Ed Jr's Progress

Ed's surgery on Monday went very well. He returned home on Tuesday morning and will be recuperating for the next couple of weeks. We thank you all for the prayers and support!!!


The Rothe Family

Ed Jr Update 8/14

I really don't feel like posting right now, but feel an update is in order after all the emails that we have gotten.
Ed was released from the hospital Friday night and is home right now. I'll be honest here.....he looks like crap, but he's in good spirits, and still want to be "kept in the loop" of what's going on around here.
He will be going in for some reconstructive surgery Monday morning to fix a broken bone just below his eye. So.......long story short.......I'll post another update after he's home from his surgery and I know more.

BTW.....he 'reminded' his father and Gene that the cucumbers in the garden by the road needed to be picked tonight!

We (Ed and his entire family) thank you for the support and well wishes received over his unfortunate accident.

God bless

Thank You!!!



The Rothe Family

Prayer Request

We at Rothe Homestead Farm and Garden of Eat’n have some sad news to share and we request prayers of healing for Edward Jr.



At noontime yesterday he was on an upper tier hanging tobacco and slipped and fell landing on one of the tobacco riggings. He landed on his face and was rushed by ambulance to Hartford Hospital. He will be undergoing some surgeries early next week.



In the meantime the family will pull together to try to fill in for him and keep those veggies coming! These are big shoes that we are going to try and fill and Ed always wanted them done just so for all of you! Please hang in there with us as we do our best for you and for him.



The Rothe Family

Tobacco Harvest 2010

Started the tobacco harvest this past weekend and thought I'd post some pics.......




Cutting









Spearing (the boss in the foreground checking up on the help)





Shed





Spacing Poles





Hanging





Bottom Tier Started (there are 4 tiers in the shed)





Managed to get 3 of the 10 acres in over the weekend. Now a couple days "off" to let the rest ripen a bit more.

I'll try to get some more pics over the next couple of weeks.


Gene

Sunflowers for Wishes

I would like to tell you about a wonderful opportunity in CT for all of you! July 17 through July 25 there is a wonderful farm that grows sunflowers. Not just a bunch or two, but thousands and you can purchase a bunch for $5 to support the Make-a-Wish foundation! They also have sunflower flavored ice cream. The farm is named Buttonwood Farm and it is located in Griswold, CT. 473 Shetucket Turnpike, Route 165, Griswold to be correct! They have been doing this for a number of years and it is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen…..sunflowers as far as you can look! You can take a wagon ride through them. For more information on the times they are open you may call their phone number 860-376-4081 or visit their website: www.sunflowers forwishes.com.


Don’t miss the opportunity to see this and experience another farm in CT trying to give back to the community and the larger community.


Chris

Some 2010 Garden Pics

no, these aren't veggies.....these are where the eggs come from :)

Piggies

Picked up two piglets Sunday morning. They seem to be getting along quite well with the 2 older pigs.

6 weeks old....







Gene

A Few Pics From Farm Visit Day

We'd like to thank all that came out to visit us!

RHF

Garden of Eat’n Farm Visit Day

You are invited to visit the farm and check out the veggie shack and farm stand along with meeting the family and farm pup “Diesel”. See where the crops are grown and learn about the history of the farm and family.

The farm will host you on Saturday, June 5, 2010
From 1:00 pm to 3:00pm

With light refreshments and a show of tractors
(children welcome!)

The address of the farm is 222 Windsorville Road, Ellington, CT just down from the five corners and across from Windemere School. Please park on the right side of the Main House (white house) near the veggie shack. We will explain the set-up for the bins, what happens on a thunderstorm day, who to call with questions, how to let us know you are on vacation, etc.


You may bring your number one bin if you have them…..if we have your first bin do not worry about it. You do not need to R.S.V.P just come if you can.


Chris, Jean, Ed, Edward, Gene, Jane and Diesel

Two More Tractors

We have two acquired two more Farmall tractors this spring.

A Farmall Cub about two weeks ago.....


and a Farmall 140 yesterday.....


I think that makes 63 Farmalls on the farm now :)


Gene

04/06/2010

Hopefully you all have been able to pull up the application form and information form from either our Blog site or you have received them through an email from last year’s listing.  If you are new to our site you may download the app and info from this blog.  If you have a family member wishing to join or a neighbor please do not hesitate to share the form and info with them.  We do not anticipate that we would have to turn anyone down this year.

Chris

Information for the 2010 CSA Season

A downloadable application for the 2010 CSA season is available on the upper right hand corner of this blog. Please print clearly your name, address, city and email address.The email address is how you will receive confirmation that we have received your application. Along with that you will be confirmed on your Pick Up Day choice. Please keep a copy of your application and this information sheet so you can refer back to it for payment dates and our contact information. Farm news, recipes and other information will be sent to you and your “other participant(s)” will also receive updates as they are sent to you.

Edward and I (Chris) are your contacts regarding the CSA. We have listed our cell phone numbers for your convenience. The email address for questions and/or your recipes and suggestions is: www.stitcher44@comcast.net.

Pick up days include Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Your vegetables will be picked that morning and Edward, Jean and “Tyson” will be packing your 10 gal. bin that morning. If there has been a thunderstorm that morning, please be aware that it would be dangerous for anyone to be in the open field and the picking will be done a little later. You may pick up your vegetables from noon to 8:00pm on clear days. Leave your empty bin to the right of the door of the Veggie Shack and take the filled bin. Next week you will bring the empty and again take the filled bin. If you do not already have your 2 (10 gal.) bins we can purchase them for you for the addition of $20.00 in your payment amount. You can usually find some of the bins at Lowe’s with lids included.

Half of you share is due on 5/15/2010 and the last half is due 6/15/2010. If you need to make other arrangements please call Chris and she will be happy to set up an arrangement that will work for both you and the CSA.

As shareholders in the 2010 crop we appreciate that you are willing to share the risk of 2010’s growing season. We are glad when the weather made its important change to warmer and drier weather so that we could begin to share the harvest with all of you. You will be notified of the first pickup date! Weather including frost, rain, hail, drought always makes farming a real challenge.

If you are unable to pick up on your day or you will be on vacation please let us know if you have someone to pick up your share that/those week(s). If we are not notified and you have not picked up your bin by the next day we will automatically give your share to someone else. If you want your vegetables to go to a shelter during vacations please contact Chris and let her know.

We added honey bees to the farm. We will let you know if there will be honey for sale later in the year. Edward and Chris are the beekeepers.

The shares have gone up for 2010: $325.00 for a full share and $175.00 for a half share. You will be emailed or called to let you know that the veggies will start on your pickup day.

We would like you to know that although we are not certified organic we grow the vegetables with the least amount of chemicals. Each year we must be recertified for chemical and pesticide use. Most homeowners use more chemicals on their lawn than we use on the whole farm. We have been eating our own vegetables and beef for many years and do not want any more usage than necessary of any chemical.

If you would like a tour of the farm please contact us so that we can set aside time to spend with you and show you the farm. Diesel and Tyson our Farm “pups” love company and so do we! Right now Diesel is on the prowl for the foxes and groundhogs that are showing themselves as the weather gets warmer.

The guys (Edward and Gene) are getting the hot houses ready for sowing seed for the vegetables. The Veggie Shack is just off the driveway to the right of the main farm house. This is where you will pick up your vegetables each week and drop off a fresh bin. Eggs will be in the small fridge and for a price of $2.00 a dozen you may help yourself and leave the money in the container. (We have aracauna hens so you will find one or more greenish shelled eggs…..also known as the famous Martha Stewart chickens!) Jane runs the farm stand in front of their house (right of main farm house) and will have much of what is in the bins for any friends that would like to “shop” for veggies but not be a shareholder.

Chris

Piggies Get a New House and Ed Jr. Gets a New Dog

Since we got the truck (that was in our shop for over a month) running, it was time to get the pigs out of there also. Ed Jr. came up with an idea of what we were going to build using up some of the old wood we had kicking around.....roof boards and siding from some old buildings we've torn down over the years and shipping crates that Ed Sr. has been bringing home.

The base with a side wall waiting to be put up.

The two side walls in place

Back wall is now up

Front wall with rafters up.....back one up against it's wall, an the others leaning up against the shop's sliding door

Two ends with plywood put up

One side with plywood and siding, and ends sided

Rafters up, and Ed starting the roof

Sided, roofed, shingled, and first coat of paint

Finished and brought outside

Final inspection

Diesel gives his approval

And Ed's new pup......Tyson

Moving pigs into their new home is tough work!!!!

Gene

It's Alive!!!!

We bought this poor girl last September.


She was a basket case (literally) with a blown engine. The block was broken where a connecting rod that snapped off went through. The intake and heads were already off, and the heads were cracked like nothing I've seen before. Supposedly, the previous owner ran her out of coolant and started to disassemble the engine in hopes of repairing her but had given up.
Ed Jr. put an engine together, we dropped it in, and spent hours trying to figure out where everything hooked up (since we weren't the ones who took it apart). Ed got the exhaust back together and it was time to fire her up ........ not so good.
It ran, but barely.
Ed and I spent the last two weeks pulling codes from the inboard computer, testing sensors (I was even swapping some of them with ones on my Blazer to see if they were bad), changing bad ones, re-timing the distributor, readjusting the valves, changing more electrial components, and FINALLY got her to run!! Ya can't imagine how happy I am that I don't have to stare at her in the shop, wondering what we were gonna try next when I get home from work tonight!!!

Tonight, it's get the hood back on so we don't have to see this anymore......



Just might have to weld the hood closed!!! LOLOL


Gene