Getting Chores Done Ahead of a Big Storm
What winter chores are on your to-do list this weekend?
Although we're expecting bitter cold temperatures today and a winter storm tomorrow that could drop more than a foot of snow, it's "business as usual" at my farm. My gardeners, grooms, and outdoor grounds crew are all busy caring for my animals, tending the garden beds, cleaning, organizing, and yes - making sure all the necessary snow removal equipment is in good working order before the inclement weather arrives.
Enjoy these photos.
-
- To keep my farm running efficiently, there is always a long list of chores to complete. I create very detailed notes of all that needs to be done from week to week. Among them is the pruning and grooming of all the trees and shrubs in my maze. Pasang is busy trimming and shaping all the plantings, using landscape string to ensure hedges are perfectly straight and hand shears and pruners to cut.
-
- Last week my gardeners covered the raised saffron bed in my vegetable garden with wire fencing to prevent any animals from snacking on the bulbs.
-
- The fence is secured with garden sod staples – enough to keep the fence down and any creatures away.
-
- In my stable, Helen works on cleaning the galvanized steel on the horse stalls. This metal is often selected for stalls because of its durability and resistance to corrosion, but it can still get dirty from every day use. Helen uses Simple Green on a metal finishing pad and a little “elbow grease” to get the bars and trim clean. Simple Green is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable cleaning solution.
-
- After using, any dirt and all traces of the cleaner are removed leaving the metal areas clean and safe.
-
- Here is an area filled with grime.
-
- And here it is a few minutes later.
-
- Nearby, Rebeck folds the horses warm turnout rugs from Horseware Ireland, so they’re always ready to use.
-
- Fernando and Pete are busy cleaning and organizing the basement storage area in my production studio guest house. It’s never too early to start on spring cleaning.
-
- Here, Adan works diligently to spread compost over the garden beds. This will help insulate the plantings – we’re expecting a lot of snow and frigid cold temperatures this week.
-
- My Chow Chows, with their dense double coats also need attention. Carlos gives Emperor Han a thorough brushing…
-
- … and face cleaning. Carlos wipes around the eyes and carefully cleans around the outside of the ear canal – never inside.
-
- Chow Chows have a lot of coat around the head, giving it a lion-like appearance, so this area needs a lot of grooming. Emperor Han loves the hydraulic grooming table and will jump up on the table himself. Doesn’t he look handsome?
-
- And yes my dear Qin, you’re next.
-
- Enma uses the mangle iron on my linens. This iron is a mechanical device that was designed to apply even pressure to fabrics in order to smooth out wrinkles.
-
- Here’s Ryan harvesting from my vegetable greenhouse. It’s so nice to have fresh greens growing during the dead of winter.
-
- Later, Ryan replenishes all the soil inside the head house, so he is always ready to do some indoor potting. I use these commercial sized bakers rolling flour bins to store my soil mixes – they work great and fit perfectly under the potting bench for easy access.
-
- In my Equipment Shed, Chhiring is checking the snow blowers to make sure they’re in good working condition. Forecasters are predicting more than a foot of snow from this next storm.
-
- The big plow is also prepared and hitched up onto my pick up truck.
-
- We still have some snow on the ground from last weekend’s storm, but more is on the way. I’ll be sure to share photos – stay tuned and stay safe.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
