Lasting Impressions on the Farm

Happy Firsts

2012-01-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

It's a lovely time of year here at the farm. Lots of thinking and dreaming and planning.

AND this week marks the start of many fun activities. Yesterday I planted my third batch of microgreens. This is a new part of my winter gardening and eating. I've been learning with every batch, sharing the crop both as gifts and as extras for sale. The bottom line on microgreens is that they taste great! This batch includes Green Wave mustard, Dwarf Grey Sugar peas, Red Russian kale, Arugula, and for the FIRST time: radishes and basil.

Freshly planted microgreens

FIRST planting for the 2012 garden (not the hoophouse): I planted leeks, onions and parsley. These are last year's seeds so they may be a bust but fresh seed is ~~on its way~~ here. For the hoophouse I planted: broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes. Probably I am jumping the gun on the tomatoes but I couldn't resist. It turns out that I do not have any determinate tomato seeds so I will probably choose some and plant again in a couple of weeks. The plan is to plant early tomatoes, intercropped with head lettuce plants, in part of the hoophouse. In theory they will be an early, quick crop and the tomato plants will be pulled out to make room for other vegetables in the early summer. SO, I am realizing as I write this that I had better make sure I grow determinate types for this experiment as otherwise it will be torturous and possibly silly to pull the plants out when I need the space, if they are still bearing.

Kale, chard and kolrabi for the hoophouse

FIRST predators of 2012: The night after planting, mice attacked the seeds that were unprotected by covers. Tonight everything will be covered, except for the mouse traps!

Mice like brassica seeds.

Tomorrow morning I'll be planting my FIRST seeds in the hoophouse - mesclun, lettuce, snow peas, sweet peas and fava beans.

And today I got my FIRST seed order of the year in the mail. I am one happy farmer.

2012 FARM SHARES ARE ON SALE!

2012-01-05T18:25:00.001-04:00

For information about the FARM SHARES go to the CSA BLOGTHANKS!

FINISHING THE HOOPHOUSE

2012-01-05T10:52:00.001-04:00

We finished the hoophouse a few weeks ago. Mostly it was done on December 10. Since then I have been reading and dreaming and planning the crops I want to try out in there and when and where to plant them. It's a lot of fun. Here is an update on the process of finishing the structure. It's awesome!Building the end walls and doors

Rob worked all day until dark. Here he is attaching the side rails at dusk.

Finishing the east wall early Sunday morning.

Friends came over to help us get it together.Installing the side rails, taping rough spots with duct tape, finishing the walls, etc.Thank goodness for friends!

Rob consults with TOM (our mentor and friend at Dancing Bear Farm)

Rolling out the plastic.

Big gap here while we folded the plastic in two and hoisted it over the hoophouse frame. No picture taking possible!Luckily it was a calm day.

Plastic is essentially in place. Phew.

Newest farm member Linnie and former farm intern Heather survey the hoophouse.

Helper Sam.

The new inside view.

A few days later, Robin tilled inside the hoophouse. (mid December)

Plastic snugged down for the winter.

Designer, foreman and construction crew, Robin.

Up and running.

Plastic puffed out by air blown between the the double walls.

Blower

Beds laid out and prepped for planting. (Looking west.)So far I have planted sorrel, daffodils, dahlias, glads. Kale, chard, kolrabi, and mustard greens started in the house to be transplanted in a few weeks.

Looking east. Resting and thinking area. Tool storage and later there will be a potting table.

My sons. Thank you for this wonderful gift, guys.

More hoophouse progress - day 2 construction

2011-12-05T08:31:00.000-04:00

Hoops up. Perloins up. All hoops, perloins drilled and screwed together and to the wood base. Hose clamps at the crossings.

Click here FOR MORE PICTURES

LET THE HOOPHOUSE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE!

2011-12-03T17:50:00.000-04:00

Laying out the bottom boards.

First hoop.

Side pipes up.

Design and construction crew.

One of many supervisors.

LET THE HOOPHOUSE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN!

2011-12-03T12:26:00.000-04:00

Big excitement around here. Robin is starting to build the hoophouse! He's been researching and gathering materials for months. Now the actually building is started and it looks awesome so far!

Early August in pictures

2011-08-22T16:12:00.004-04:00

Farm News in Pictures

2011-07-06T15:59:00.004-04:00

Baby chicks born Sunday, July 3. One day old in picture.

Black currant, approximately 10% of the total harvest.

Scarlet Runner beans in full bloom.

Future cherry tomatoes.

Young fava beans.

Bees buzzing contentedly in the milkweed.

Pullets in the chick house.

Green hazelnuts, the first in several years.

The first of the raspberries!

The field all mulched, potatoes, plum tomatoes, winter squash.

Farming WEEK # 2 - Day 10

2011-06-07T21:30:00.003-04:00

Monday, May 30
Extra farm day

Finally cooking the chicken I defrosted a couple of days ago. No time to cook!
Chickens - the Wyandotte rooster hopped the fence. By using food and hens as lures I got him into the smaller north chicken yard. So no rooster wars and no mixing the breeds outside of our breeding plan.
Planted the rest of the plum tomatoes. The ones from last night look amazingly settled in.
Planted 45 feet of Jumbo Pink Banana winter squash, for people and for chickens
Planted 1 1/2 rows of potatoes - Red Norland and Yukon Gold. Cut the rest of the Yukon Gold for later.
Lots of mosquitos!
3 quick blog posts about the last 3 days.
10:30 - I need breakfast!
Planted 75 feet of soybeans - Envy and Butterbeans
Filled in summer squashes where the transplants didn't take well.
Next year: Don't plant early squash inside, instead plant them outside with protection.
Started weeding the south end of the west garden
Break. Fold laundry.
CSA email and blog post.
Hit my energy wall. I guess 10 days straight of farming tuckered me out.
Rest...

PLANTED THIS MORNING

PLANTED LAST EVENING

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 9

2011-05-30T10:34:00.001-04:00

Sunday, May 29

Bath at last!
Chickens. Dishes.
Set out moonflower seedlings.
Planted 50 feet of winter squash, 11 varieties.
Set out 20 Rubine sprout plants.
There's room for some head lettuce, arugula and cilantro between the winter squashes.
Decided to set the rest of the sprouts in the spinach beds.
Decided to set the celery in the quicks bed.
Watered seedlings.
Thinned radishes.
Lunch and rest break.
Watered flower seedlings - oops, they were a bit limp.
Marked the rows and started planting 38 plum tomatoes - Gilbertie, Speckled Roman, Super San Marzano, Roman Candle, Black Plum, Orange Banana

Starting to both feel the weariness of day after day planting but also feel like I am creeping up on completing the main planting. I may just be hallucinating.

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 8

2011-05-30T10:31:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 28

Egg email
Sarah worked today. Dug sod in the eggplant area
Farm member Desiree worked today. Pulled big weeds in the cut flower garden and started a compost heap near it.
THANK YOU, DESIREE!
Spread fertilizer and lime in the cut flowers and eggplant
Got a phone call from Atlanta, Georgia about delivering a birthday surprise
Picked for the birthday, arranged, photoed and delivered
Emailed Paula about extra tomatoes
Paula and Karen came and got 5 plants and some eggs
Nancy came and bought eggs. Ruby scared woodchucks by peeing around the yard
Spread chicken compost (from their pen) on the eggplant and cuke area
Robin tilled the kale, shell beans, part of the field (tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins) and the cut flower garden.
Tiller broke down...
Fertilizer to cukes.
Planted 22 feet of Cross Country cukes
More compost, lime and fertilizer to eggplant.
Set out 42 eggplant and 60 sweet peppers.

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 7

2011-05-30T10:30:00.000-04:00

Friday, May 27

Blog post about yesterday
Went on a phone calling rampage
Arranged to borrow a tiller, ordered straw, left a message about manure, and ordered 7 fruit trees!
Expected trees (all dwarf) - quince, sour cherry, seckel pear, 2 sweet cherries and 2 pears
Talked to Kenny about farming. He recommends a daily siesta. They have lunch and naptime every day.
Recorded tomato layout
Robin set out the hot peppers.

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 6

2011-05-27T06:26:00.003-04:00

Thursday, May 26

So busy today. Share # 1!
Picked spinach and lettuce.
Cleaned up the vegetable prep area
Moved the chicken fence to improve access to the eggplant area
Sarah came and finished planting the salad tomatoes!
Dishes
Divided and prepped the shares.
Set up the shares by the garage.
Blog posts and farm share picture to FB
2:40 time for lunch
clean up from picking
pick up worked
Sort of took the afternoon off, tidying up inside, at least it felt like time off. Maybe that's because I didn't deliver the shares. Staying home and following through right away felt like goofing off.
farm visitors
rhubarb crisp, pick salad greens and broccoli side shoots
Robin came up and almost immediately started mowing the grass
Started hoeing the west garden

SARAH PLANTING TOMATOES

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 5

2011-05-26T13:38:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, May 25

called Martin Farm about compost, still not available, call next week...
blog post for Tuesday
Sarah came!
SB-A dug the flower border for the PYO, almost done
We cleared the upper tomato area, moved rocks, a few plants, excess composted chicken bedding and weeds
Composted chicken bedding to red raspberries
Moved eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and flowers to their planting areas
Spread plastic and agrabon to dry in the SUN!
Picked up a small refrigerator at a friend's house (for eggs)
Sorted tomatoes for planting - 15 cherry, 30 big, 15 medium
Rest. Food. Tea.
Planted 30 tomatoes.
Picked rhubarb and flowers at Karen's house
That's enough for me for one day.

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 4

2011-05-25T12:11:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, May 24

called Community Action about the electrical savings program
emailed Half and Full Share people
blog post about day 3
bookkeeping
one tree peony bud is starting to show pink!
set up the coop for chicks, new bedding, water, feeder, and set up the separating wall
moved the chicks to the coop
cleaned up chick mess on the porch
bath!
singing!

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 3

2011-05-24T08:17:00.004-04:00

Monday, May 23

Fed the chickens
Dishes
Consulted with Karen about rhubarb and moonflowers
Blog post
CSA email and blog post (this took a long time!)
Arranged a trade for an apartment sized frig - Yay!
Called Community Action about an electrical savings program.
Set up 15 teepees and planted pole beans - Rattlesnake, Goldmarie, Green Annellino, Annellino Giallo, Garden of Eden, Gold of Bacau, Kentucky Blue, Stortino, Northeaster, Neckergold, Kentucky Wonder and Kentucky Wonder Yellow Wax
Set out Tithonia plants
Planted the strawberry tower with Honeyoye strawberries.

(I am interested in learning more about growing fruit under cover. I got this strawberry tower a few years ago from Raintree Nursery. I tried it out but didn't water it regularly enough. Trying again this year. For more information, see All Season Fruit Company)

Hemming and hawing about what to plant next to the pole beans - cow peas? soybeans? cukes?
Looked for upcoming crops. Picked the first little radish!
Knitting, old BBC Sherlock Holmes, sleeping in the armchair

D'AVIGNON RADISH - MAY 23, 2011

FARMING WEEK # 2 - Day 2

2011-05-23T11:17:00.004-04:00

I LOVE YOU, ANNIE.

Sunday, May 22

Ann's birthday
Blog post
A few farm photos to FB
Yesterday I checked the planted bush beans and was pleased to find sprouting beans under the soil. Phew. There was a chance that the rain would have rotted them.
I've been clipping the wings on various escapee chickens. Yesterday none of them jumped the fence...
Dishes, breakfast, laundry
Bookkeeping
Laundry # 2, 3, 4
Planted bush beans - Royal Burgandy 55d, Dragon, Annellino di Trento, 25 feet each with fertilizer and inoculant
Used the broad fork in the pole bean area and decided to let it sit for a day before planting. In theory, to dry out a bit.
RAIN
Hoed the extra early tomatoes and planted 50 feet of New Zealand spinach and Crackerjack marigolds in the same bed. I am hoping that the NZ spinach will turn into a living mulch.
Toured the whole garden thinking about the farm shares.
The field is pretty wet but I think I will be able to set out tomatoes at the upper edge.
I am getting a bit tired of the rain BUT it is a lovely change from drought.
Supper, movie, knitting, fold clothes, sleep

LETTUCE AND KALE AND ENDIVE - READY TO PICK

FARMING WEEK # 2

2011-05-22T05:59:00.003-04:00

ANCONA CHICK - 2 1/2 WEEKS OLD - NEW FAVORITE ACTIVITY

Day 1 - Saturday, May 21

Hurray! Home again for a week straight with a chance of getting the planting in hand! I am not too, too, too badly behind to start out. Only the parsnips need planting of the early things and there is some transplanting and pruning that never got done but, hey, there's a lot that is checked off the list and in a timely fashion. AND my farm helper/working farm member/intern/nice person has arrived home from college and started working 3 mornings each week. Amazing. It is so encouraging to have someone around with whom I can talk over plans and share the to-do list! Thank you, Sarah! (And thank you, Robin, for all your help year round, including the listening and idea sharing. Plus the carpentering, tilling, mowing and now, chain sawing. I am sure am lucky you like doing that kind of thing!)

On the downside, it's been so rainy this month. The soil is wet and it isn't good to work it or walk on it when it's so wet. So I have to be patient. There is plenty to do, both inside and out but the main thing, the planting, sometimes just can't be done. Rain does help me to pace myself, which is good for my joints, muscles and general energy level. I just can't work those 12 hour days gardening any more. It makes me too sore and wiped out and then I lose work time. So, I try to be smart about it. (I had a birthday last week and I feel fine. Pretty darn spry for a 59 year old lady.)

EARLY LETTUCE, CABBAGE, RED RUSSIAN KALE, KOLRABI, ENDIVE, BROCCOLI

So the details for Saturday:
Called Sarah to give her the day off because it was RAINING so hard.
Moved the eggplant, peppers, basil, and frost sensitive flowers outside to harden off.
Inventoried the eggplant, peppers and tomatoes.
Inventoried the spaces I have for those plants.
Analyzed the above. It turns out that I only have 8 extra tomato plants. (I haven't figured out the others yet.) The plums will all fit in the field in 3 rows and the salad tomatoes will all fit in the PYO section and the upper garden.
Filled two more bags of trash, loaded the car, and went to the landfill with yet another load of junk from the garage. The garage floor is appearing!
By this time, the SUN was shining.
It kept shining while I was in town and through lunch at home. Then, when I started work, RAIN!
New bedding for the chicks. Admired chicks.
Weeded, fertilized, limed the PYO tomato bed. Planted 9 different tomatoes, mostly cherries. Mulched them.
Uncovered the early brassicas and lettuce tunnel. Uncovered the extra early tomato tunnel.
The RAIN stopped. CLOUDY.
Fertilized the early brassica beds and set out summer squash plants in between the brassicas.
SUN
Worked on the pea fence.
RAIN
Marked the rows for 3 more rows of bush beans.
CLOUDY

Basically the weather kept changing all day and my orientation kept changing along with it. I am really glad I got some plants in the ground. More tomorrow!
Watched "Sherlock" and really liked it although I fell asleep during the second episode.

PYO VARIETIES: BLACK CHERRY, SWEET MILLION, SUPER SNOW WHITE, SUN GOLD, LEMON DROP, YELLOW PEAR, BLACK PEAR, JAUNNE FLAMME, PINK PING PONG

Chicks!

2011-05-04T10:49:00.002-04:00

FARM WEEK - DAY 7

2011-05-04T06:42:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite daffodils - giant sized and easy to see up in the orchard.

Monday, May 2

oops, stiff again
dishes, bills,
blogging catch up
planted Swiss chard, 225 feet
watered seedlings
low energy today
planted leaf lettuce, 180 feet
planted spinach, 225 feet
planted a bunch of in a "nursery area" - a spot when I can grow up some seedlings outside and then move them, hopefully a spot where they are protected, safe and easy to care for - Fennel, kolrabi, sorrel, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, 5 kinds of scallions, four-o-clocks, 12 kinds of head lettuce

I am glad I pushed through my tired, low energy wall! Lots more to go on another day.
Back to gardening on my days off. This week's goals: set out the onions and leeks, plant parsnips and early flowers, prune and transplant raspberries, catch up on indoor planting and CSA communications, and oh yes!, twenty day old chicks are coming!

Nursery area

FARM WEEK - DAY 6

2011-05-02T09:55:00.003-04:00

Saturday, April 30

Robin set up the new breeding chicken house and fenced and moved the Wyandottes into it!
Went downtown, including a visit to the Farmers' Market to see how people set up their stalls, etc.
Bought conduit to make tunnels and used David's bender tool. It worked great and made me feel like Superwoman. As in "Able to bend steel with her bare hands and the right tool!" Thank you, David!

David of Rainbow Harvest Farm and his tomato plants at the Greenfield Farmers' Market.
Made a tunnel and set out tomatoes, using "Wall of Waters" to protect them even further.
Slowly clearing out the garage for csa pick ups and general home improvement. It's getting better bit by bit.

slept like a log

FARM WEEK - DAY 5

2011-05-02T09:32:00.003-04:00

Friday, April 29

Can you see the Scarlet Runner Bean seeds?

ordered compost from Bear Path Farm
planted beets
many farm visitors - all fun and helpful, including the loan of a working tiller and advice on our not-working one, the return of a repaired light fixture and a possible repair arrangement for our tiller, the sale of eggs, and the sale of more eggs and a CSA payment, parts for my electronic assembly job, and visits with a bunch of nice folks in the spring sunshine!
dug for spinach and carrots

planted a bean teepee with Scarlet Runner Beans, just 'cause I felt like it. If they don't come up, I have a bunch more seed.

Finished bean teepee. Notice the handprints - speaking of lasting impressions...

FARM WEEK - DAY 4

2011-05-02T09:28:00.002-04:00

Thursday, April 28
rainy day

blog post, learned a bit about improving the blogs, added search bars, followers and send email updates
seedlings look happy so far. Sweet peas coming up.
Bought farm stuff - pea fence, fertilizer, grain
Set up pea fence

Basically I was a bit frustrated and cranky on Thursday. I had some work to do that kept me indoors and at home for what felt like way too long. BUT, it's now done. Next farm week: Make sure ALL my money earning work is up to date so I really can focus on the farm and choose what I want to do EVERY day!

FARM WEEK - Day 3

2011-04-28T06:21:00.003-04:00

Eggs are plentiful.

Wednesday, April 27
cloudy, mild

I feel very slow and stiff today.
washed pots from transplanting
saw a big (pregnant?!) woodchuck in the front yard. It scooted into the wood shed.
moved chicken fence so their yard does not include flower garden and new vegetable patch
dishes, laundry, floor - a bit of a catch up
planted two beds of quick crops - radishes, turnips, cilantro, arugula, dill, Extra Dwarf pak choy, pea shoots
planted one bed of early greens - 3 kinds of mustard, turnip greens, cutting chicory, endive
cultivated garlic beds

I am seeing a fair number of worms this year! Very encouraging.
Some of the Giant Winter spinach survived the winter. Also some self-sown head lettuces. Susan's Red Bibb?

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow morning so I can plant more. Lots more to do!

Copra onion seedlings. These will get planted next week.

2011 CROPS

2011-04-27T18:56:00.001-04:00

This a list of all crops for 2011. I am listing them in groups by type. (tomatoes, spinach, kale, etc.) and each variety will be followed by its "days to maturity", if known, (ie 70d) and its planting date(s). If the planting date is in a parenthesis then it was planted inside. If the date has a T next to it (like T4/25) that means I transplanted it on that date, either from indoors or from elsewhere in the garden. I'll add to the list from time to time, as I plant and I'll try to continue for the whole season this year.

As of today (April 27) it just has outdoor planting dates. I've been planting inside for months.

Arugula
Rocket 4/27
Beans – Pole - Goldmarie, Kentucky Wonder, Garden of Eden, Northeaster, Green Annellino, Yellow Annellino, Scarlet Runner
Beans – Bush - Anellino di Trento, Provider, Royal Burgandy, Dragon Tongue
Beans – Shell Pole
Beans - Shell Bush
Beets - Early Wonder Tall Top
Broccoli – Purple Peacock, Apollo, Fiesta
Brussel Sprouts – Rubine
Cabbage - Melissa, Deadon, Ruby Perfection
Carrot
Cauliflower - Snow Crown
Celery - Tango
Chard
Chives - Chinese
Chinese Cabbage
Cutting Chicory - Endive Riccia – Romanesco Da Taglio
Collards - Champion
Corn – Painted Mountain
Corn Salad - Vit 4/27
Cowpeas - California Blackeye
Cucumber - Slicing - Diva
Cucumber - Pickling - Cross Country, Wautoma
Eggplant - Millionaire, Orient Express, Galine
Endive
Escarole Blonde Full Heart 4/27
Roman Cutting 4/27
Fava beans - Windsor
Fennel - Zefa Fino
Garlic - Sevilla Sunset (for 2012)
Kale - Winterbor, Red Russian, White Russian, Toscano, Red Chidori
Kolrabi - Kolibri
Leeks - Lexton, Giant Musselburgh
Lettuce – Head - Forellenschluss
Lettuce – Head -Bibb - Buttercrunch
Lettuce – Leaf -
Black Seeded Simpson 4/25
Merlot 4/25
Tango,
Red Fire,
Green Salad Bowl
Red Salad Bowl 4/25
Gentilina 4/25
Catalogna,
Lollo Rossa
Mesclun -
Lime Streaked Mizuna,
Endive Frisee Ruffec 4/25
White Russian Kale,
Red Russian Kale 4/25
Wild Fennel,
Golden Frilled Mustard 4/25
Bull's Blood Beet,
Mizuna,
Wrinkled Crinkled Cress 4/25
Ruby Streaks Mustard,
Scarlet Frills Mustard,
Chinese Thick Stem Mustard
Red Garnet Mustard 4/25
Mustard Greens -
Osaka Purple 4/27
Green Wave 4/27
Garnet Giant
Tainong Emperor Heading 4/27
Okra - Millionaire
Onions – Bunching/Walking - Shimonita, Guardsman, Red Welsh, Flagpole
Onions - Redwing, Copra, Ailsa Craig
Pak Choy - Extra Dwarf Pak Choy 4/27
Parsnip - Javelin
Peas - Shell -Green Arrow, Maestro 4/26
Peas - Snow - Mammoth Melting Sugar
Peas - Snap - Sugarsnap 4/26
Pea Shoots - Dwarf Grey Sugar 4/27
Peppers – Hot - El Jefe, Lemon Drop, Hungarian Hot Wax, Pasilla Bajo, Hot Portugal, Holy Moly, Ancho Magnifico
Peppers – Sweet - Ace, Golden Marconi, Astor, Red Marconi, Sweet Chocolate, Orange Bell
Potatoes
Pumpkin - Big – Howden
Pumpkin - Pie – Long Pie
Radicchio
Radish – Summer -
D'Avignon 4/27
Cherriette 4/27
Radish - Winter - Misato Rose
Soybeans - Envy, Butterbeans
Spinach - Tyee, Giant Winter, New Zealand
Squash – Summer - Zephyr, Romanesco, Crookneck, Rampicante/Tromboncino, Bennings Green Tint Scallop
Squash – Winter – Marina di Chioggia, Delicata, Burgess Buttercup, Galeux d'Eysines, Jumbo Pink Banana, PA Dutch Crookneck, Sibley, Sweet Mama, Amish Pie, Guatemalan Blue Banana, Musquee de Provence
Tomatillo - Green
Tomato – Cherry/Small -Black Cherry, Super Snow White, Lemon Drop, Black Prince, Sungold, Black Pear, Jaune Flamme, Pink Ping Pong
Tomato – Paste - Black Plum, Amish Paste, Striped Roman, Orange Banana, Speckled Roman, Roman Candle, Gilbertie
Tomato – Salad - Paul Robeson, Pruden's Purple, Sunkist, Black Zebra, Pearl's Yellow Pink, Sorrento, Rose D'Berne, Amazon Chocolate, Mortgage Lifter, Everetts Rusty Oxheart
Turnip - Summer -
Hakarei 4/27
Turnip greens - Rapa Senza Testa 4/27

FLOWERS
Calendula - Resina
Cosmos - Sea Shells, Sensation Mix
Drumstick
Lisianthus - Pink Cinderella
Marigold - Lemon Gem, Kilimanjaro, Crackerjack Mix, Harlequin
Moonflower
Nasturium - Jewel Mix
Sunflowers –
Strawflowers - Mix
Sweet Peas - Old Spice, Henry Eckford, Blanche Ferry, Beaujolais
Sweet William
Tithonia - Torch
Verbena boniensis
Zinnia – Red Spider

HERBS
Basil -Thai, Lettuce Leaf, Rosie, Red Rubin
Borage
Cilantro 4/27
Dill - Hercules 4/27
Parsley – Curly -Forest Green
Sorrel

**************
2010

This a list of all crops for 2010. I am listing them in groups by type. (tomatoes, spinach, kale, etc.) and each variety will be followed by its "days to maturity", if known, (ie 70d) and its planting date(s). If the planting date is in a parenthesis then it was planted inside. I'll add to the list from time to time, as I plant. Depending on who you are, this could be riveting or incredibly boring. This is the kind of thing I love.

(Includes what has been planted through May 6; lots more to follow!)

ARUGULA
Rocket 47d 4/4 4/15 5/5
Sylvetta 50d 4/15

ASIAN VEGETABLES
Chinese Broccoli - Candlestick Gai Lan 4/21

BEETS
Bull's Blood 5/2
Chioggia 4/2 5/2
Flat of Egypt 4/2 5/2
Golden 5/2
Red Ace 4/2
Touchstone Gold 4/2 5/2

BRASSICAS
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Diablo (4/29)
Falstaff (4/29)
Franklin (4/29)
Long Island Improved (4/29)
Roodnerf (4/29)
CAULIFLOWER
Fremont 62d (3/12)
Chedder (3/12)
BROCCOLI
Gypsy 58d (3/12)
Beaumont 75d (3/12)
Veronica 85d (4/28)
CABBAGE
Deadon 105d (4/28)
Late Flat Dutch 100d (4/28)
Ruby Ball 78d (3/12)
Savoy Ace 70d/80d? (3/27)
Savoy Perfection 90d (4/28)
Storage #4 95d (4/28)
KOLRABI
Gigante 130d (4/29)
Kolibri (3/12)
Korridor (3/12) 4/11
Winner 45d (3/28) 4/11

CARROTS
Adelaide 4/2 5/2
Amarillo 70d 4/2
Mokum 54d 4/2 5/2
Napoli 58d 4/2
Nelson 56d 4/2 5/2
Purple Haze 73d 4/2 5/2
Yellow Sun 5/2

CELERY
Tango (3/12)

FAVA BEANS
Grand Violetto 4/12
Supersette 100d 4/12
Windsor 4/12 4/23

FENNEL
Mantovano (3/17)

GREENS
COLLARDS
Champion 60d (3/17) 4/15

CORN SALAD/MACHE
French 4/40
Jade 50d 4/30
Vit 50d 4/30

ESCAROLE
Bordeaux 65d (3/17)

KALE
Breedy's Camden (3/17) 4/15
Fizz 40d (3/17) 4/15

Rainbow Lacinato (3/17) 4/15
Red Chidori 4/15
Red Russian 50d (3/17) 4/15
Tuscan 62d (3/17) 4/15
White Russian (3/17) 4/15
Winter Red 4/15

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH 4/30

SPINACH
Giant Winter fall 09 4/5 5/1
Joker Asian 4/5
Tyee 4/5 5/1

EGGPLANT (3/12)
Listada de Gandia 80-90d
Ping Tung 70d
Millionaire 54d
Thai Long Green
Thai Long Purple

KOLRABI
Korridor 42d 4/11
Kolibri 4/12
Winner 45d 4/11

LETTUCE
HEAD LETTUCE
BUTTERHEAD
Flashy Butter Oak (4/29)
Grandpa Admire's (4/29)
Key Lime 63d 4/20 (4/29)
Marvel of Four Seasons (3/5)
May Queen (3/17)
North Pole 50d (3/31)
Red Butterworth 4/20 (4/29)
Red Ridinghood 65d 4/20
Trocadero (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Yugoslavian Red Butterhead (3/5)
BIBB
Susan's Red (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)
Buttercrunch 65d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) (4/29)
Summer Bibb 62d (4/29)
Speckled Amish 55d (3/31)
ROMAINE
Cimmaron (3/5)
Claremont 46d 4/20 (4/29)
Crisp Mint 70d (3/5) 4/20
Dazzle 35d (4/29)
Forellenschuss 50d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Jericho 55-60d (4/29)
Plato II 53d 4/20
Red Rosie 56d 4/20
Rouge D'Hiver (3/17)
Dazzle (3/5) (3/17)
Tin Tin 70d (3/31) (4/29)
CRISPHEAD
Anuenue 50d (4/29)
Ciucca (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Crystal 4/20
Reine des Glaces (3/5) 4/20 (4/29)

Continuity (3/5) 4/20
Nevada 48d (4/29)
New York 85d (3/31)
Summertime 68d (4/29)
Webb's Wonderful (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)

LEAF LETTUCE
Black Seeded Simpson 46d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Cracoviensis 4/2
De Morges Braun 64d 4/2
Gentilina 4/2
Italienisher 55d 4/2
Lollo Bionda 46d 4/2
Lollo de Vino 56d 4/2
Mascara 4/2
New Red Fire 51d 4/2
Red Sails 45d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Red Salad Bowl 28/51d 4/15
Revolution 4/2
Rouge D'Hiver 28/58d 4/15
Royal Oak Leaf 50d 4/2
Ruby 4/2
Salad Bowl 28/49d 4/15 5/5
Tango 45d 4/2

MESCLUN
(My mesclun includes these items plus whatever else is tender and tasty, changing with the season. Kale, chard, mustard, spinach, radish thinnings, and more.)

Agano Mustard 4/16
Chicoria Spadona da Taglo 4/16
Chicoria Zuccherina Di Trieste 4/16
Endive Frisee Neos 45d 4/16
Giant Garnet Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Golden Frills Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Komatsuma Tendergreen 4/16
Mizuna 21/40d 4/16
Purple Mizuna 21/40 4/16
Red Komatsuma 21/31 4/16
Red Russian kale 25/50d 4/16
Ruby Streaks Mustard 21/40d 4/16
Senposai 40d 4/16
Upland Cress 50d 4/16
White Russian Kale 4/16
Wrinkled Crrinkled Cress 4/16
Yukina Savoy 21/45d 4/16

OKRA
Millionaire 50d (3/17)

ONIONS
Giant Musselburgh Leeks (3/5)
Prizetaker Leek (3/12)
Shimonita Asian Onions (3/5)

PARSNIPS
Half Long Guernesey 4/4
Javelin 4/4
Andover ___? 5/5

PAK CHOY
Extra Dwarf 4/21

PEAS
Canoe 53d 4/21
Carouby De Maussane snap peas 4/11
Dwarf Grey Sugar (for shoots) 32d 4/20
Green Arrow 65d 4/12
Maestro 4/12 4/25
Mr. Big 58d 4/11
Oregon Giant Snow 4/25

PEPPERS
HOT PEPPERS (3/12)
Ancho Magnifico
El Jefe
Thai Red Chili
Pasilla Bajio
Georgia Flame
Romanian Hot
Hungarian Hot Wax
Big Bomb
Joe's Cayenne

SWEET PEPPERS (3/12)
King of the North
Quadrato D'Asti Rosso
Quadrato D'Asti Gialo
Gourmet
Buran
Lipstick
Orange Bell
Wonder Bell
Jimmy Nardello
Sweet Chocolate
Ace
Yummy
Antohi Romanian
Chervena Chuska

POTATOES
Banana Fingerling 4/2 (bin)
Kennebec 5/5
Red Norland 4/2 (bin)
Superior 4/2 (bin)
Yukon Gold 5/5

RADISHES
Brightest Breakfast 28d 5/2 5/5
Crunchy Royale 28d 4/2 5/2 5/5
D'Avigon 21d 4/2 5/2
Ravenello 19d 4/2 4/4 5/2 5/5
Roodkapje 4/2
Zlata 30 4/2

SQUASH
SUMMER
Black Zucchini 50d 5/6
Costada Romanesco 52d (3/28) 5/6
Horn of Plenty 45d (3/28)
Magda 48d (3/28) 5/6
Trompacino 60d 5/6
Zephyr 54d (3/28) 5/6

TOMATOES (3/17)
QUICK
Beaverlodge 55d
Early Cascade 62d
Moskvich 60d
Red Sun 72d

PASTE
Amish Paste
Black Plum
Polish Linguisa
Scatoline
Striped Roman
Super Marzano

SMALL
Black Cherry
Blondkopfchen
Green Grape
Peacevine
Sungold
Sweet Million
Yellow Pear
Zebra Cherry

SLICING
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Bear Creek
Black From Tula
Black Giant
Carmello
Cherokee Purple
Crinkovic
Dad's Sunset
Green Zebra
Malakuhitovya
Marmande
Pantano Romanesco
Paul Robeson
Pink Grapefruit
Pruden's Purple
Santa Crus Kada
Soldacki
Topaz
Violet Jasper

TOMATILLOS (3/17)
Verde
Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry
Pineapple Ground Cherry

TURNIPS
Gold Ball 45d 4/23
Hakurei 38d 4/4 4/23

FLOWERS
Cosmos -
Rubenza (3/28)
Sea Shells (3/28)
Sensation (3/28)
Old Spice Sweet Peas (3/5) 4/12

Sweet William (3/5)
Canterbury Bells (3/12)
Aureus Yellow Lupine (3/17)
Zulu Prince Cape Daisy (3/17)
Gaillardia Dazzler (3/17)
Ageratum (3/17)
Evening Scented Stock (3/17)
Marigolds -
Crackerjack (3/28)
Harlequin (3/28)
Lemon Gem (3/28)
Orange Hawaii (3/28)
Moonflower (3/27)
Nasturiums - Dwarf Jewel 55-65d 5/1
Sunflowers 3/20
Calendula 3/20
Centaurea 3/20
Zinnias -
Benary's Giant 3/20 (4/21)
Candy Cane (4/21)
Giant Cactus Flowered (4/21)
Red Spider (4/21)
State Fair 90d (4/21)

HERBS
Italian Giant Parsley (3/5)
Basil -
Finissimo Verde A Palla Basil (3/28)
Genovese Basil (3/28)
Lemon Drop Basil (3/28)
Red Lettuce Leaf (4/29)
Red Rubin Basil (3/28)
Sacred Basil (3/28)
Borage 5/2
Cilantro 4/4, 5/5
Dill - Hercules 4/4
Dukat 50-60d 5/5

FARM WEEK - Day 2

2011-04-27T11:27:00.003-04:00

(kale and collards waiting to be set in)

Tuesday, April 26
cloudy in the morning, sun came out for a bit in the mid afternoon, warm, 80d. in Greenfield

bath
called about tiller
called about manure
checked chicken fence line
pruned pepper seedlings
spread composted manure to two beds
set out cauliflower, red cabbage and broccoli
set out kale and collards and Flagpole scallions
planted 1 1/2 # shell peas
went to town
planted 1/2 # Sugar Snap peas in PYO area
set up pea fence and found some more snarly pea fence that needs untangling (!)
pulled last year's kale from this year's leaf lettuce/sweet pepper area
figured out where to plant earlies, spinach, leaf lettuce, first head lettuces, favas
read about compost at Bear Path Farm in Whately

3 hour nap on sofa

(sowing peas)

(planted peas)

APRIL FARM WEEK - Laura stays home to play in the dirt

2011-04-26T19:29:00.002-04:00

I like to give myself the gift of many days in a row at home so I can focus on the farm. Being able to plant and prune and do whatever needs doing for as long as I want to each day makes a big difference in what I can accomplish. Plus, I love it.
This year I have two Farm Weeks planned for spring planting, one this week and one in late May. I hope to set up another one in the fall to clean up the garden and to prepare the earth for next year. It feels so good.

(Daffodils at last!)

Monday, April 25
cloudy, warm, sprinkles all afternoon

checked seedlings, trimmed alliums
checked planting schedule and made an indoor and outdoor list
shifted brassicas and mesclun to their planting out locations
shifted dianthus and alliums to outdoors/tunnel for hardening off
set out mesclun and leaf lettuce plants and planted more of the same
set out 30 cauliflower plants and 12 head lettuce plants
planted calendula resina by the chicken coop
figured out where to plant the kale, soy beans, and the second early broccolis and cabbages
pruned the fall raspberries and the black raspberries
pruned the red currants

(A young Veronica cauliflower plant. Or maybe it's a young Veronica broccoli plant. The seed catalogs don't agree on the name but it will be beautiful, big, lime green and delicious.)

the Sylvetta arugula survived the winter
lots of dianthus/Sweet William made it too

rested

(Lots more work for another day!)

TOMATOES

2011-02-13T09:47:00.010-04:00

Today it is cold and snowy around here. I'll be transplanting onions and leeks this morning after I feed the chickens. Most folks are getting a bit tired of winter. I don't mind too much, but it has been great to have a respite from shoveling this week. (By the way, Thank You! to the town road crew for clearing out the end of my driveway for me. That was a big help and a pleasant surprise.) There's plenty to do inside to get ready for spring. For instance, I am determined to send out an email about the CSA to all my lovely farm members of the past four years! Plus it's a great time to get a bit ahead on the organizing and planning parts of the farm, and the rest of my life!?

Here are some pictures of some of the tomatoes I am growing this year! Beautiful and yummy. I can hardly wait.

Amazon Chocolate

Everetts Rusty Oxheart

Pearl's Yellow Pink

Black Zebra

Sunkist

Rose D'Berne

Sorrento

Pruden's Purple

Paul Robeson

Mortgage Lifter

Seeds and Seedlings

2011-02-05T07:38:00.003-04:00

The most recent shipment of seeds, from Gourmet Seeds

Baby parsley plants

Young Copra onions, freshly trimmed to encourage root growth

Winter

2011-02-02T18:56:00.002-04:00

It's been one snow storm after another around here. Lots of shoveling and staying home. There's always so much to do at home, (and I love being home), so it's not a problem for me. Instead it's a peaceful, quiet time. And there is time for more home projects which today meant ordering seeds! I haven't got the knack of ordering seeds quickly. So it always feels like it takes far too long and by the time I am done I feel pretty bleary. Today I finished!

I enjoy reading the catalogs and thinking about what the harvest will look and taste like if I purchase a particular combination of varieties. I like growing many kinds of vegetables and many varieties of them. It's one reason that having a CSA suits me. More on seeds and garden planning later.

For now, here are a few pictures I took the other morning when I went out to feed the chickens. It was in between storms, a cold, icy morning. I don't recall ever seeing ice crystals like these:

And some turkeys that have been coming around of late:

January 18,2011

2011-01-18T20:09:00.003-04:00

WINTER

Working on the seed order bit by bit. I don't know why it takes me so long to do but it surely does! Today some seeds came in the mail from "Seeds from Italy". Lots of lettuce leaf basil, cutting chicory, annellino beans, and more.

This year I am trying to keep things simple. Just order the amount of seed I really need, only grow vegetables I really like and can grow well, (I hope!), and restrain my desire to grow many, many varieties of every kind of vegetable I can think of.

Discretion. Moderation. Thriftiness. Simplicity. I only wish I could somehow shorten the time needed to be cautious.

Today I finished setting up the plant shelves in their new location in the living room. I think this will work well. It's warmer and sunnier in the new spot. I planted some Shimonita Asian onions yesterday and also started stratifying my echinacea seeds. I decided to use the cold water method described at THIS HELPFUL WEB SITE.

COPRA ONION SEEDLINGS 1/17/11

One kind of seed that came today is Sorrento tomato seeds, described as a large, delicious, pink tomato. I did a bit of research and found that it comes from the Sorrento region of Italy and is used in a very simple and tasty sounding salad called Caprese Salad, a layering of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzerella, and basil leaves dressed with olive oil and salt. One variation uses cannellini beans, which I am also growing this year.

It's a real winter day. Lots of deep snow topped with freezing rain. Loading the stove frequently. Getting dark real early still.

About a week ago I changed the settings on the timer for the chicken coop light. Now the light comes on about 2:30 AM and goes off at 4:00 PM. The idea is to give the chickens "natural twilight". This is supposed to increase their egg production. It may be working!

And, last bit of farm news for today. I called up Doug, my friend and farm member and asked him to help me change the light bulb in my hall ceiling light. The cover was wicked tight and my arthritis was getting in my way. He came by and made it work. (It even took Doug some extra effort.) So the joke for the today is, "How many Leydenites does it take to change a light bulb?" I guess today the answer is two. Thanks, Doug.

CHICKENS IN WINTER

Farming Year Round

2010-12-18T07:34:00.005-04:00

LAST BOUQUET OF THE YEAR - October 20, 2010

CIDER MAKING IN THE KITCHEN
(Which turned out to be a brilliant idea as it was a cold, windy day and the pressing went well into the evening.)

Yes, perhaps it is a bit slower around here lately. At least I know that I am moving slowly. After essentially taking October off to prevent farmer break down, I started regaining my energy and usual good spirits. Phew! And guess what? There was plenty to do around here once I got back on track!

It's been a busy November and December. Stacking wood, cider making, planting garlic, starting to plan the layout of next year's garden, tilling the garden (after fixing the tiller), cleaning out the chicken coop for the winter, saw a moose, and more. Yesterday I ordered my first batch of seeds so I will have my onion and leek seeds ready to plant in January. Today we plan on putting up the Christmas tree but already I have plans to put the seed starting shelves in the same spot once the tree is down. I am grateful and pleased to have my energy and stamina return. Also lucky that the ground stayed open and tillable/plantable so late this year. Also impressed and grateful to Robin for all the help he has given this fall. (Quite a few of the accomplishments listed above were actually the result of his efforts and interest. Thanks, Rob!!)

The fall garden was a delight. I didn't do anything special to keep things going but we still were picking lots of delicious mesclun well into December. Also spinach, daikon radishes, arugula, mustard greens, dill, cilantro, salad turnips. Plenty of encouragement to plant in August next year and put up some tunnels to keep the food going even longer. Spinach and garlic omelets were my favorite breakfast this fall. And the young hens started laying in earnest in September, giving us over 2 dozen eggs a day. The farm egg customer list expanded and so far, I have been able to provide eggs to all who want them. Made a cute sign, too.

EGGS FOR SALE!

Another really cool thing is that out of the blue a young woman who lives in Leyden called to volunteer to work at the farm on a regular basis next season. Hip Hip Hooray! Sarah is a fantastic person and it will be great to have her help and to get to know her better. Thank you, Sarah!!

The farming never stops. I love it.

PLANTING GARLIC FOR 2011
First planting for next year's harvest. 450 feet of garlic. New varieties: Deerfield and Phillips

LATE FALL MESCLUN - PLENTIFUL AND TASTY!
I'll be planting more of this in 2011 for sure.

CLICK HERE for more farm photos.

Garlic Curing

2010-07-25T06:22:00.002-04:00

Somehow this makes me feel more like a real farmer:

Wedding Salad

2010-05-21T15:25:00.005-04:00

Well, I did it! I managed to grow over 8 pounds of salad greens for the wedding tomorrow, as requested. And it was ready on the right day. Part planning, part experience, and part luck. I feel a lot more relaxed just knowing there are 8 pounds of greens all picked and washed and waiting in the frig. Tomorrow I will pick and wash some radishes and then it will time for the wedding!

Congratulations to Allison and Jan- Erik! I wish you joy and health.

After this blogging and tea break, my next project is to take down the poor, sad looking greenhouse frame, (crushed by our last snow storm - two feet of very wet, heavy snow), set up a support fence for the sweet peas, prep the beds for tomatoes and plant pole beans! I am hoping that the tomatoes will be in by late Sunday. We'll see. There is just so much to do right now. And I mean RIGHT NOW!

Thanks for the photo, Sheila!

2010 CROPS

2010-03-27T16:58:00.015-04:00

This a list of all crops for 2010. I am listing them in groups by type. (tomatoes, spinach, kale, etc.) and each variety will be followed by its "days to maturity", if known, (ie 70d) and its planting date(s). If the planting date is in a parenthesis then it was planted inside. I'll add to the list from time to time, as I plant. Depending on who you are, this could be riveting or incredibly boring. This is the kind of thing I love.

(Includes what has been planted through May 6; lots more to follow!)

ARUGULA
Rocket 47d 4/4 4/15 5/5
Sylvetta 50d 4/15

ASIAN VEGETABLES
Chinese Broccoli - Candlestick Gai Lan 4/21

BEETS
Bull's Blood 5/2
Chioggia 4/2 5/2
Flat of Egypt 4/2 5/2
Golden 5/2
Red Ace 4/2
Touchstone Gold 4/2 5/2

BRASSICAS
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Diablo (4/29)
Falstaff (4/29)
Franklin (4/29)
Long Island Improved (4/29)
Roodnerf (4/29)
CAULIFLOWER
Fremont 62d (3/12)
Chedder (3/12)
BROCCOLI
Gypsy 58d (3/12)
Beaumont 75d (3/12)
Veronica 85d (4/28)
CABBAGE
Deadon 105d (4/28)
Late Flat Dutch 100d (4/28)
Ruby Ball 78d (3/12)
Savoy Ace 70d/80d? (3/27)
Savoy Perfection 90d (4/28)
Storage #4 95d (4/28)
KOLRABI
Gigante 130d (4/29)
Kolibri (3/12)
Korridor (3/12) 4/11
Winner 45d (3/28) 4/11

CARROTS
Adelaide 4/2 5/2
Amarillo 70d 4/2
Mokum 54d 4/2 5/2
Napoli 58d 4/2
Nelson 56d 4/2 5/2
Purple Haze 73d 4/2 5/2
Yellow Sun 5/2

CELERY
Tango (3/12)

FAVA BEANS
Grand Violetto 4/12
Supersette 100d 4/12
Windsor 4/12 4/23

FENNEL
Mantovano (3/17)

GREENS
COLLARDS
Champion 60d (3/17) 4/15

CORN SALAD/MACHE
French 4/40
Jade 50d 4/30
Vit 50d 4/30

ESCAROLE
Bordeaux 65d (3/17)

KALE
Breedy's Camden (3/17) 4/15
Fizz 40d (3/17) 4/15

Rainbow Lacinato (3/17) 4/15
Red Chidori 4/15
Red Russian 50d (3/17) 4/15
Tuscan 62d (3/17) 4/15
White Russian (3/17) 4/15
Winter Red 4/15

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH 4/30

SPINACH
Giant Winter fall 09 4/5 5/1
Joker Asian 4/5
Tyee 4/5 5/1

EGGPLANT (3/12)
Listada de Gandia 80-90d
Ping Tung 70d
Millionaire 54d
Thai Long Green
Thai Long Purple

KOLRABI
Korridor 42d 4/11
Kolibri 4/12
Winner 45d 4/11

LETTUCE
HEAD LETTUCE
BUTTERHEAD
Flashy Butter Oak (4/29)
Grandpa Admire's (4/29)
Key Lime 63d 4/20 (4/29)
Marvel of Four Seasons (3/5)
May Queen (3/17)
North Pole 50d (3/31)
Red Butterworth 4/20 (4/29)
Red Ridinghood 65d 4/20
Trocadero (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Yugoslavian Red Butterhead (3/5)
BIBB
Susan's Red (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)
Buttercrunch 65d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) (4/29)
Summer Bibb 62d (4/29)
Speckled Amish 55d (3/31)
ROMAINE
Cimmaron (3/5)
Claremont 46d 4/20 (4/29)
Crisp Mint 70d (3/5) 4/20
Dazzle 35d (4/29)
Forellenschuss 50d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Jericho 55-60d (4/29)
Plato II 53d 4/20
Red Rosie 56d 4/20
Rouge D'Hiver (3/17)
Dazzle (3/5) (3/17)
Tin Tin 70d (3/31) (4/29)
CRISPHEAD
Anuenue 50d (4/29)
Ciucca (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Crystal 4/20
Reine des Glaces (3/5) 4/20 (4/29)

Continuity (3/5) 4/20
Nevada 48d (4/29)
New York 85d (3/31)
Summertime 68d (4/29)
Webb's Wonderful (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)

LEAF LETTUCE
Black Seeded Simpson 46d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Cracoviensis 4/2
De Morges Braun 64d 4/2
Gentilina 4/2
Italienisher 55d 4/2
Lollo Bionda 46d 4/2
Lollo de Vino 56d 4/2
Mascara 4/2
New Red Fire 51d 4/2
Red Sails 45d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Red Salad Bowl 28/51d 4/15
Revolution 4/2
Rouge D'Hiver 28/58d 4/15
Royal Oak Leaf 50d 4/2
Ruby 4/2
Salad Bowl 28/49d 4/15 5/5
Tango 45d 4/2

MESCLUN
(My mesclun includes these items plus whatever else is tender and tasty, changing with the season. Kale, chard, mustard, spinach, radish thinnings, and more.)

Agano Mustard 4/16
Chicoria Spadona da Taglo 4/16
Chicoria Zuccherina Di Trieste 4/16
Endive Frisee Neos 45d 4/16
Giant Garnet Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Golden Frills Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Komatsuma Tendergreen 4/16
Mizuna 21/40d 4/16
Purple Mizuna 21/40 4/16
Red Komatsuma 21/31 4/16
Red Russian kale 25/50d 4/16
Ruby Streaks Mustard 21/40d 4/16
Senposai 40d 4/16
Upland Cress 50d 4/16
White Russian Kale 4/16
Wrinkled Crrinkled Cress 4/16
Yukina Savoy 21/45d 4/16

OKRA
Millionaire 50d (3/17)

ONIONS
Giant Musselburgh Leeks (3/5)
Prizetaker Leek (3/12)
Shimonita Asian Onions (3/5)

PARSNIPS
Half Long Guernesey 4/4
Javelin 4/4
Andover ___? 5/5

PAK CHOY
Extra Dwarf 4/21

PEAS
Canoe 53d 4/21
Carouby De Maussane snap peas 4/11
Dwarf Grey Sugar (for shoots) 32d 4/20
Green Arrow 65d 4/12
Maestro 4/12 4/25
Mr. Big 58d 4/11
Oregon Giant Snow 4/25

PEPPERS
HOT PEPPERS (3/12)
Ancho Magnifico
El Jefe
Thai Red Chili
Pasilla Bajio
Georgia Flame
Romanian Hot
Hungarian Hot Wax
Big Bomb
Joe's Cayenne

SWEET PEPPERS (3/12)
King of the North
Quadrato D'Asti Rosso
Quadrato D'Asti Gialo
Gourmet
Buran
Lipstick
Orange Bell
Wonder Bell
Jimmy Nardello
Sweet Chocolate
Ace
Yummy
Antohi Romanian
Chervena Chuska

POTATOES
Banana Fingerling 4/2 (bin)
Kennebec 5/5
Red Norland 4/2 (bin)
Superior 4/2 (bin)
Yukon Gold 5/5

RADISHES
Brightest Breakfast 28d 5/2 5/5
Crunchy Royale 28d 4/2 5/2 5/5
D'Avigon 21d 4/2 5/2
Ravenello 19d 4/2 4/4 5/2 5/5
Roodkapje 4/2
Zlata 30 4/2

SQUASH
SUMMER
Black Zucchini 50d 5/6
Costada Romanesco 52d (3/28) 5/6
Horn of Plenty 45d (3/28)
Magda 48d (3/28) 5/6
Trompacino 60d 5/6
Zephyr 54d (3/28) 5/6

TOMATOES (3/17)
QUICK
Beaverlodge 55d
Early Cascade 62d
Moskvich 60d
Red Sun 72d

PASTE
Amish Paste
Black Plum
Polish Linguisa
Scatoline
Striped Roman
Super Marzano

SMALL
Black Cherry
Blondkopfchen
Green Grape
Peacevine
Sungold
Sweet Million
Yellow Pear
Zebra Cherry

SLICING
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Bear Creek
Black From Tula
Black Giant
Carmello
Cherokee Purple
Crinkovic
Dad's Sunset
Green Zebra
Malakuhitovya
Marmande
Pantano Romanesco
Paul Robeson
Pink Grapefruit
Pruden's Purple
Santa Crus Kada
Soldacki
Topaz
Violet Jasper

TOMATILLOS (3/17)
Verde
Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry
Pineapple Ground Cherry

TURNIPS
Gold Ball 45d 4/23
Hakurei 38d 4/4 4/23

FLOWERS
Cosmos -
Rubenza (3/28)
Sea Shells (3/28)
Sensation (3/28)
Old Spice Sweet Peas (3/5) 4/12

Sweet William (3/5)
Canterbury Bells (3/12)
Aureus Yellow Lupine (3/17)
Zulu Prince Cape Daisy (3/17)
Gaillardia Dazzler (3/17)
Ageratum (3/17)
Evening Scented Stock (3/17)
Marigolds -
Crackerjack (3/28)
Harlequin (3/28)
Lemon Gem (3/28)
Orange Hawaii (3/28)
Moonflower (3/27)
Nasturiums - Dwarf Jewel 55-65d 5/1
Sunflowers 3/20
Calendula 3/20
Centaurea 3/20
Zinnias -
Benary's Giant 3/20 (4/21)
Candy Cane (4/21)
Giant Cactus Flowered (4/21)
Red Spider (4/21)
State Fair 90d (4/21)

HERBS
Italian Giant Parsley (3/5)
Basil -
Finissimo Verde A Palla Basil (3/28)
Genovese Basil (3/28)
Lemon Drop Basil (3/28)
Red Lettuce Leaf (4/29)
Red Rubin Basil (3/28)
Sacred Basil (3/28)
Borage 5/2
Cilantro 4/4, 5/5
Dill - Hercules 4/4
Dukat 50-60d 5/5

The planting begins!

2010-03-05T11:34:00.006-04:00

SOME RECENT SEED ARRIVALS:

Today I planted:

132 head lettuces -
Butterhead: Marvel of Four Seasons, Yugoslavian Red Butterhead,
Bibb: Susan's Red, Buttercrunch,
Romaine: Cimmaron, Crisp Mint, Forellenschuss, Dazzle
Crisphead: Reine des Glaces, Continuity, Webb's Wonderful

150 Old Spice sweet peas
300 Giant Musselburgh leeks (a bit on planting these so I am saying a little prayer that they will get big)
550 Shimonita Asian onions (sort of a cross between scallions and leeks)
12 Italian Giant parsley
small flat of Sweet William

Unwelcome neighbors

2009-06-20T20:33:00.002-04:00

These 3 young woodchucks have been around for awhile. Here they are just outside the window by my computer. Up until recently they have been most into eating Groutweed, also known as Bishop's Cap, and that has been FINE with me. Now they seem to be considering the garden. Accckkkkkkk!!!!!!!

FARM HELPERS

2009-06-09T06:28:00.009-04:00

PUMPKIN SEEDLING - JUNE 23 - GETTING BIGGER!

Recently some friends were visiting who were eager to help plant some seeds. Fortunately the weather was fine, the ground was basically prepared and some easy to plant items needed planting. Here they are, planting pumpkins and cucumbers. As the season progresses I will add to this post so my helpers can see how their plants are coming along.

THANK YOU, PALS!

Planting - May 31, 2009

Planting - May 31, 2009

Planting - May 31, 2009

The planting crew and me.

A newly sprouted pumpkin plant - June 8, 2009

A barely visible cucumber plant - June 8, 2009

Pumpkin plant - June 19, 2009

Busy times

2009-05-19T17:33:00.007-04:00

I love to garden. And I like to write. But I'd rather garden than write about it. Hence there has been very little posting the past few months but LOTS OF GARDENING! Amazingly, we are pretty much on target with our planting schedule. There are 3 plantings of mesclun, head lettuce and leaf lettuce, 2 plantings of arugula, spinach, summer roots, chard and kale and lots of peas, pole beans, onions and leeks up and growing. Plus we have made a bunch of new space for squash, tomatoes, corn and cukes. Lots more digging and planting to go. This weekend we'll planting more beans, the squashes, more kale, annual flowers and more. Then it will be digging, weeding and fertilizing time for a couple of weeks so we can plant eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. Then more digging, then more planting, then lots of rototilling, then planting, etc. etc. etc. We have big plans and we are having fun.

One of the mainstays of the garden is lettuce. Here is variety that is new to me but it sure looks pretty.

HEAD LETTUCE - SUSAN'S RED BIBB

Most of the flowers are a bit early this year with the early melt off and some warmer weather. This particular lemon colored lilac is a real beauty and it's perfume is filling the air by the chicken coop.

PRIMROSE LILAC

Making the teepees and planting them was a recent project at the farm. It's so fun to have some 'instant' structure to the garden. And I look forward to those beans. Some old favorites: Green Annellino, Kentucky Wonder Wax beans, Rattlesnake Some new varieties this year: Colorado River, Christmas Limas, Speckled Annellino, Jack and the Beanstalk

BEAN TEEPEES WITH A SILVER SPANGLED HAMBURG HEN AND SOME YOUNG KALE

I can't believe that I never ate arugula until 2007. I have a lot of years to make up for!

ARUGULA

teeny plants at a teeny farm

2009-02-22T13:59:00.006-04:00

I keep on planting. The seeds keep on sprouting. The Sweet William started sprouting but it's so tiny that I can't even show you a picture. It's amazing that they will eventually be bright, colorful, big flowers. At least that's the plan.

Here's a picture of some of the Copra onions, a Green Zebra tomato and a Four Seasons head lettuce that were planted a few weeks ago.

Today I planted:
Winner kolrabi - 16
Head lettuce - 4 each of Forellenschluss, Webb's Wonderful, Yugoslavian Red Butterhead and Reine Des Glaces
8 Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage
4 Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli
4 Violetta Italia cauliflower
These are all for transplanting to the greenhouse in a month or so.

Got to stop. I just saw a large possum walking in the front yard. Must investigate!

Later: I tracked the possum around the house and into the woodshed but I didn't feel like going in there with it. I guess I better shovel and close up the woodshed. It's nice to have the natural light in there though. Hmmmm....
No pictures to show you. Somehow the track photos didn't come out right.

Ordering seeds or chaining myself to the computer for the day

2009-02-19T19:53:00.002-04:00

Today I have been determined to get through the seed ordering. This really should have been done a month ago but well...that's life. Fortunately, part of my distraction from my task has been the pleasure of playing with very young friends, greeting new babies and families, spending time with friends and family, etc. But I have been negligent on the seed thing, for sure. SO today I have spent hours and hours. The weird thing is that the orders were ready to go. It just takes time to finalize and actually place them, either on line or on the phone.

I seem to be buying every seed variety in sight. If it sounds tasty, I buy it. If it's a bean, I buy it. Ditto for lettuce. Everybody's got to have a system, right?

One minor goal of mine is to list all the varieties of stuff I grow each year and all the names of perennials I plant, all merged in one giant list. Maybe in a few days I will list what's coming here this year, for anyone who might be interested. For now, here are some of the items I am most happy about.

Bonus Baby Corn - last year I tried a different variety and it wasn't half as delicious.
Zephyr Summer Squash - recommended by a friend as tasty.
Green Annelino Pole Beans - I just like this one.
Stortino Di Trento Pole Bean - a speckled version of annelino.
Queensland Blue Squash - a big, sweet, dry, yummy sounding winter squash.
Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia - I never grew rudbeckia from seed before and this one looks pretty.
Amish Snap Peas
Jack in the Beanstalk Pole Bean - well, obviously. Plus it's Polish!
Gardener's Delight Tomato - an old favorite of mine.
PA Dutch Crookneck Winter Squash - a big, curly, butternut type.
And I like that I am growing lots of shell beans and fresh soybeans.
Soybeans: Black Pearl, Butterbeans, Sayamusume, Envy,
Shell Beans: Christmas Limas, Taylor Dwarf Horticultural, Coco Bianco, Cannellini, Red Cranberry, Limelight, Papa de Rola

And she's not done yet, folks!

Planting outside, sort of.

2009-02-14T19:04:00.000-04:00

Today I continued with the early spring planting. First I sowed some Sweet William in the house and then I planted in the greenhouse!

It's so odd to think about using the greenhouse. I only know bits and pieces of what can happen there but I figure I'll learn by doing. So today I turned over the soil, as much as possible. There were areas that were too frozen to dig, mostly at the ends of the beds near the doorways. Since I failed to tighten up the greenhouse last fall, it has slowly been sagging between the support posts from the weight of the snow and the cover is not lined up on the frame properly. The result: airways, wind moving through the greenhouse and cooler temperatures and frozen ground. Live and learn, at least I hope so. I am looking forward to snugging things up come spring.

The categories I am planting now are:
1-Really hardy items, the type that you are supposed to plant "as soon as the soil can be worked".
--peas, spinach, arugula, other hardy greens
2-Vegetables and herbs and flowers that self sow.
--cilantro, parsley, mustard greens, kale, cosmos, etc.
3-Trials of mesclun and lettuce, just to see what happens.

I worked out a basic plan for the greenhouse, allowing for the fact that I can't plant it all now since the ground is still frozen in places. Later I will be setting out some kale, collards, endive and head lettuce plants that are currently in the house.

Another fun farm thing today was that I spoke with my farm intern, Heather, and we signed her up officially to make her school happy and talked about our expectations in terms of time and work. Heather will be working for experience and knowledge, as well as for a half-share for her family. The internship will fulfill part of her requirement for her Bachelor in Culinary Arts degree at The New England Culinary Institute. It will great for me to have company and help with the planting, harvesting, weeding, and ETC. Heather is an excellent cook and one way she will be helping the farm will be to share some of her cooking ideas using fresh vegetables. Yum. Be sure to check out the recipe blog as the season progresses.

The chickens have not laid as many eggs the last few days as they had been. They seem perky and bright eyed so I think all is well, but it is a bit worrying. So far the top egg count has been 9 per day from 10 hens. A few days ago I broke down and ordered 3 more hens from Murray McMurray's Hatchery. I just want some of those blue and green eggs so I am getting some Araucana/Americanas. (More about the new chicks in a later post, I am sure.)

I am just about done with the seed order. It would have been better to have done it earlier so I would have some of the seeds I need on hand but at least it will be done soon.

Most of the CSA shares have been sold already. There is still 1 full share or 2 half shares and 1-2 mini shares. It makes me feel secure knowing that the farm has members already. And it's exciting that there are new people involved this year. Also great that folks are returning from previous years.

Now I can just concentrate on doing the best I can growing things!

Time to shut up the chicken coop...

Varieties planted February 14:
Coral peas
Big Stem Mustard
Tainong Mustard
Yukina Savoy
Arugula Sylvetta
Osaka Purple Mustard
Perpetual Chard
Rapa Turnip
Cutting Chicory
Winterbor Kale
Red Russian Kale
Mizuna
Cracoviensis Lettuce
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
Corn Salad - Vit
Wrinkled Crinkled Cress
Endive Frisee

More planting

2009-02-07T18:12:00.005-04:00

I am trying to use this blog as more of a record or diary of what's happening here at the garden farm and less of a record of the meanderings of my mind. This might be of interest to friends, family, farm members and fellow tiny farm farmers. I hope so. If not, feel free to move on to something else.

Today I decided to plant some kale and collards for the greenhouse, in case the soil is too cold out there for seeds to germinate soon. Tomorrow I will plant some in the greenhouse itself as well and see how the two ways work out.

I also figured out that for some items it makes sense to plant one per half share and per mini share plus one for me. That works out to 16 plants of whatever it is, like head lettuce for instance. I will continue to think about this. For instance, how many kale plants should I plant for each half share in order to have enough???

Of course after I decided to plant in units of 16, I found that my starter pots fit in the flats in groups of 12. Hmmph.

Today's planting - 12 each:

Kale - White Russian and Winter Red
Collards - Champion
Tainong Heading Mustard
(This is part of my ongoing campaign to successfully grow some of this heading mustard. I decided to plant some frequently and see what works out the best. It sure looks nice in the Baker Creek catalog.)

Germinating onions almost too small to see:

Let the season begin

2009-02-05T16:17:00.006-04:00

TODAY'S CHICKEN FACTS

I learned that the color of a chicken's ear lobe relates to the color of egg it lays. Red ear lobe = brown eggs White ear lobe = white or tinted eggs. This is not strictly true but is generally the case.

The largest egg ever recorded was laid by a Black Minorca in 1896. It weighed 12 oz., had a circumference of 9 in., and contained 5 yolks. Wow. These facts came from the book Keeping Chickens by Jeremy Hobson and Celia Lewis.

I have been planting and planning, at least a bit. It seems like I work in slow motion sometimes. It makes me wonder how in the world I'll get the work done when the planting season comes on for real. I guess I won't be hauling wood, laying fires, emptying ashes, shoveling, etc. when spring gets here. Phew.

January 22 I planted leeks, onions, Asian onions, parsley and lisianthus. They are just starting to come up. I planted the seed really thickly to use it up. I want to plant more Asian onions later on. Today I planted some really early start eggplant and peppers - 6 each of King of the North and New Ace peppers and 6 each of Ping Tung and Thai Long Green eggplant.

For the greenhouse I planted head lettuce, escarole, broccoli, cauliflower, zinnias and tomatoes. Yesterday I had a revelation about the greenhouse. It doesn't snow in there! What I mean is, when I am planning what to plant there and when, I don't have to think about whether or not the snow will be melted or the soil too damp to work. I just need to think about temperature and frost free dates. This may not mean much to anyone who may be reading this, but for me it was a very useful realization. From there I could work backwards to think about when to plant seeds in the house for the greenhouse. I am taking a guess that the greenhouse lets me plant a month earlier than planting outside. This really is just a guess though. The result? I planted some brassicas and lettuce that should be ready for the greenhouse in 4 to 6 weeks (March 5 -17) when I am certain there will be snow on the ground outside but feel confident the greenhouse will be warm enough for the plants. Kind of like mid April with no snow.

Oh I haven't a clue if this is correct or even if I am making sense.

Here are today's plantings:

(You may want to skip this next bit if you are not a gardener or cook.)

Planted 2-5-9:
Head Lettuce - 4 each - Winter Marvel, Crisp Mint, Four Seasons, Winter Wonderland
Tomatoes - 1 each - Green Zebra, Black From Tula, Sun Gold, Sweet Million, Beaverlodge, Abrason, Red Sun, Early Cascade
Brassicas - 8 each - Early Pearl Cauliflower, De Cicco Broccoli; 4 each - All the Year Round Cauliflower
Escarole - Giant - 4
Zinnia - Giants of California - 4
Peppers - 6 each - King of the North, New Ace
Eggplant - 6 each - Ping Tung, Thai Long Green

I continue to really enjoy the chickens. Yesterday and today I got 8 eggs, a new record. I think only the 2 Silver Spangled Hamburgs haven't started laying yet. The rooster is mighty protective of his hens. He makes a point of getting between me and the hens no matter where I go. So if I spread grain outside he stands in the doorway.

If I am giving them water inside he stands by the inside door.

If I check for eggs, he hops up on the roost. Then as I walk back to the house, he crows proudly. He protected his hens from the 'human.' So far this is workable but may get dicey as the snow melts if he starts chasing me. We may need to have some serious talks.

Blah, blah, blog

2008-10-15T20:09:00.003-04:00

Stayman Winesaps

It seems that I don't have enough time or interest in blogging very often, especially lately. I do a better job posting the CSA delivery or what's at the farm stand, using the blog as communication tool for the farm. This main page though limps along in a boring fashion. Perhaps that will change in the winter when I have a bit more time or when I recover my energy. Somehow the past 2 months have been pretty draining. Way too busy. Too busy to think well or plan well, just going along day by day.

I have also been negligent about taking pictures of the farm in the past two months. I definitely want to photograph the last share of the season on Friday and it would be great to get back into the weekly photo record of the farm. Especially this first year of winter gardening. No promises here though. I just do what I can do.

So what HAVE I been doing? It feels like picking and picking and freezing and canning. There was a long stretch when I felt chained to the kitchen, either chopping vegetables or pureeing apples or washing containers. Sort of spinning around in the same place doing the same chores over and over and never reaching the end. LOTS and lots of apples this year. They are still coming in. In fact the Baldwin has just started and it looks like there are many bushels up in that tree! Plus I just picked a Stayman Winesap the other day and at last they are ripe and so juicy and tasty. Now I know why I bought that tree. Strangely, as I have been picking samples over the last month or so, they have been hard and greenish inside and sort of tasteless. Now however, juice is pouring out of them when you cut the apple and the taste is sweet. Interesting process.

The other thing(s) I have been doing is some of the other responsibilities in my life that, once again, have been neglected during the growing season. Like household accounts, and mail, etc. I STILL need to get cracking on my Fuel Assistance application and need to find out if I messed up on the conservation restriction for the land. I haven't done anything on that for months so I hope I didn't miss out on that. I must get brave and call the lawyer, keeping in mind that it will be free and lawyers are good. I've done an amazing job of procrastinating on that call, at least 3 months.

Oh yes, and cleaning up the house.

Ten million things to do. No wonder I feel tired and caught a cold.

Off to rest.

September Farm Week - Thursday-Friday-Saturday

2008-08-31T07:45:00.002-04:00

Well obviously, I have not been posting every day. Mostly I got too busy but also there were connection difficulties some of the time.

Anyway, here goes what I can remember:

Thursday:
garden inspection
organized seeds and thought about fall planting and my current seed order
planted in hoop house to be:
Napoli carrots - extra hardy for winter harvest
Kossack kolrabi - ditto
Watermelon radish - ditto
Cauliflower - All the Year Round
Cauliflower - Early Pearl
Cauliflower - Violetta Italia
Cabbage - Savoy Perfection
Cabbage - Early Jersey Wakefield
Cabbage - Savoy Ace
Broccoli - Gypsy
Broccoli - De Cicco
Broccoli - Early Purple Sprouting
The brassicas are confusing to me, in fact the whole winter planting thing is so new I find myself shuffling seed packets and making lists but not actually DOIING anything. So I decided to just go ahead and plant. Then I will just see what happens. Some of the varieties are meant to carry through the winter for next spring, (all the year round cauliflower and the sprouting brocoli for sure. I am a bit late planting them though. And it's a bit late for some of the fall brassicas but I planted anyway.
I made a trip to town mid day and bought chicken food, etc so I didn't do as much at the farm.
Picked for the Friday shares - flowers, carrots, beets

Friday
Picked for the shares.
See the CSA blog for the specifics of what was in the share this week.
It was fun to pick in a relaxed fashion but there was so much food it took a long time.
Each full share had 2 pounds of soybeans, 2 quarts of crabapples, several pounds of cukes, and more.
Stocked the stand and sent out the farm email.
Delivered the shares.
Karen worked on making a sign for the stand.
Bought 30 pounds of peaches from Spatcher's Farm.
Posted at the blog.
Washed dishes and cleaned up the harvest mess.
Picked about 2 -3 gallons of blackberries at Karen's house with Karen and Robin. - yum
Picked several pounds of Swiss chard and made spanikopita with chard. - more yum
Slept!

Saturday
Washed the harvest dishes some more.
Posted a sign for the stand on Greenfield Rd. with Karen.
While walking home I saw a hawk diving toward the free running chickens.
I MUST GET THE CHICKENS INTO A PROPER HOME!
Froze peaches! 4 hours to process 30 # - yielding 5 pints, 1 1 1/2 pint, 7 quarts
Rested and looked at the cook book Fresh & Fast - looks great, I feel too tired to make any of the tasty sounding recipes.
Transplanted some Red Chidori Kale to fill out a row.
Rob sorted the blackberries and I froze most of them. 2 big bags full.
Will make blackberry cake tomorrow.
And to bed with the sink and counter full of harvesting containers again!!

September Farm Week - Wednesday

2008-08-28T06:07:00.003-04:00

1 - posted at the blog
2 - dishes
3 - froze Green Annellino beans - about 5 pints.
4 - made freezer pickles (see recipe blog)
5 - thought some more about maybe working this afternoon. I decided to stick to my plan of staying on the farm, even though it was sort of hard to choose my needs over my clients'. I ended up doing a bunch of philosophizing while digging. It's always so challenging to decide on the correct course of action and to interpret my own needs and feelings. ie Does that slight unhappy feeling in my gut mean I should go clean their house or does mean it's hard for me to choose me? If I feel uneasy, should I just do what feels easier or push through and do the hard thing? I actually like thinking about this sort of dilemma but I hate the undecided, unclear feeling.
6 - set up the Squeezo for Rob to use to make applesauce. (Thanks Rob!)
7 - turned over soil in the west garden and marked the beds. Now the west garden is all weeded. (!)
8 - lopped down more sumac around the chicken coop.
9 - lunch
10 - more lopping, especially the south end of the west garden and the raspberry patch
11 - picked squashes and cucumbers. (lots) (I realized that it would be useful to keep track of how many of each variety of squash are picked. A bit late for this year...2009)
12 - email
13 - dishes
14 - started weeding the sandraberries - driven off by bugs
15 - started weeding the flowers - driven off by bugs!

September Farm Week - Tuesday

2008-08-27T06:58:00.002-04:00

I decided to experiment with a new way of using the blog. Kind of more of a log of activities for the farm. I often get behind on my record keeping for planting and so forth. Perhaps this will help.
Of course I have no idea if anyone actually reads this blog. If so, the details of planting, variety names, cultivation practices, ideas, planning, etc. may or may not be of interest to you.

Anyway for the rest of this farm week at least I will try out this new thing.

Farm Log
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sent out the weekly CSA email.
Posted at the CSA blog, the farm stand blog and the recipe blog.
Weeded the west garden - almost finished.
Cut sumac in the old chicken yard.
Canceled my cleaning job for Wednesday. (What was I thinking when I offered to do that?)
Weeded the greenhouse. (much improved!)
Let the chickens run loose!

My faith in the chickens was well founded. They barely wandered from their pen in the garage, were much happier pecking around in the grass and eating worms and such and they very naturally returned to their pen before dark.

Next year: Do not let anything interrupt my farm weeks; no rearranging my work schedule to suit my clients.

All that is left to weed in the west garden is the space between the pole beans and the Asian onions.

gone walkabout in the garden

2008-07-23T13:22:00.007-04:00

Rubeckia

Romanesco zucchini

I just finished my weekly tour and photo catalog of the garden. Once again the dominant theme is WEEDS! Everything is so lush and it includes many vegetables gone to seed and giant weeds such as lambs quarters and yellow dock. There's always something to do out there.

The lushness from all the rain we've been having includes summer squashes that need picking every day, many annual flowers coming into bloom such as Eustoma and Dahlias, and - big excitement - a Night Blooming Cereus (also known as Queen of the Night) that has a giant exotic looking bud. I think it may bloom tonight! I have had the plant for about 7 years and this is the first time it has bloomed. My understanding is that the flower will only last for one night and smells wonderful. Maybe I will be posting a picture of its flower soon. Anyway, it's a thrill even to see the bud.

Night Blooming Cereus bud

On the down side, one of my apply trees has listed over. It's a Stayman Winesap that is loaded with fruit this year, probably the most fruit it has ever had. It was fine this morning but I am guessing that the weight of the fruit combined with the heavy rain we have been having, made it so top heavy that it just kind of pulled out of the soil. The roots are actually still underground so maybe it can be pushed upright again. I sure hope so. It's big enough that it would probably require a tractor and chains to do it and then some clever engineering to keep it up. Ummmmmm......

Stayman Wiinesap Apple Tree

In any case, I think I will head out soon to prop up the young peach tree that is leaning a bit. Yikes!

442 Farm

2008-06-18T06:35:00.006-04:00

View from the orchard

Along with gardening, singing is one of the things I love best in the world. Last night I went the Tuesday singing in Northampton for the first time in at least 4 weeks. Phew. Usually I am there every week, at least for the first half. Perhaps this is a sign that the garden is slightly in hand. Next year I want to make sure that planting season does not mean missing singing.

By singing I mean shape note singing, of course. I love all music and listen and sing other kinds of things but my singing home is Sacred Harp. And that is also where my family of friends reside. It was good to be home.

So, 442? That's the number of a song in The Sacred Harp, I just had to look up its word name. We call the songs by their numbers and even their numbers become imbued with meaning and memory.

At some point in time, the right name for my farm will reveal itself to me. For now I brainstorm along and keep a running list of possibilities. Because I love singing so much, I am drawn to using a name that reflects that love. 442/New Jordan has many phrases that are appealing: "living green", "generous fruits", "sweet fields". My recent little joke is to call the farm "442 Farm" until the right name comes along. More on names some other time.

This morning I will be taking pictures around the farm (Thanks again Leslie for loaning me a camera!) and will post some here. We had 1 inch of rain earlier in the week and everything has been growing like mad, including the weeds.

Champion Collards

New iris

Dig Dig Dig

2008-06-02T08:09:00.003-04:00

This is so much work!

Okay that's it for complaints(?)/appreciations(?) Actually I love working hard and using and strengthening my body. For the past month Karen and I have been spending a large part of our gardening time digging. We are reclaiming old parts of the garden that have been neglected for years and creating new areas any place we can. I am even planning on digging up the old chicken yard as it is fenced with 7 foot fencing that should keep the deer away from the kale and brussel sprouts come fall. This week UMass Soil Testing Lab sent me the results of two soil samples I sent to them for new areas. Hurray! The area near the house is free of heavy metals and okay for growing vegetables, except for the fact that it needs lots of compost. (more digging!)

Once in a while the idea of using the rototiller comes up. I may very well use one at some point but for now this is a hand tools only operation. Very green farming. I love that the sounds I hear while working are the birds and the wind in the trees. Yesterday I saw a raven fly overhead and heard its call. That was the first time in my life that I was positive I saw a raven, not a crow. I would have missed it if I had been tilling, I am sure. Lately the wind has been rattling the leaves on the freshly cut pole bean poles. That's a fun tune. And I have been learning the call of my resident Red Bellied Woodpecker.

I also like the fact that the hand tools don't use any fuel or need any engine maintenance.

Lastly, digging kind of ties in with my style of gardening. I use my own foot to measure the beds and the rows. I use my hand to pat the seeds into the ground. I like that the garden is closely tied to me. I like touching the earth.

All right, back to digging.

May Flowers

2008-05-17T12:07:00.008-04:00

Note: This post is really on May 25. (A little learning to blog blip.)

Everything is is full swing here at the farm. It's the first day of my second "Farm Week" where I get to stay home and farm full time. It's bliss. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the work is happening, and the flowers are blooming. These pictures were taken 1 week ago and already there are more kinds of flowers coming into bloom. The tree peony buds were fatter and pinker this afternoon than they were in the morning! Dianthus and Centaurea will be flowering soon. Last year the first CSA delivery bouquet included some of these stunning tulips. This year they will be all done before the first delivery so here are some pictures to enjoy. I definitely want to plant more tulips this fall.

Amazing Parrot Tulips

This bouquet was made on May 16. Even this early, it's possible to make something pretty. Now the lilacs are in full swing. I have light and dark purple, white and cream. Plus an old bush I am trying to revive that has dark ruby flowers. I am a sucker for lilacs. I want more!

An early bouquet

I love species daffodils, especially the scented varieties. This one is a sweetie.

Sweet daffodils: I think the variety is Sun Disc

By now (May 25) the apple blossoms are nearly done but the trees were loaded this year. Plus we had a bunch of sunny weather while they were blooming so maybe we will get a good crop of apples in the fall. Apple trees in my garden: Baldwin, Gravenstein, Pippen, Bramley, Red Astrachan, Stayman Winesap

Apple Blossoms: Baldwin

There's lots and lots of planting going on. Yesterday I finished planting 16 teepees of pole beans and 20 feet of head lettuce. Today I put in 8 hills of summer squashes and 14 feet of slicing cucumbers. Plus I dug more space in the flower garden and took soil samples for the new tomato area and next year's cutting garden. Rob mowed the grass and set up the frame for the greenhouse and yesterday Karen dug up another 6 feet of overgrown garden space. Phew! We are all working hard and it's starting to show.

The first delivery bouquet

Fruits of the Earth

2008-05-17T11:48:00.006-04:00

Lately I have been enjoying the many wild foods the earth gives us in the springtime. I've had nettles, Jerusalem artichokes, violet greens, wild peppermint, violet blossoms and fiddleheads in various forms. Last night Rob and I had a delicious combination of many of those items, mostly as part of tabouli made with quinoa. So good. But I didn't want to leave out the vegetable garden so we also had the first MESCLUN of the season!

All the leaves in this special mix were less than one inch long but they were packed with deliciousness! Really juicy and GREEN tasting. The mix included:
arugula, Osaka purple mustard, Green Wave mustard, Heading mustard, Zen, Golden Frilled mustard, Ruby Streaks mustard, New Red Fire lettuce, spinach, Johnny Jump Up flowers, turnip greens, mizuna, purple mizuna, Galactic lettuce. It took awhile to pick but it was worth it.

For all you CSA members and farm stand visitors, soon there will be enough mesclun for all of us! Yum.

Marking the Rows

2008-05-08T05:55:00.009-04:00

Still working on a blog routine. Eventually I hope to post at regular intervals and to include postings of what is in each week's CSA share and what is at the stand. Since my farm is so small, these things probably vary more than other farms. In the same way that I need to be extra careful about how much I plant. Not too much, or the garden will be filled, with no space for other things, and not too little, or there won't be enough harvest for all of us. I am aiming for "just right".

I have been busy in many ways. Digging the flower garden so I can plant all the new perennials and annual cutting flowers I have. I went to Walker Farm in Putney looking for onion plants and came home with 4 new peonies, 54 Eustoma plants, a flowering onion, a few herbs, including Pineapple Sage, one of my yearly favorites. I like buying herb plants at Walkers because they come from Sal Gilberties in Connecticut. Many years ago my mom worked at Gilberties making herbal wreaths. She also used to collect Sweet Gum burrs and Sycamore burrs to sell to Sal for fall decorations. I don't know if Mr. Gilbertie is still living but I know my mom enjoyed her connection with his nursery. It was right up her alley.

Plus my orders of perennials came from Bluestone Perennials and Territorial Seeds. I have about 36 plants in all from them including Coconut Lime Echinachea, Arp Rosemary, (which just might be hardy here), Coronation Gold Achillea, Coreopsis Heaven's Gate, Gloriosa Irish Eyes, and more. Generally busy digging and planting flowers and day dreaming about bouquets. I am about to pick and prepare some bouquets/centerpieces for the Council on Aging lunch today.

Plus there are few stray flowers to move from the old flower garden so I can use that space for my potato frames. You get the picture? Back to digging...

Happy Dreams

2008-04-29T06:40:00.002-04:00

I woke up happy this morning, fresh from a garden dream. In it I was in Greenfields Market with some extra vegetables and the clerk there suggested I try selling them there. So we put them out. For some reason they were placed at the checkout. (This may be related to the fact that I impulse buy vegetables all the time.) There were only about 3 bunches of something or other, perhaps thick stemmed mustard was one, that part is vague. Then as usual in the market, I got to talking with a friend. A bit later we looked up and everything had sold! I was so excited. The two of us (sorry pal I can't remember who was with me for this historic moment) walked out laughing and talking about the book we could write about all this. Then I suddenly remembered, oh right, they give me money for this too. So we turned around and walked back to the market, grinning all over.

It's a garden; it's a farm? It's a blog!

2008-04-27T10:48:00.001-04:00

Well, here I am. Starting a blog for the farm. I hope that this will help build connections with my farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members and friends and family. (ooh, I just made an interesting typo: "farmily") My goal is to keep a record of what's happening on my little farm and to share pictures and news with interested people. I plan on posting about once a week, unless inspired to do more.

This week is the first of my Farm Weeks, time that I have carved out of my usual working life so I can stay home and farm full time. Each month from April through September I get a week to just farm. Bliss. Last Saturday my most excellent working member, Karen, came over to help out. That was lovely and we had a great time visiting, digging, planting and patting the earth.

Much progress is happening. I planted spinach, red summer onions, mesclun, kale, endive, leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, beets, turnips, radishes, Asian onions, turnip greens, mizuna, 3 kinds of mustard, the new mystery green called "Zen", early carrots... You get the picture. Plus I planted cosmos, marigolds, zinnias, and centaurea. Amazingly, many things are already coming up just a few days later. It's been pretty warm so I guess that's why. There are 5 kinds of mustard coming up: Golden Frilled, Red Streaks, Big Stem, Tainong Emperor Heading, and Osaka Purple. For beets there are Touchstone Gold, Chioggia, Merlin, and Red Ace. I won't fill in all the varieties of everything for now but that gives you a taste.

Hopefully I will now figure out how to post this and a few pictures. Then I am going out to prune sumac and other brush.