Things are really starting to take off now on the farm. It's amazing how nice weather brings out the best in us. I think we got more work done this weekend than we have in the previous month.

But we had an advantage. Scott and Amy Block came over on Saturday with their boys and helped us all day. It was a blessing to have that many people chipping in. 

And it was chipping we did, so to speak. We cut down nine trees on the perimeter of the farm yard that would have limited sunlight to the greenhouse. Two of the trees were huge and I was a little nervous when I cut into them because I knew they were going to drop right into the street. 

I don't think I've worked that hard in a long time. I don't think the others have either. We all had a long and exhausting day, because once the trees came down, they had to be cut up. Then, the branches were hauled to the local dump and the long branches that were 4 inches or less were sent through the wood chipper, A DR Power model that is made in Vermont and is as solid as you would expect.

The yard looks completely different than it did on Friday. It's like a new place and as I was leaving tonight (Sunday) I thought of how different it looked a year ago with the farm house still standing. Now, that's gone and a greenhouse frame is in its place, all those overgrown trees are gone, there's 1,800 garlic plants where the back yard used to be and just today, I removed a very thick row of lilacs.

But the one thing I'm most happy about is that we did everything in our power to save an evergreen tree about 20 years old that was in front of the house. When we tore it down there was lumber falling all over the place and machinery moving about. Then, I cut some branches off the trees in front of the house and yesterday the trees themselves. 

But we saved the evergreen. It's such a beautiful Christmas tree when the farm yard is all frosty and cold. It's just a wonderful tree and I wanted to save it. 

Yes, it's been an exhausting weekend again. Next week, we'll dig into the greenhouse again and try to get it done. Also, we're going to be planting onions, potatoes and peas to get a jump start on the 2010 crop. 

Things are really picking up now.