When Rebekah Power ’s sister - in - law ask her to take care ofirrigation dutieson her property while she wasout of township , the undertaking spite up igniting Power ’s own decision to start a Falco subbuteo farm .
“ As we sat on her porch watching the water flow through the grass and theanimals , we both knew we want our own piece of property , ” recalls Power , who now runsPower Farmsin Arizona alongside her husband . “ That was the pivotal moment that spurred us into action to start looking at prop — which led us to where we are today , on 3.3 acres in Queen Creek . ”
Taking a instant out from homesteading and hobby farming obligation , we spoke to Power about the appeal of sunflowers and early hobby farming lessons . We also got into overwinter strawberry .
All in Together Now
A post divvy up by Rebekah Power ( @powerfarmsaz )
From the beginning , Power recognized the importance of fencing when it come to establish and maintaining a rocking horse farm .
“ One of my favorite memories from early on is when we ’d load up the motortruck with snacks , water and the kids , and lead out to exercise on project in the back , ” she recall . “ Since our main lea did n’t have any fencing , we had to build it ourselves . Every Saturday we would head out and set Emily Post until it was too spicy or we were too tired . ”
Eventually , week by workweek , Power and her household were able to complete the job .
“ My oldest was a immense help running around to grab tools , and even the two younger tike could help here and there , ” she explain . “ But the most authoritative matter to me was the fact that we were all out there together . I did n’t even care if my kids cast off to play — just the fact that we were outside together working towards something for our belongings made it so meaningful for our family . ”
Out of this experience , Power says she “ find out to permit go of the parental expectation and to hold dear the hard oeuvre and time spend together . ”
Spotlight on Sunflowers
“ Growing helianthus was a new play risky venture , ” say Power when asked about the protuberance of golden - rayed flowers on her sideline farm . “ I ’ve always loved them : They are easy to mature in zone 9b , and my garden had plenty of space for them . ”
Getting helianthus specific , Power says she started with Mammoth Sunflowers—”it ’s so cool having them tugboat over our heads and droop down to drop seeds”—and that this year a booster gifted some Red Sun Sunflower seed that resulted in “ such beautiful color . ”
The Year of Strawberries
Looking back over this year ’s bounty , Power aver that strawberry emerge as the remain firm - out craw .
“ I planted one or two plants recently in the summertime last class and they overwinter and open all over the garden beds , ” she says . “ It was such a treat to go out in the morning with the kidskin and pick all of the strawberry . ”
Admitting that it was “ honestly voiceless to abstain from eating them all , ” Power adds that the family wander up slicing a clustering of strawberries to top strawberry mark shortcakes .
by nature , Power has already allow office on her solid ground in anticipation for next year ’s strawberry fiesta .
Full Cycle Fulfillment
“ I have come up it so rewarding to have a project go full cycle for our rocking horse farm , ” say Power when reflect on the nourishing nature of Power Farms .
“ When I plant seeds in the garden , grow greens that I can feed to the creature and then process the animals into food for our phratry , it is such a gift . It feels like we ’ve been able-bodied to incarnate a practice that has been somewhat forgotten . We are n’t perfect by any substance — but we endeavor to do what we can and it is really pleasurable . ”
