Parker Family Farm
www.parkerproduce.blogspot.com
Beyond Organic, small-scale, diversified family farm offering weekly produce shares, as well as animal shares and other options with pickup locations in Newport, Bangor, Brewer and Hampden.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
It's time to trellis the peas! Check out this new video to learn how we trellis using chicken wire, which lasts for a very long time, is strong, and light. Also in this video, comforter composting! A new technique I'm trying.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
New Video with an interview with John Bunker, founder of Fedco Trees. Don't forget to subscribe to our website: https://www.nightsandweekendshomestead.com/the-videos and our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ZwH0vyS9-x8 to stay up to date with all of our videos about what's going on on the homestead.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
Here is a how-to video showing the method for restarting our natural heat mat when it's cooled down too much.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
Check out the method we use to graft hundreds of fruit trees a year. If you buy a fruit tree from Fedco Trees, you might be buying one that we lovingly grafted and cared for in its infancy.
Here is a "How-to" video, for anyone who wants to grow their own delicious fruit at fractions of the cost of buying fruit trees, and you get to learn a cool skill. All you need is patience. And some other stuff, which I cover in the video.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
Each year a friend and I graft several hundred fruit trees for Fedco Trees. This morning before work I went down to the warehouse and took a little tour. You can come too! Please subscribe to my youtube channel. I'm trying to get 1000 subscribers. I'm currently at 17 so...almost there!
Went to Fedco Trees before work this morning to pick-up this year's rootstock and scionwood to graft. Took a little self-guided tour. You can come along with the new video. On the website and the youtube channel (don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!).
Nights and Weekends Homestead
It's grape and tree pruning time. In my latest video at nightsandweekendhomestead.com, I hope to convince beginners that it really is ok to prune the ever-loving...well, you know...out of your vines.
New video! See how we completely hack our grape vines each March. It won't hurt them, I promise.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
In the latest video on nightsandweekendshomestead.com, before heading over to prune the grapes, I check out how the plants fared outside after a single digit night.
Just posted a new video. Proof that the heat generated by the natural decomposition of horse manure is more than adequate to protect tender young seedlings, even when it's single digit cold outside.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
A winter that won't end? Well, let's enjoy it.
It's not all work and no play around the homestead. In my latest video, the family makes the best of a winter that tries to cling to the end of its calendar. Sledding on St. Patty's Day!
Nights and Weekends Homestead
Our natural heat mat is off to a good start! Up to 8o degrees despite the fact that it's about 22 degrees outside. Onions, leeks, kale, and lettuce are all up. Shallots are just poking through. Tomorrow - watermelons!
Learn how we set up our germination tunnel. It will work even if you don't have a hoop house! Germinate your garden seeds without electricity or propane.
Nights and Weekends Homestead
New blog post at nightsandweekendshomestead.com If you're giving gardening a try this year, or if you've been gardening for a while and would like to improve your results, check out this post.
New blog post up on the gardening page at nightsandweekendshomestead.com. Now is the time to plant those onions! (At least is you live in a place like Central Maine.) Check it out, and don't forget to subscribe to the website, like this page on facebook, and follow us on instagram.
30/10/2015
We only have 3 shares left for our pastured pigs! Now is the time to sign up if you're interested in saving a ton of money and getting the most amazing pork on Earth. Our pigs have lived their entire lives on our farm in the woods. They are finished on organic grain and pumpkins (and whatever they find in the forest). For more information and the form you can visit our site http://parkerproduce.blogspot.com/p/pastured-pig-shares.html
22/08/2015
Consider the thought of homemade pizza when ordering from the CSA this week. It really is a great way to enjoy the freshness of summer bounty!
http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/08/21/home/how-to-make-the-most-delicious-homemade-pizza/
How To Make The Most Delicious Homemade Pizza. Get yourself a garden. OK, it's not as simple as all that. You also need to have a partner who has somehow figured out the secret to making awesome pizza dough and crusts (as my wife has). OK...now...
24/07/2015
I had lots of friends in the summer squash patch this morning. Pollination! One of the many reasons I'm loving the beehive!
20/07/2015
The hamburger rolls (recipe linked in the post) mentioned at my latest Eat Real Post also make excellent egg sandwiches the next morning. Enjoy!
http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/07/19/home/how-to-enjoy-everything-local-summer-food-has-to-offer-in-one-meal/
How To Enjoy Everything Local Summer Food Has To Offer In One Meal. If I'm completely honest, I make really, really good hamburgers. There are several secrets to this. One is to use only good ingredients. Another is the hamburger rolls. Hopefully, the fact that...
18/07/2015
And the Sun Golds are first again. Followed by a distant second Super Sweet 100 Red Cherry.
09/07/2015
An interview with a fellow farmer and Hampden Market vendor. http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/07/08/home/hampden-highlights-cedar-mill-farm/
Hampden Highlights - Cedar Mill Farm This is the time of year to get out and enjoy all that is on offer from your local farmers and artisans at your neighborhood farmer's markets! I've decided to interview some of the farmers I work ...
Raining cats and buckets today. A good day to catch up on pruning and training tomatoes in the hoop houses.
Weather.com says 0% chance of rain. I respectfully (and soddenly) disagree. Oh well. Good for the veggies!
Headed to the Hampden Farmer's Market this afternoon with Choi, Red and White Kale, Mint and eggs. 2-6 in the Hampden Town Office Parking Lot.
08/06/2015
Never have I been so comfortable making so many lame jokes! http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/06/07/home/super-psyched-get-it/
Super Psyched! Get it? Things are really buzzing here at the farm. I feel like I can really bee myself. Life is sweet. The puns really just write themselves on this one. The day for which I've been waiting several mon...
Guess who's got two thumbs and just decided this pouring, cold rain is not conducive to dismantling and moving the last hoop house from our old location to our new farm? This guy!
Oh, look I've got three hoop houses already assembled and waiting for transplants. Sure is dry in there. Guess I know what I'll be doing today.
I will be at the Hampden Farmer's Market from 2-6 tomorrow
(Friday)! Yay! My first market of the season and I'l have chives, mint, eggs, choi (lots of choi!) and possibly some other items. See you in the town office parking lot!
Planting squash and pumpkins today. A couple weeks earlier than last year. Odd after the winter and late spring we've had.
Today I mulched 100 Strawberry plants and their future garden (they spread), 25 Asparagus plants, several fruit trees; all one wheel barrow full of wood chips at a time. I also pruned suckers off about 40 of the trees I'm selling back to Fedco. Just finished trellising 9 rows of peas in the dark. Since the moon's not bright enough to continue...guess I'll go to sleep now.
25/05/2015
Great idea for dinner tonight! http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/05/24/home/how-to-feed-your-family-an-excellent-dinner-under-15/
How to Feed Your family an Excellent Dinner under $15. Choi, Pork Steak Salad with Kale Chips. Now that market and CSA season is upon us it's time to start thinking scientifically. No, you don't need beakers or a pristine lab coat. But you do need to...
25/05/2015
We don't sell pork steak, sorry. But this would be a great time to think about a pork share. Hint, hint. http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/05/24/home/how-to-feed-your-family-an-excellent-dinner-under-15/
How to Feed Your family an Excellent Dinner under $15. Choi, Pork Steak Salad with Kale Chips. Now that market and CSA season is upon us it's time to start thinking scientifically. No, you don't need beakers or a pristine lab coat. But you do need to...
22/05/2015
If anyone is interested in some gardening tools I have Bed Prep Rakes $50 and 3-Tooth Cultivators $40 for sale.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5919-bed-preparation-rake.aspx
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5501-3-tooth-cultivator.aspx
Bed Preparation Rake - Johnny's Selected Seeds Bed Preparation Rake
20/05/2015
Tomorrow's task? Moving the hoop houses and transplanting the broccoli into the garden. Woot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkDqJv_Gxhw
09/05/2015
Mmmmmmm. Can't wait for the years of strawberries and asparagus in my future.http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/05/08/home/drop-everything-youve-got-to-buy-a-tree/
Drop Everything! You've Got To Buy A Tree! The beginning of May brings with it a yearly event that isn't to be missed if you're interested in self-sufficiency, feeding yourself, permaculture and the best food imaginable. The Fedco Tree Sale...
04/05/2015
If you're interested in a pig share, please get your deposit and membership agreement form in asap! I'm not going to be selling shares at market this year if I can help it and don't plan to keep any extra pigs around. Once they are weened I'll be selling piglets to get down to the number of shares I've sold by the end of June. So if you would like a pig share please visit our pastured pig share page and get your form and deposit to me asap. Due to the several year trend price increase in the cost of organic grain I've finally had to bite the bullet and raise the price. $500 per half this year. http://parkerproduce.blogspot.com/p/pastured-pig-shares.html
Parker Family Farm: Pastured Pig Shares Here is what's happening on our small, diversified, beyond organic, family farm where I'm working toward complete sustainability and community self-sufficiency.
Today was day old chick delivery day. 12 chicks in the basement soaking up the heat from the heat lamp and sleeping off their jet lag (I think they took a truck actually). Lizzie has already named them. The Buff Orpingtons are 'Goldie', the Black Austrolops are 'Blackie' and the Auracanas are 'Colorful'. No, not the adjective, that's what she's named them.
01/05/2015
The piglets are venturing out from their house now. They're adventurous little ones!
29/04/2015
Lot's to do and all that. http://eatreal.bangordailynews.com/2015/04/28/home/farmers-are-warming-up-even-if-spring-is-not/
Farmers Are Warming Up Even If Spring Is Not. You may have noticed we seem to be suffering through a colder than normal spring. If so, you're not alone. Each day closer to May that finds me in several layers of shirt, wool sweaters, fleece j...
24/04/2015
12 piglets born April 23
Piglets being born as I speak...er...type.