WELCOME TO HEAVEN on earth!
This
We acquired the property in 2004 and meticulously restored and renovated these two stone buildings in 2005-2006. The month of acquisition housed a blue moon, hence the farm’s name. A lovely stream meanders throughout the acreage, and natural springs abound.
**************************************************************
Got Garlic??? - Gourmet Hardneck Garlic!
This year we will be offering Georgian Fire Garlic in addition to our beautiful Blue Moon Farm Extra Hardy garlic. The crop, planted in the fall, is already three inches tall.
You won't find this garlic in grocery stores. "The cloves are larger and juicier than supermarket types...The best garlic you ever roasted." It will be ready sometime in July. We'll keep you posted.
**************************************************************
Our Turkeys are Famous!
Check out this Internet TV network show called "Hungry in Brooklyn" which airs on the Hungry Nation Network, and featured our turkeys. The link is below.
We are now accepting orders for turkeys for Thanksgiving 2012. Order soon, they go fast.
**** Spring Update 2012 ****
The new bank barn is just about finished. We continue to address secondary issues such as grading, drainage, and landscaping. If you learned the tonnage of stone and concrete associated with this project and its surrounding environs, you would think we constructed the Hunterdon County version of the Freedom Tower.
At the project’s inception, fresh water springs abounded, including the base of the barn. One evening last autumn the excavator departed quite satisfied with his day’s progress and the following morning we awoke to a 15’ x 30’ kiddie pool. A huge spring that formerly fed a constant stream of water to create mud and ice at the base of our driveway near our large lower poultry shed is now traveling underground, as is the aforementioned barn foundation spring. The springs, and roof rainwater, now travel subsurface directly to our lovely natural stream. While we were at it, we re-roofed the lower poultry shed and installed new windows. It never ends.
The barn is a beast. You have to see it to believe how well constructed it is. The Amish excel at many trades; one we can personally attest to is quality barn construction.
The wedding reception for our younger daughter will be at the farm on August 31, 2012, which will feature an evening, by no coincidence, during which a blue moon will rise in the eastern sky. The new barn will serve as a centerpiece for the festivities.
The mild winter has sprouted a plethora of early season weeds. Without weeds, the world would be filled with happy gardeners and growers, whistling along and raising and collecting one bountiful harvest after another. Weeds exist to try our mettle and character. And they succeed.
Our plantings are on schedule and will feature kale, lettuces, carrots, turnips, broccoli, parsnips, radishes, spinach, peppers, onions, tomatoes, white and blue potatoes, sweet potatoes, hardneck garlic, and on and on. Broilers are growing in our small poultry shed (and will again on several occasions this year) and a new batch of leghorn layers will arrive soon. I pray for a little rooster named Foghorn J. Leghorn to arrive with the hens. “Go away, boy, ya bother me.”
Demand for our terrific fresh eggs has never been greater. Our heritage turkeys will arrive on May Day as one-day-old chicks and will reach their destiny the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Things are hectic. But good. It is fortunate we have full time day jobs away from the farm. Otherwise, we would be overwhelmed by the lists of things to do and accomplish this spring and summer.
When you visit the new barn look for the Amish hat secured high above the main floor and noticeable – if you look for it - as you enter. A gift from the Amish to us - for good luck and remembrance.
THE BARN REBUILDING: Unfortunately, prior to when we purchased the property the barn was allowed to deteriorate beyond repair. We are rebuilding on the same footprint and as close as we can to replicating the original. This is a major project both in time and expense. A wonderful Amish company is doing the construction. Below are some pictures of the construction to date.
Historically, the property was utilized as a dairy and poultry farm. Like many family farms from a bygone era, the property was self-sufficient with multiple cisterns for drinking water, crops for humans and animals, barns and a silo, a windmill to generate power to deliver fresh water to the barns and farmhouse, and orchards throughout. The 42° fresh spring water flowing constantly through the Spring House kept dairy products cool for use in the farmhouse as milk, butter, and cheese. Acres of dense timber stands provided firewood and construction material.
By the eve of the millennium, the farm had fallen into decline and the buildings were abandoned. The current owners rescued the property and cleared years of neglect and acres of overgrowth. They hope to re-establish its nobility and original mission. New fencing is installed in places and chickens have the run of the yard when not laying or roosting in their beige hen house. Farm fresh free-range brown eggs are available for a reasonable price. Lean healthy heritage breed broilers raised humanely with constant access to fresh air and sunshine are available seasonally, along with fresh produce, hand crafted natural shea butter soap, and seasoned firewood.
