and cost effective way to protect young plants if you do not have a greenhouse on your property.
We hope to see everyone at the Community Work Party on Sunday, November 3 from 11 to 2.
Warm wishes,
Nitza Bernard
Highland Hall Biodynamic Gardener