Keepin' warm in the spring chill...

This past week we have been building out at the farm. We took down the hoop house from last year, cut it shorter (from 10 feet in height to about 7 feet) and expanded it an extra 20 feet in length.  The plastic goes on next week!

This is our "hot bed" that will be inside the hoop house.  Cinder blocks filled with horse manure - simple yet effective.  The manure gets to be 120 degrees (F) or more (and really, doesn't have much of a smell at all : ).  We'll lay boards on this then keep some of our more sensitive seedlings on here so they stay nice and toasty.

Another way to protect our plants is with cold frames.  This lovely one we build with recycled storm windows, recycled wood, and straw bales.

Our new compost bin made from pallets and scrap wood - the chickens' new favorite hang out!