Birdsfoot Farm

Dear All,
Happy Spring,
Equinox has come and the past sunny warmer days have lifted the high spirits even higher.  I am ready for action! This past week I got the starter from the tractor fixed and charged the battery.  Let's see if  Joan Deere will start?  Is she ready too?  The starter was a bear to get in in out, no easy to get to with the wrenches. 
I will wait this next snow and then let down the sides of the high tunnel, which are tied rolled up at the top like a sail for the winter.  That is always a big day, hoping the wind does not pick up until it is all screwed down.  The battens have rotted in just three years and I am going to plastic ones as much as I don't like plastic to ensure good tie down.  We want a warm sunny day for the big high tunnel plastic cover to stretch it tight while warm so there will be no slack later.

I finished the partnership taxes, sales tax ( for flowers) and planned the garden beds. There are 30 beds and the rotation varies as they are different sizes.  It is like a big Sudoku. The little plants are growing well in the Hugging House windows and I bring in snow regular to fill the rain-barrel for watering plants.  Of course I have to wait to water after fresh snow is in the barrel.  I transplanted the first tomatoes that will go into the high tunnel at the end of April into 3" pots.  Peppers are next, but they are not quiet ready.  Later this week I will start seeding flowers.

We are looking for new members.  Ask your neighbors, family, your friend and co workers and get a $50 discount on your CSA for finding a new CSA member!  Sign up yourself before March 31 and save $10 on your share.

I hope you are doing well and can think of all the yummy veggies to come.

peace, Dulli

Hello,
it is winter again.  After I got back from Germany I got to dig sunchokes for a few days, in t-shirt and no hat.  They are sold and I wish I could dig more, but not for a while.  Germany was a lot of fun and I did not think about farming for a month.  I feel deeply rested.  I saw a lot of old friends and had a continuous hang out/party with my family.  We were so obsessed with playing games that we set up candles during a once in a lifetime power outage.  In Germany they are not used to no power, as the lines are underground in the city.

I like coming back to my family here and started seedlings right away.  Peppers and tomatoes and lettuce are up, still waiting for eggplants, celeriac and onions to sprout.  We are cooking sap and the house is warm for germination.  I will not need to use the greenhouse until April.  Last week I went for a few errands in Canton and it ended up taking 1 1/2 hrs, because everybody wanted to chat.  Buying birdseed at the feed store I was asked what birds come to the feeder and at Natures Storehouse I met half the town.  This so different from the city of Hamburg.  I love the small town and people knowing each other. 

Anyway, here is the brand new CSA info for 2018.  My friend Ellie and I are in the process to rewrite the website: birdsfootfarm.weebly.com, to make it more cell phone friendly.  I don't have a cell phone and did not think much about it until one of the SLU students pointed out that young people would not take the time to read so much text without pictures.  The phone screen is so much smaller that it seems only text.  

Emma, who worked for me last year is coming back and I am so happy to have her for a second season.  She will be building a high tunnel next door (which is certified with us) and farm part time after that.  When that tunnel is up we can put peppers and eggplants in it to extend their season.  So far I only put tomatoes into our tunnel to keep a rotation with not too many nightshade family plants to keep disease down.  I seeded twice as many eggplants in anticipation.
Emma wants to put the farm on Facebook.  I have long and still am resisting the idea, but she thinks that it will make a big impact to find more members and to inform you if we have a glut of something.  She will be doing all the posting.  I will still send out my e-mail newsletters to you as I have.  This is all part of getting the younger generation interested in farming and eating good.  I am curious how it will work out.
Please take a few minutes and sign up for the next CSA season and feel free to give feedback on how last season was.  The prices are the same this year.  The bonus buck application for assistance for low income members is also attached .
peace, Dulli