The temperature today is around 85-90F and the flies are merciless. I got up early and raked some of the hay Tom cut yesterday for mulch that I put around the tomatoes, cukes, summer and winter squash and watermelons after I watered them. I came home, took care of Lara and refilled the water barrels. Then, I went with Tom to his garden by Dad's and helped him plant his squashes. By the time that was done, it was time to take care of Lara again. After I did that, I went back out to the field and watered the tree orchard and rhubarb, the hazelnut trees and the juneberry trees. Two of the apple tree cages had been blown down by the wind and I set them back up. I pulled the Persian Star garlic and will set it out to cure. Now, Tom is back at Dad's hilling his potatoes, so after supper, I will refill the water cans and go back out to the field, finish watering the plums and elderberries, and water everything in the high tunnel. If I have enough time, I'll rake up some more hay as I really want to have a lot of mulch around everything. Maybe I'll get the beans in the ground tomorrow. It's so hot I'm wondering if I should just till under the peas and try for a fall crop instead. I'll wait a bit on that. I think the county will be starting the road construction soon as the utility guys have marked everything and the survey team was back today. The potatoes need to be hilled already; I think I'll leave that for tomorrow. Whew!
I finally finished the roll of film that was in the camera and took it in to be developed so I hope to have some new pics for you soon.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Beautiful Day
It was windy and very cool today but the sun was shining. What a difference a day makes! I was very thankful the bad storms pretty much passed us up. We just had bad wind. At least we got a little rain out of it and no trees down. The high tunnel held up well.
Today, I took Ed with me out to the field. We brought the rest of the seedlings from the basement and put them in the high tunnel to finish out to transplant size and harden off. I plan to plant the pole beans next week. Ed and I put some grass mulch around the lettuce, onions, dill and beets. We stood up the pole bean tepees that were knocked down by the wind. Then we removed the Agri-bon cover from cabbages and other cool weather crops. I let Ed water the rows. I think he likes being outside. It's going to be very cool tonight, but I figure these cool weather crops can take it. I notice we didn't have very good germination on the beets, and the onions don't look very thick either. This year the dill really sprouted though. The potatoes are really looking good! I weeded around them and will have to hill them pretty soon already. The corn and sunflowers don't look too happy with this cool weather, but if they conk out on me I will try replanting. The pumpkins in the high tunnel are begging to go in the ground. So are the tomatoes and cucumbers! I was going to put the basil outside with the tomatoes, but I think it likes it in the high tunnel.
The apple trees and the perennial bed look good. I need to do some more hoeing there, too. I think I will spray everything there with Neem Oil. Speaking of sprayers, my sprayer doesn't work right and I will need to get another. I'll see if I can get a couple of them so I can label them for specific purposes, like one for Deer Off, one for Neem Oil, one for Neptune's Harvest, etc. I am imaging "storage shed".
Tom planted quite a bit today in this garden out in front of the house. He checked his garden over by Dad, but his corn isn't up yet. His potatoes look good, too.
I got the book I've been wanting: Genetic Roulette by Jeff Smith. Holy Cow! I got about 1/3 of the way through it and thought I was going to throw up. Honestly, I REALLY felt ill. Everybody needs to read that book. You will not want to buy anything from the grocery store unless it is certified organic and you will look for local producers to buy from. This is a book that will definitely give you nightmares.
I bought some music to play at the Farmers Market to attract customers: Hank Williams, The Carter Family 1927-1934, and Patsy Cline. I am not a Country Western music person, but the old time music fits my marketing style. If I had my druthers, I'd play old Blues, but I don't think the customers care for Blues very much. I thought about buying some polka music, but I've seen people start dancing at farmers markets with polka music, and I want them to buy from me, not dance in front of me!
I finished a roll of film today so hopefully it will turn out and I will have some really nice pics to share with you soon.
Today, I took Ed with me out to the field. We brought the rest of the seedlings from the basement and put them in the high tunnel to finish out to transplant size and harden off. I plan to plant the pole beans next week. Ed and I put some grass mulch around the lettuce, onions, dill and beets. We stood up the pole bean tepees that were knocked down by the wind. Then we removed the Agri-bon cover from cabbages and other cool weather crops. I let Ed water the rows. I think he likes being outside. It's going to be very cool tonight, but I figure these cool weather crops can take it. I notice we didn't have very good germination on the beets, and the onions don't look very thick either. This year the dill really sprouted though. The potatoes are really looking good! I weeded around them and will have to hill them pretty soon already. The corn and sunflowers don't look too happy with this cool weather, but if they conk out on me I will try replanting. The pumpkins in the high tunnel are begging to go in the ground. So are the tomatoes and cucumbers! I was going to put the basil outside with the tomatoes, but I think it likes it in the high tunnel.
The apple trees and the perennial bed look good. I need to do some more hoeing there, too. I think I will spray everything there with Neem Oil. Speaking of sprayers, my sprayer doesn't work right and I will need to get another. I'll see if I can get a couple of them so I can label them for specific purposes, like one for Deer Off, one for Neem Oil, one for Neptune's Harvest, etc. I am imaging "storage shed".
Tom planted quite a bit today in this garden out in front of the house. He checked his garden over by Dad, but his corn isn't up yet. His potatoes look good, too.
I got the book I've been wanting: Genetic Roulette by Jeff Smith. Holy Cow! I got about 1/3 of the way through it and thought I was going to throw up. Honestly, I REALLY felt ill. Everybody needs to read that book. You will not want to buy anything from the grocery store unless it is certified organic and you will look for local producers to buy from. This is a book that will definitely give you nightmares.
I bought some music to play at the Farmers Market to attract customers: Hank Williams, The Carter Family 1927-1934, and Patsy Cline. I am not a Country Western music person, but the old time music fits my marketing style. If I had my druthers, I'd play old Blues, but I don't think the customers care for Blues very much. I thought about buying some polka music, but I've seen people start dancing at farmers markets with polka music, and I want them to buy from me, not dance in front of me!
I finished a roll of film today so hopefully it will turn out and I will have some really nice pics to share with you soon.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Planting and More Planting
We have been VERY busy planting in between the good rain that has come to us this week. Tom re-tilled a couple of the veggie sections for me and I planted early cabbages, dill, onions, lettuces and beets next to the potatoes; and Mandan Bride flour corn and sunflowers went where the wheat was last year. I split that section in half and will plant the squashes and cucumbers in the second half next week. Since it was so hot and dry early on, the oats have not made a good showing and I will till them under and put the tomatoes there. If the peas don't start showing better, I will till them under early and plant green beans sooner than I originally planned. I set up the bamboo tepees for the pole beans, and will plant the rare bush beans in between the teepee rows. The okra, hot and sweet peppers, eggplants, and melons will find their happiness in the high tunnel. Herbs will be planted here and there, wherever I find an opening: I am still working on the design for my medicine wheel garden.
Today, Eddy and I helped Tom plant his corn in the house garden by the farm. He only wants squash and sweet corn there and will put whatever else he wants in the little garden by our house. We finished just as it started to rain. Planting sure goes fast when you have help!
I drew a diagram of the field as it stands this year. I hope you can read my scrawl. If you click on the picture, it will open in a new screen and will be more readable. Use your back button to return to the blog.
Started more sweet peppers in the basement, and I know beans don't like being transplanted, but I am afraid the longer season beans won't have enough time to mature if I direct plant, so I planted a flat of pole beans: Cherokee Trail of Tears, Speckled Cranberry, Scarlet Runner, and Rattlesnake. I think we will be done with the cold weather after next week.
Well, I have to go close up the high tunnel and put the chickens to bed. I can't wait to have enough produce to take to the farmers market! Talk to you soon!
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