The beginnings of Beatha Fonn.

I know it's more fun when I share something specifically with you, such as "how to do this" or "how to do that" but sometimes, I just need to take a step back, and share it all.Today, there is no how to. There's no agenda. No recipe.Just photos of our first week on Beatha Fonn, our new farm.Where should we start this week...How about the new garden beds? Stuart, Jeremy, and Gary built us two large beds. One is up at the top of the hill, where it warmly sits in the sun all day. I love that I can look out almost any window on the south side of our house and see it looking back at me. Even though there's nothing really growing in it yet.Instead of tilling the soil, we simply put down thick cardboard (and a few pieces of newspaper we had floating around), added a few yards of horse manure (thanks Mom and Dad!), and topped it off with a few yards of organic orchard compost from a nearby facility.Since this picture was taken, it's been edged in river rock and completed planted with beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, chard, kale, collards, dill, basil, tomatillos, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant. It's a sweet little bed and I've grown quite fond of the river rock edging. I think it be fun to fill this top yard up with a variety of smaller gardens, eventually. Perhaps one for herbs. Another for beans, etc.I love Seed Savers. They're one of my most favorite seed companies. Almost everything we planted this year was an heirloom variety.The second bed we planted was this large one down by the chicken coop. It's home to only two vegetables: squash and corn. I'm growing a new variety of squash this year called "Amish Pie". I'm really hoping it grows! The corn is a 90 day variety and I am crossing my fingers that we will have time for it to mature before our first frost. Note to self: when you're planting a late garden, get an early variety! What was I thinking!And why do I have so many instances where I have to say to myself "Self, what were you thinking?". Dang, man.This bed was edged in recycled blocks from an old firepit on the property. It works. And it was free. So I say heck yes.He'll be a homesteader before he knows it. And every homesteader wears a bandanna in some capacity. It's like we're halfway there!Right next to the corn bed, I've planted this honeysuckle alongside the chicken coop. I welcome it's addition the coop - I think it will help to shelter them, provide them with shade during the hot months, and also adds to the overall beauty of the coop. I just have to be careful to tuck in the vines on the outside of the boards so that they can't nibble the leaves off - because they totally do.The patch in front of the corn bed is our strawberry patch. It needs to be weeded, tamed, and mulched so that we can enjoy a bountiful harvest next year!One of the biggest projects we've done thus far is tilling up the steep banks that lead up to the house from the chicken coop. They were overrun with weeds and are eroding terribly. In order to combat this, we gently tilled them up and planted ground cover and trailing greens to add roots (and therefore structure) to the hillside. The plants are obviously very small at the moment, but hopefully they'll fill in nicely over the years to come.Yes. Homesteading involves A LOT of patience.I've also planted a few lavender plants alongside the wooden steps. Lavender is my most favoritist thing in the entire world. Yes. Favoritist.In fact, flowers in general are one of my most favoritist things in the entire world.Blackberry blossoms, too.My Mom planted me a pot with chamomille, lemon balm, and mint. For use in herbal teas. How delicious!Kombucha has been brewing.Nuts have been soaking.A bowl of scraps has occupied a permanent space on my counter. It's the best part of my chicken's day! Not many animals would get quite as excited about partially eaten bananas, peanut shells, and kale stems. But girlfriends think they've hit the jackpot when they see me coming with my little bowl of goodies. For that brief moment, they pretend like I'm their very best friend, hoping I'll slip them an extra apple core.Speaking of permanent occupancy, muddy boots have arrived and are here to stay. I don't mind, though. BOGS, my favorite homesteading accessory, are always lined up by the front door for easy access.I wish I'd have taken pictures of Kula's new corral, but alas, I have not. I'll be sure to share that soon.I realize that these photographs have no real purpose, but I am thankful to be able to share them anyway. Sometimes, I don't want anything to add to my to-do list, do you feel the same? Sometimes, I just want to soak up some beauty and be thankful for the dirt under my nails, the sweat on my brow, and the passion in my heart for this beautiful life.