Garden Update #5 May 11

Where to begin?
Let's start with today and go backwards.
Upon returning home from the must see Ottawa Tulip Festival we found a very dry garden.
The forecast earlier in the week called for some rain but it looks like it is staying south.
So after another round of planting (spinach, golden and chioggia beets, swiss chard, carrots and arugala) we watered in the seed beds as well as the beds planted earlier this spring. During seed germination, soil moisture is especially critical. Seeds are not the only things requiring water at the moment. The perennial fruits also require plenty of water, especially the newly planted. Transplanted crops well watered at the time of planting require less, but still need to be monitored.
Saturday was an exciting day with many shareholders showing up to pitch in and lead on projects like trellising the peas, weeding and harvesting spinach and helping with the current building project. We are in the process of building a "multi-purpose" structure intended to be used for garden tools, curing alliums, housing hens, and who knows what else.
This week we also planted the early potatoes. Besides being the catch crop for the Colorado potato beetle, this planting will supply us with five different varieties of yummy taters.
Also planted was a cover crop of buckwheat and another round of snap peas and snow peas.
On Wednesday we are expecting delivery of day old chicks.
Thanks to everyone for all of the extra energy.

Garden Update #4 May 3rd

Saturday was another inspiring day in the garden. The weather slowly cleared and we had a very productive day of transplanting and mulching for the first of our "first Saturday" garden days. After an informal group introduction , we transplanted 72 broccoli, 60 cauliflower, 110 cabbage, 120 celeriac, 200 leeks, lettuce and yet more onions. After transplanting, the brassicas (cabbage family) were quickly covered with row cover to give them a head start against a perennial pest, the flea beetle.

The cauliflower and broccoli in this first of two plantings is destined for both fresh eating and for the freezer. With some luck, the bulk of this early round of cabbage will be for our annual
Sauerkraut Making Party (more on this as the crop matures).
We also rolled out 5 very large round bales of hay for mulching the area that will be home to the tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, eggplant and sprawling crops like squash and pumpkins.

This day also brought out a class from St. Lawrence University. Arla Casselman, a first year student at SLU, has been working on a class project highlighting the benefits of an "immersion CSA" like FFT. On Saturday, she led a tour and gave a talk to her class as part of this project. Arla has been volunteering on a regular basis and has been a great addition to the farm. Her sense of ownership and confidence regarding the gardens is an inspiration for us all.

A farm soup by Valerie and shared treats brought by others made for a nourishing lunch time filled with conversation and community.

Inspired by Marilyn, FFT entered the 47th Annual Rushton Canoe Races on the Grasse River. Participating as a group highlighted an incredible weekend spent with a special group of friends. As for our results? Let's just say that the spirit of the garden also made it's way onto the water and into our boat!

The next scheduled 'first Saturday" garden day will be June 7th.

Thanks again and as always, stay in touch.

bob and val

"First Saturday" Garden Day details

Hi Folks!

Just a few things about "First Saturday" Garden Days...

...there will always be a variety of tasks that can be done. Please work only within your ability. If you cannot lift, bend, kneel, or work in a specific way, please feel comfortable to speak up about it and we'll be happy to find you a job that fits.

...if the weather is bad on a scheduled work day, you don't need to feel obligated to come out. (especially those of you with small children- we understand that it's hard to keep them happy and comfortable when it's wet and chilly!)

...things you may want to bring: gloves, sun hat, water bottle, a small snack. We'll provide a lunch around noon, so please plan to join us!

We're looking forward to a wonderful season of community, fun and
of course ...food (for thought).

Val and Bob

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!!

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.

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

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