Tea Garden & Farm Blog
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Farm update May 24, 2019
by Greg GiffordIt has been a very busy couple of weeks here on the farm. The tea beds are readied and are now in maintenance mode until fall. The Japanese garden in the retired riding arena is now the object of our attention. The bamboo forest has been started. The layout is roughed in and we are creating the overall layout. -
Farm update May 24, 2019
by Greg GiffordIt has been a very busy couple of weeks here on the farm. The tea beds are readied and are now in maintenance mode until fall. The Japanese garden in the retired riding arena is now the object of our attention. The bamboo forest has been started. The layout is roughed in and we are creating the overall layout. -
Farm Update 12/26/2019
by Greg GiffordChristmas has come and gone and with the closing of December we have seen record rain. While temperatures have been moderate the amount of rainfall has been extraordinary. -
Farm Update 12/6/2019
by Greg GiffordWhile in Europe we wondered how the tea bushes were doing and fortunately on our return they all appear to be doing just fine... -
Farm Update 10/12/2019
by Greg GiffordWinter is coming on quick and the farm/garden is getting ready for the cold weather. The Japanese Maples have gone from green to yellow and then red in a matter of three days. Not much for the fall season. -
Farm update 10/6/2019
by Greg GiffordYes that’s right, we have planted nearly 200 plants and will now move to amending the soil for another 800 more or less. The soil will be amended with charged biochar, cow manure mixed with hay, and native soil and left over winter to be ready for planting in the spring. -
Island Grown Farm Tour 2019!
by Yvonne GiffordLast weekend we participated in the 'Island Grown Farm Tour' on San Juan Island. The farm tours are an annual event held on three of the islands in the San Juan's; San Juan Island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island on consecutive weekends.
We were a little hesitant about participating at first because we are in the process of building our tea farm and Japanese garden and were concerned it was not far enough along, but in the end decided that people might like to see a tea farm being built in its early stages, which proved to be exactly right!
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Farm Update 8/23/2019
by Greg GiffordA lot has happened in the past few weeks. Money (our 32 year old horse) has been pining after his pasture mate passed on. We purchased the Scottish Highland cows thinking they would serve as pasture mates, but that experiment did not pan out as we could not put them in the same pasture, so they are over the fence companions..... -
Farm Update 7/17/2019
by Greg GiffordRains are here today and although the property is not a spring green, it is much greener than in any previous year. So far the well is still supplying enough water to keep things irrigated and we’re on the downhill run for the fall weather. -
Tea Farm Update June 16, 2019
by Greg GiffordWell it’s official, the dry season is here. It is very early this year and it looks like we are running at least two weeks ahead of schedule. We may get lucky and have a couple of good rains before the summer drought sets in. Typically on San Juan Island my mowing season ends around the fourth of July. This year it looks like it may be earlier in the areas where we traditionally do not irrigate, but this year we are, hence mowing will be a summer long endeavor. -
San Juan Island Farm Update June 6, 2019
by Greg GiffordMay has left and we are entering the dry season here on San Juan Island. The tourists have descended on the rock and Friday Harbor is a buzz of activity. The same is true here on San Juan Island Tea Farm. -
Farm update May 24, 2019
by Greg GiffordIt has been a very busy couple of weeks here on the farm. The tea beds are readied and are now in maintenance mode until fall. The Japanese garden in the retired riding arena is now the object of our attention. The bamboo forest has been started. The layout is roughed in and we are creating the overall layout.
