Monday, April 28, 2008

Garden Update #3 April 28th

More favorable dry weather this week allowed for more progress in the garden.
Most of last year's growing space has been plowed and is waiting for this year's succession of crops.
On Saturday, with the help of a dedicated group of nine fellow gardeners, we planted 3000 onions, give or take a few. In one bed we transplanted beautiful storage onion starts. These plants were started from seed by our friends at Bittersweet Farm in Huevelton. In the second bed we used another technique, planting onion sets (small bulbs) which we quickly mulched for moisture and weed control. The perennial flower bed is mulched and looking good. The peas are poking up as are the other seeds planted the week before last- radish, spinach, beets and arugula. On tap for this week is tree planting, prepping beds for the early brassicas (which are plants in the cabbage family ie. broccoli), more onions and leeks.
A timely rain today will make everyplant in the garden a bit more happy and offer everyone in the house a chance to get caught up on housework and errands!!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Garden Update #2 April 20th

Saturday was a full moon - the Planter's Moon. It was honored with the help of a few SLU students and shareholders who joined in on a wonderful day of planting.
We planted peas. Lots of peas! The first of two rounds of snap peas and a major planting of shellers are in the ground. The snaps are a tasty treat for fresh eating while the shell peas are a nice addition to the freezer for winter consumption. They are a bit laborious, but having yet another green food option in the winter is well worth the effort. The peas should start to come in around the end of June.
Also planted was another round of spinach, as well as carrots, golden beets (the last two in the cold frame), radishes, arugula and sorrel.
We also expanded the raspberry patch, which should start to yield fruit next season.
Last year's saved edamame soybean seeds were cleaned and the flower beds weeded.
The next crop to go in will be onions. We will start on this later in the week.

Todd Moe from NCPR came by for a visit and garden update. He is interested in doing a monthly
audio "postcard" from the garden. This year NCPR is celebrating their 40th year. As part of this celebration they are highlighting all things food. So from time to time, Todd will be stopping in and reporting on the evolving growing season and the wonderful local foods that come with the changing of each season.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Garden Update #1 April 12th

Wow! what a difference a week makes.

Since we cancelled the first work day, we've had lots of melting snow, a flood, mud, 70 degrees with sunshine and now more rain and mud. In between the episodes of mud we have been staying busy by transplanting fruit trees and blueberries, expanding the asparagus patch, direct seeding spinach and radishes, sneaking in some early onions and leeks, transplanting lettuce into the cold frames, mulching the shallots and garlic and working on fencing. We have expanded the turkey house and now have a sweet nesting room. It didn't take the hens long before they started to lay. We will collect the eggs until the weather turns milder. At that point we will let the eggs be and allow the hens to set. We hope to have a hatch somewhere around June 1st.
We are also happy to report that the overwintered spinach is doing well and should provide a crop towards the end of the month.

We are especially excited about the amount of interest and help we have been receiving. Barter shareholders and kind volunteers have made for an inspiring start to the spring.
If you are interested in joining in on the fun and excitement let us know. There are opportunities for everyone to learn and share in this wonderful time of the year.

The next scheduled "First Saturday Workday" is May 3rd.

Stay in touch,

bob and valerie

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

April 5th "First Saturday" Workday Cancelled

Hello Folks,

Due to the wet and soggy conditions, aka "mud season", we will be cancelling the first of
our "First Saturday Workdays". The late spring has delayed the snow melt etc..

Our next scheduled work day is May 3rd.
Hopefully by May we will have more family friendly weather.

For those of you interested in getting out to the garden before May 3rd we will be
available on most days from here on out. However, we have set aside Wednesdays and Saturday mornings as days
that we will regularly be available for volunteers and folks involved in the barter exchange.

Give a call or email if you are interested in coming by for a pre season tour or to lend a hand

take care,

bob and val