Time marches on (pun intended) There is so much do do right now and the days can get overwhelming if you don't stay on top of things. We will be installing the fencing this weekend at our strawberry patch. I will be so happy when I don't have to think about putting up any more fencing and can cross a long lingering project off my list. I'll also be happy when we get those 2500 strawberry plants in the ground!
Most of our direct sowings have germinated and today we will be sowing the second successions of many crops. After all of these years it still amazes me that those little tiny seeds actually turn into something glorius. It is truly magic.
Our new tools seem to be working as planned. The flame weeder especially. Of course time will tell just how well it works but I have visions of weed free beds and not too much if any hand weeding. The trick is to wait just for the right time, (a day or two before the intended crop germinates) then run the flamer over the beds. I actually was a day late on the peas and had run the flamer over most of a whole row before I noticed what I was doing. Peas are tough though. They never missed a beat and came through unscathed.
We'll be firing up the Allis Chalmers G today to do some path maintenace and weeding prior to installing the pea trellis's. It will be the first time I've used the tractor to do any type of cultivation so I'm stoked to give er a go eh.
The propagation greenhouse is just busting at the seams with new starts. The tomatoes are just starting to show true leaves and with the mild weather, will be jumping from here on. We'll be working on getting the first round of brassicas in the ground soon. Peppers and a few back up toms have just been sown and countless varieties of greens are just sizing up to be set out.
You can see this is a busy time for us. It is a most exciting time. Many of the projects that are happening right now have instant gratification. Like transplanting, It's so cool to look around at the end of the day and actually see what you accomplished. I love it!
Oh yes, one last comment. I am just so thankful for the timely rain showers! It has saved me tons of time setting up irrigation ( especially since I don't have it all together yet!)
Keep well friends.
John Steward (the farmer)
mrf
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Welcome to the mrf blog site. Tune in to see how our season unfolds.
We are now a full week into spring and as the old saying goes, in like a lion out like a lamb has once again proven it's self out. The days are noticeably longer and warmer and things are beginning to grow faster, especially the grass! yes it's mowing season. That means about two hours of mowing per week from now through June. Nothing beats the look and smell of that first spring mowing though. Indeed, it is spring!
Our friend Ed Suij came over the other day and gave a work shop on fruit tree grafting. It was a very interesting day. Everyone who showed up was able to take home a couple of root stock trees that they had grafted onto. Ed was kind enough to bring over some special varities of plums, apples, and pears.
We have been busy sowing and transplanting. Peas and fava beans that were sown on March 6th germinated around the 26th. The greenhouses are really cranking up right now. We'll be delivering over 50lbs of greens out of there this week. We have alot of lettuce and other greens transplanted out into the field right now. it will be on in another couple of weeks and will be followed by greens that we are direct sowing in the field now. It's all about timing. Root crops are being sown as well. Carrots, beets, turnips, fennel, radish and next week will be the first planting of potatoes.
Strawberries too! We are just prepping the beds and will hopefully be transplanting within the next ten days. We are looking for some extra help with this project if anyone is interested. We'll gladly trade strawberries for labor.
We'll keep it there for now. check in next week to see what's up in April.
keep well,
John Steward
mrf
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