Dear friends,
another rainy day and I was catching up on paper work. There is a lot to keep track off, good to have a rainy day to keep up. This week Robert started and we prepared a large bed for the second planting of peas. The peas are soaking to start the sprouting process so they will grow faster when they get planted. Unfortunately we got rained out before planting yesterday.
another rainy day and I was catching up on paper work. There is a lot to keep track off, good to have a rainy day to keep up. This week Robert started and we prepared a large bed for the second planting of peas. The peas are soaking to start the sprouting process so they will grow faster when they get planted. Unfortunately we got rained out before planting yesterday.
 School kids planting peas |  Nice job! |
The first peas are up in solid rows. Today the Little River youngers came to plant the last row of peas. They come once a week to learn to plant and have fun in the gardens. They particularly like jumping on the large round bales of hay after planting.
Last week we got the large netting tent for the brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards and cabbage) up. The netting is 42' wide and 150' long, a bear to move around and put over the bows. We are ready to plant broccoli today, kale and collards are already in. There are no black flies under the net; it is a peaceful refuge. The black flies are not so bad yet, because it is so cool.
Today after planting the broccoli we will mulch and plant basil in the high-tunnel. The tomatoes and lettuce in there are starting to take off. They already got their first weeding done.
Last week we got the large netting tent for the brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards and cabbage) up. The netting is 42' wide and 150' long, a bear to move around and put over the bows. We are ready to plant broccoli today, kale and collards are already in. There are no black flies under the net; it is a peaceful refuge. The black flies are not so bad yet, because it is so cool.
Today after planting the broccoli we will mulch and plant basil in the high-tunnel. The tomatoes and lettuce in there are starting to take off. They already got their first weeding done.
 Terrteck wheel hoe for in row weeding |  Grabbing grass before planting peas |
Tomatoes and lettuce
We also invested in a new wheel hoe from France, a Terratek-wheel hoe. Wheel hoes are like hoes, but with a wheel in the front to assist moving through the aisles rolling and not lifting the how for each stroke. They are efficient and fun to work with even though one needs some upper body and arm strength to push the blade through the earth. We already have four different wheel hoes with different size blades for just their job. This one is different in that it has finger weeders which are soft rubber like gear wheels that interlock around the plants and can weed in the row. The plants have to be rooted enough to not get flicked out by them and then the weeds will be rooted out, so genius! In-row weeding is what takes time, so much of our time and patience. You can tell am very excited, like a kid that got a new big toy.
One fun thing about seeding is the variety and beauty of the seeds. Check out these watermelon seed that look like they had been carved.
One fun thing about seeding is the variety and beauty of the seeds. Check out these watermelon seed that look like they had been carved.
Watermelon seeds
Last week we moved Carol the cow and Felix, her almost two year old son to their summer meadows across the road to Jeff's fields. It was a yearly exciting event to walk them along the road to the gate where they just took off running into the field and jumping for joy. They had pretty much eaten all the grass over here. Carol is due for her calf any day now. She is very pregnant and lays down a lot. Hopefully we can show off a new calf in the next newsletter.
This is the news for now, plantings are on time so far and I hoe for four dry days in a row to continue so. Please remember to sign up for your CSA box, starting June 11thand 14th. Gardenshare still offers bonus bucks assistance for low income folks. To sign up please download and complete the CSA application form, and send to Birdsfoot Farm along with your payment. CLICK HERE to download the application form.
Thank you and peace, Dulli
This is the news for now, plantings are on time so far and I hoe for four dry days in a row to continue so. Please remember to sign up for your CSA box, starting June 11thand 14th. Gardenshare still offers bonus bucks assistance for low income folks. To sign up please download and complete the CSA application form, and send to Birdsfoot Farm along with your payment. CLICK HERE to download the application form.
Thank you and peace, Dulli
