I’m in the process of relocating to Two Fish Farms to oversee the farm’s development as my primary focus.
I initially visited the property last year around this time, when it was in foreclosure, the schoolhouse abandoned to mice and bats, the yard and gardens littered with trash, debris, and rusting motorized tools.
The owners finalized their purchase of the property last August, and the schoolhouse has come such a long way since then.
My last visit in March involved helping finish the fully remodeled schoolhouse’s insulation (sprayed cellulose) and enjoying the brief breakout of springlike weather and rain.
Having the schoolhouse fully insulated is a huge milestone. My thanks, appreciation, and respect go out to all those who have contributed to getting the project to this stage.
Still to come, masonry stove installation and plastering. It will be a busy summer.
In order to facilitate continued progress at the farmstead while extended family obligations require the owners’ presence off-site, I have committed to living at the farm this spring, where I will be tending honeybees, planting potatoes, and helping with logistics for when the family and international visitors arrive.
The bittersweet part of the transition is that I’ve resigned from Raker as part of the relocation. See my perennialguru blog post for musings on my career and retiring. I wish all my professional colleagues the best and treasure the many friendships I’ve made during my career in professional horticulture.
Speaking of honeybees, we will be bringing in package bees from Wolf Creek Apiaries. Their small cell, “mutt” genetics seem ideal for sustainable beekeeping and come highly recommended from regional beekeepers.
Additional information on horizontal top bar hive (HTBH) construction and setting up new hives with package bees will be coming soon. I’ve also had a request for bee forage species recommendations.