An Idaho School Farm Diary

[TravisWS]

I’ve enjoyed the chronicle threads of @resonanteye, @mamuang , @clarkinks and others, and thought I would do one for our land, trees, garden, and school. We have three acres in the Big Wood River valley in Idaho, where we live, and I run a multi-age Waldorf school. We have gardens, a small greenhouse, a young orchard, and cottonwood/willow/dogwood woodland area.

Here is the view of our driveway from the road with our house in the background

Also from the road; another angle showing the yurt that houses the school.

Looking west from the house.

Moving down the driveway.

The young orchard.

Greenhouse and animal buildings.

Play yard and festival area.

Closer look at the yurt. The wall tent is the woodworking classroom.

The trail back to the river.

I’ll add more details the gardens and trees I future posts. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

[Zone6]

Wow…that is a nice setup. I liked the greenhouse. I looked it up. It looks like a Planta greenhouse. Is that what it is? Do you like it? I’d like to buy a Planta, but need more land.

Thanks for posting the photos and descriptions. And send in more photos as things progress.

[clarkinks]

Very nice!

[resonanteye]

that yurt is amazing!!!

[TravisWS]

@resonanteye, I’ll post some inside photos of the yurt, but here is what it looks like in the morning as students are arriving, complete with the friendly school Pyrenees as greeter.

@Zone6, yes it is a Planta. I like it well enough. It definitely sheds snow well. Protects plants pretty well down to probably 26 degrees, depending on how long it stays cold and how warm it is during the day. I’m a little behind this year so plants are small.

This is from May 13th last year.

Have you looked into the Magidome kits? They look interesting as well.

[resonanteye]

is it a sungrow? that’s what mine is- the short one. i can still hear the video instructions theme song from trying to build it.

[TravisWS]

Yes, mine is the Sungrow Urban. I forget what the measurements are. How do you like yours? It looks like you use it much more intensively than I do!

[resonanteye]

i love it, i had a ramshackle trash built hoophouse before this!

[TravisWS]

Here is some of the inside of the yurt, with student artwork, and a makeshift growing area above the bathroom. Not very convenient to stand on a stool to water!

[resonanteye]

it looks great though. really cool stuff. i love yurts in particular, there’s just a good feeling in them

[TravisWS]

One of my last purchases this spring, an Etter’s Eden, arrived from Skipley Farms. Excited to add this one! Our fifth grade is in a botany study block; currently comparing roses and tulips.

[Zone6]

@TravisWS

Magidome

Nope, but I looked them up.

[TravisWS]

I ordered 19 different types of mints this year. After growing them in their 4” pots for a while, I was able to split them and repot into 6”. Looking forward to all the diversity!

[KS_razerback]

You wouldn’t happen to have a compulsion to want to be generous and trade some mint starts for other things next year?

[TravisWS]

@KS_razerback, I’m happy to trade. I’m sure there will be plenty to divide out by next year

[TravisWS]

Excited to have Cherry Crush blooming!

I put in a “new” small post to support a hose bib and keep the friendly neighborhood wood-chip trucks from running it over.

This weekend all these bench grafts need to get planted.

[Tiirsys]

@TravisWS Please, do tell! What varieties of mint have you acquired?

[TravisWS]

@Tiirsys I got:
Orange
Marilyn’s Salad
Jim’s Candy Lemon Lime
Jessie’s Sweet Pear
Candied Fruit
Mohito
Apple
Spice
Lavender
Spearmint
Brittney Mint Patty
Eau de Cologne
Marshmallow
Wild Berries
Chocolate
Sister Julie’s Wintergreen
Iced Hazelnut
Kentucky Colonel

They are from https://fragrantfields.com
From what I can tell so far, they are all distinct from each other. As far as how well the name describes the flavor - can’t comment on that yet.

[Tiirsys]

Thank you for the list! Some I haven’t heard of on there. Thank you also for showing me a new plant source!

I have a few types of mint in pots. Used mainly for vietnamese salads. Don’t know the names though!

[TravisWS]

Got all the bench grafted apples planted and mulched with wood chips. The test plot now has about 85-90 varieties all on B9.

Also extended some poly pipe to create a hose bib to be able to water the new elderberry planting.