Dragon's Breath Farm
  • Home
  • Store
  • About
    • Mission
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Foraging Classes
    • Yoga Classes / Retreats
    • Meditations in the Wilds
  • Blooms
    • Wholesale
    • Retail
  • Botanicals

Tunnel Tumbledown

2/6/2020

0 Comments

 
What a week! While I was driving home, the big wind storm hit the area and destroyed almost 4 structures. No chickies were harmed as it hit during the night when they are all locked up tight and snug! But one of my poor high tunnels which I was so looking forward to using this year is gone, as is one chicken run, the storage garage, and the old shed roof became some flying metal panels.

I had to hold back from starting to clean up and break down the rubble so the insurance agent can get a good look. It's amazing to see how easily metal pipes were bent in two and rebar was flung out of 2' deep anchors. The power was out so my weather station wasn't receiving but we estimate 70mph gusts through our little valley. 

Glad to say the 100 year old cabin and 60 year old barn are looking good and holding strong (the new carport probably helps hold the barn down).

After planning and re-assessing this weekend, the clean up will begin! And I already have plans for modifying the high tunnel construction so it can withstand this kind of onslaught, especially if it happens when there are precious crops inside so I don't lose both tunnel and crops.

Most people know or talk about how much farmers are at the mercy of mother nature, and until you watch as a 10 second downpour washes away 100 freshly planted seedlings, or rush around while getting pelted by gravel-sized hail and 30mph winds to rescue potted up transplants, or watch as a wind gust flattens a stand of wheat it can be hard to explain. People may wonder why I often stop and watch the sky or the tree tops or how a bird is flying on thermals or listen to see if the birds stop singing or if the deer are eating lazily in the field but all these things and more help me learn, understand, and predict mother natures patterns. 

It's not mother natures fault for being harsh, as a former climate geologist, I know just how much of a hard time she's had the last 100+ years. It's my job as a farmer to stay on her good side and know when to play in the sunshine and when to duck and cover.
There will still be eggs this week as nothing gets my girls down! Stop by Fireman's Park parking lot Friday, February 7th from 12-1230pm to pick up some yummy rainbow chicken eggs or big squatty duck eggs!
Picture
Just a pile of rubble. At first I thought a good portion might be salvageable but on a closer look only a few pieces are and not enough to justify it.
Picture
The uncovered tunnel survived just fine, but it (and the replacement for the other one) will need to be converted to a different style that can hold up to higher winds. In winter it means the loss of a tunnel, in summer it means the loss of a tunnel and crops.
Picture
The original shed also got hit and lost half of one side of the roof. The extra light in side is nice since it was always very dark, but I don't think I want this large of a skylight. Note the Dragon Domeā„¢ is completely unscathed. Yay!
Picture
Picture
The barn run also got the flattening treatment as it is more turned into the wind than the other runs. No chickies were harmed!!! The storm was forecast for saturday afternoon but struck us friday night/saturday morning so all hens, and roosters, and drakes were safe in their huts which were built and designed to withstand a lion attack which I guess also counts as 70mph winds. The sawhorse was inside the run as a daytime perch and the run lifted straight over it!
​The rainbow hut row is safely locked in position thanks to t-posts with rope going over all in the row, otherwise they probably would ALL look like the barn run. The hens don't seem to know what hit em and are happily beggin for food and treats at all times.
What's available this week?
  • Eggs!
    • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs $5
    • half dozen pasture-raised duck eggs $4
Where to find it all?
The winter egg/microgreen delivery is every Friday from 12-1230pm at the Fireman's Park Parking Lot. I'll be there rain, snow, shine, or freeze! 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Farmer Megan with a life full of cackles, clucks, quacks, weeds, crazy kitten, and one tiny, senior, blind dog.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Categories

    All
    Clucks & Quacks
    Microgreens
    Newsletters
    Recipes
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Store
  • About
    • Mission
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Foraging Classes
    • Yoga Classes / Retreats
    • Meditations in the Wilds
  • Blooms
    • Wholesale
    • Retail
  • Botanicals