In the fall we planted a small orchard. The orchard includes 2 Cherry Trees, 2 Peach Trees, 2 Plum Trees, 2 Pear Trees, 5 Apple Trees, and 2 Almond Trees. We are extremely excited to say they are all thriving. This is our first year growing fruit trees, so if anyone has any advice on how to keep them thriving throughout the summer months, let us know in the comments. ⬇️ #femalefarmers #farmher #greenthumbsofinstagram #growwithlove #orchard #orchardtips #fruitorchard #growyourownfood🌱 #growyourownfruit #gardeningtipsforbeginners #gardeningtipsandtricks #valrayfarm
Just another, beautiful morning on the farm. #smallfarmcharm #smallfamilyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarmlife #morningwalk #sunrise #countryviews #valrayfarm
Nothing like a warm December day to prep for next year's flower farm. Planting some bulbs before the ground freezes. Special thanks for my hubby for cutting a template for burning holes in the weed fabric and our oldest boy for helping me get the fabric down. Even though he's only helping in case I decide to let him play with a weed burner. 🧑🏭🔥 #valrayfarm #flowerfarmer #flowerfarm #plantflowers #tulips #daffodils #peonies #springflowersmakemehappy #farmher #flowerfarming #flowerfarminglife #flowerfarmerintraining
The corn took 4 days to sprout. Our area has been plagued by a drough this spring and we only watered the corn once. We were not expecting the corn to come up so quickly. Keep your fingers crossed for rain. #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarms #smallfarmcharm #smallfarmlife #knowyourfarmer #raiseyourfood #countryviews #supportlocalfarmers #growyourownfood #localgrower #gardentherapy #zone6 #westernpafarm #zone6garden #growmorefood #zone6gardening #armstrongcountypafarm #valrayfarm
We had a very late start to the gardening season but corn is in the ground and everything else will follow in the next couple weeks. What have you planted so far this year? #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarms #smallfarmcharm #smallfarmlife #knowyourfarmer #raiseyourfood #countryviews #supportlocalfarmers #growyourownfood #localgrower #gardentherapy #zone6 #westernpafarm #zone6garden #growmorefood #zone6gardening #armstrongcountypafarm #valrayfarm
We will be butchering the first round of chickens this weekend. If you would like to order some chicken, pm us. #valrayfarm #farmher #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarmcharm #pastureraisedpoultry #pastureraisedchicken #poultryfarming #poultryfarm #chickenfarmerlife #firstgenerationfarmer #firstgenerationfarmers #westernpafarm #kittanningpa #kittanningpafarm #pittsburghfarm #pittsburghfarmersmarket #armstrongcountypa #armstrongcountypafarm
⚠️ Do Not Plant Strawberries in the Garden ⚠️ Last year we planted 40 everbearing strawberry plants and 40 junebearing strawberry plants in the garden. They covered a 3 ft. x 80 ft. area by the end of the season. We now have hundreds of strawberry plants covering a 12-15 ft. x 80 ft. area. We knew the strawberry plants would send runners and expand to fill the area we planted them in but we had no idea they would completely take over. So now we have to move the strawberries to a new bed before we can finish tilling the garden and get everything planted. The new bed is in now it's time to dig up the strawberries. 🍓 Have you ever planted strawberries in the garden? How have you managed to contain them? #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarms #smallfarmcharm #smallfarmlife #knowyourfarmer #raiseyourfood #strawberries #strawberrypatch #strawberryplants #strawberrybed #strawberrybeds #westernpa #westernpafarm #kittanningpa #kittanningpafarm #armstrongcountypa #armstrongcountypafarm #valrayfarm
Valray Farm's First Choice for a Dual Purpose Heritage Breed Chicken is the... 🥚 Delaware Chickens 🐔 This breed was originally developed by crossing Barred Plymouth Rocks with New Hampshire Chickens. They are well known for their superior meat quality and excellent egg production. They reach processing age at 12-16 weeks with the hens weighing over 6.5 lbs. and the roosters weighing 8.5 lbs. They reach laying age at 16-20 weeks and lay L/XL brown eggs. This Chicken also has a calm friendly disposition which makes them a great addition to any backyard flock. Do you have dual purpose or Heritage Breed Chickens in your flock? Let us know what your favorite breeds are in the comments. ⬇️ #valrayfarm #farmher #familyfarm #smallfarm #sustainability #homesteadchickens #backyardchicken #chickensofinstagram #lovemyflock #backyardflock #pastureraisedchicken #poultryfarming #poultryfarm #delawarechicken #delawarechickens #dualpurposechickens #heritagebreedchickens #chickenfarmers #heritagebreed #heritagebreeds
"Wherever life plants you bloom with grace." #femalefarmers #farmher #farmfresh #zinniasofinstagram #zinnia #zinnias #zinniaflower #zinniagarden #flowerfarming #flowerfarm #spreadhappiness #standtall #turntowardthelight #growflowers #johnnyseeds #growwithjohnnys #greenthumbsofinstagram #growwithlove #valrayfarm
Take a lesson from the sunflowers 🌻. Spread seeds of happiness, stand tall, and always turn toward the light. #femalefarmers #farmher #farmfresh #farmfreshflowers #sunflowerfield #sunflower🌻 #sunflowers #sunflowerlove #flowerfarming #flowerfarm #spreadhappiness #standtall #turntowardthelight #growflowers #greenthumbsofinstagram #growwithlove #valrayfarm
This is our family. We live a quiet life in the Country. A simple life in which hard work is rewarded and you reap what you sow. We strive to live a healthy lifestyle, to teach our children the importance of proper nutrition and knowing where our food comes from. We are not perfect and polished. Half the time we are covered in mud, wearing muck boots, and overalls but we are a real family with real values. We are proud to say that on our farm, our products are truly ALL NATURAL. They are free of added hormones and food additives. We choose to raise our livestock (i.e., chicken, turkey, and pigs) out on pastures where they are able to realize their true personalities and graze on unlimited pasture grass. This give our products a quality that is not only higher than our local competition but also healthier and more nutritious. Our pork is leaner and more marbleized. Our poultry is higher in vitamins and minerals because they forage for some of their food. Our eggs are richer and higher in vitamin D and E. We are a farm that cares about providing you with wholesome, healthy food and we hope you enjoy following along as we grow our farm. https://valrayfarm.wixsite.com/valray-farm/about-the-farm #valrayfarm #farmher #familyfarm #newfarm #smallfarms #smallfarmcharm #smallfarmlife #farmblog #supportlocalfarmers #knowyourfarm #knowyourfarmers #localgrower #pennsylvaniagrown #foodismedicine #uncertifiedorganic #pastureraisedpork #pastureraisedchicken #pastureraisedturkey #pastureraisedeggs #ninelineapparel
Garden 2022 Update The garden exploded after the rain last night. So excited for this year's harvest. We had since trouble with the Spinach and Swiss Chards this year but everything else is doing wonderful! Double tap if you are excited to see what we get out of the garden this year and leave us a comment below about what you have growing! #valrayfarm #localgrower #gardentherapy #zone6 #gardenlifestyle #justkeepplanting #growingfood #homegrownfood #growwithlove #Pennsylvaniagrown #gardenlife #greenthumb #foodismedicine #annieheirloomseeds #growmorefood #farmher #fortheplanet #smallfarmcharm #supportlocalfarmers #sustainability
Friendly reminder to get outside and pick some berries! 🍓 If your in PA keep an eye out for... - Black Raspberries - Strawberries - Blueberries - Mulberries Which berries are your favorite? We LOVE Black Raspberries in Ice Cream. #farmlife #countryliving #countryviews #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarmcharm #dreamlife #farmher #femalefarmer #farmfresh #valrayfarm #berrypickingseason #berrypicking #berries🍓 #blackraspberry #blackraspberries #blackraspberryicecream #forraging #forrage #gatherandfeast #huntergatherer
🍓 Berry picking season #growwhereyouareplanted #countryliving #countryviews #liveyourbestlife #realife #sustainability #homestead #homesteader #homesteadlife #homesteadingfamily #homemaker #homemakerlife #valrayfarm #berrypickingseason #berrypicking #berries🍓
"A garden returns 50x the investment you put into it. Not just food, but joy, peace, and a real connection with creation. A spiritual retreat from a noisy world and hurried people. Grow a garden." Transplanting the last of these seedlings this weekend. 🌱 - Summer Squash & Zucchini - Cucumbers - Melons - Flowers Anyone else ready for fresh fruits and veggies and a table full of flowers? 🙋♀️ #farmfresh #localgrower #valrayfarm #seedlings #gardentherapy #backyardgarden #growyourownfood #soilblocking #growwithjohnnys #pennsylvaniagrown #gardenlife #countryliving #foodismedicine
We recently donated hatching eggs to a couple local schools in the area. . Please enjoy the squeals of joy and excitement as the first egg hatches in this second grade classroom. . Hatching eggs teaches children so many important life lessons and we are so honored and excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the classroom. . To any other teachers in the area looking to share this experience in their classroom, we will have chicken, turkey, and guinea fowl eggs available next school year for hatching free of charge. All we ask is that the chicks are returned to the farm once hatched. We will have limited availability so if you are interested please let us know! . #firstgenerationfarmers #valrayfarm #armstrongcountypa #westernpafarm #kittanningpa #localfarm #hatchingeggs #chicksforsale #hatchingeggsforsale #supportlocalfarmers #supportlocalschools #supportlocalteachers #hatchingeggs #blueameraucana #thankyouteachers
How to Train Piglets to a Single Strand of Electric Wire. . 1️⃣ The piglets naturally wean themselves off the sow between 8-10 weeks. When they do we move them into a 16ft. X 16ft. enclosure. . 2️⃣The enclosure is a simple square that consists of 4 - 16ft hog panels with a gate and a single strand of electric wire along the inside perimeter of the fencing. We position the wire at nose level. . 3️⃣ Within the first week the piglets quickly learn to avoid touching the electric wire. By the end of week 2 you should be able to remove the panels and expand the area before moving them out onto pasture. . Additional Recommendations: When you first remove the panels and expand the area, the piglets will be hesitant to explore the new area for a couple days because they are hesitant to cross were that original wire was. This is why we recommend actual gates between pasture without electric wire to encourage the hogs to move between pastures more easily. . Follow us for more tips and tricks and let us know what your experience with fencing in livestock has been in the comments! . . . #valrayfarm #armstrongcountypa #pafarm #pafarmer #kittanningpa #westernpafarm #firstgenerationfarmers #pigfarmers #pigfarm #farmtips #farmingtipsandtricks #livestockfarming #livestockfencing #livestockfence #pigfence #homesteadtips #homesteading
🌎 Happy Earth Day 🌎 This year we challenge you to start growing your own food. Not only do you get fresh quality produce from planting your own food but it also reduces our carbon footprint, purifies the air, and boosts biodiversity. So for your health and the health of our planet consider planting your own food. #earthday2022 #earthdayeveryday #earthday🌎 #earthdayiseveryday #earthdayappreciation #valrayfarm #firstgenerationfarmer #firstgenerationfarmers #growyourfood #armstrongcountypa #westernpafarm
RIP Wilbur 💔 He had a rough start to life but he thrived after the first couple weeks. We didn't expect his life to be so short. He took a part of our hearts with him. . . . #farmerscare #valrayfarm #firstgenerationfarmer #piglet🐷 #pigletlove #mylittlebuddy
5 Top Tips For Loading Hogs onto the Trailer: 1. Introduce the hogs to the trailer before you need to transport them. I would recommend at least a couple weeks. 2. Feed the pigs on the trailer. If your pigs are very social like ours they may even follow you up the trailer with a bucket of feed. 3. Setup the trailer so you have a gradual slope for them to walk up. Also having them out on pastures with a gradual incline helps getting them used to it. 4. Add a stall mat to the trailer ramp. Some hogs won't mind walking up the ramp without a mat but others do. 5. It's easier to load all the hogs onto the trailer and guide the ones you don't need back off than trying to pull the one you want onto the trailer. Also having great friends that wouldn't mind lending a hand is always a bonus. ⬇️ Leave us some of your top tips below ⬇️ . . . . . #firstgenerationfarmers #pigfarmers #pigfarm #pigfarming #pigfarmingplatform #westernpafarm #farmingtips #farmingtipsandtricks #farmtips #idahopasturepig #idahopasturepigs #pastureraised #pastureraisedpork #valrayfarm
"If America could be once again, a nation of self-reliant farmers, craftsmen, hunters, ranchers, and artists then the rich would have little power to dominate others. Neither to serve or rule. That was the American dream." Keep the dream alive. Shop Local. Bring power back to the people. Support your communities. #valrayfarm #westernpa #westernpafarm #firstgenerationfarmers #growyourownfood #locallygrown #shoplocal #farmers #craftsmen #ranchers #artists #theamericandream #selfsufficiency #selfreliance #smallbusinessowner #smallbusinesssupporter
Did you know you can support Local businesses without spending a penny? - Like a post - Share a post -Tell your friends - Leave a review - Tag a friend who would enjoy their products. The more money we spend supporting our local businesses the more money we put back into our communities. #valrayfarm #supportlocalbusiness #supportlocalfarmers #shoplocally #eatlocallygrown #spendlocal #enjoylocal #givebacktoyourcommunity #westernpafarm #westernpa #firstgenerationfarmers #pigfarm