Birdsfoot Farm

Dear All,
I am going on vacation after my shower, just had breakfast.  I planted Mixed Greens, a lot of buck wheat cover crop, hilled the potatoes and wrote out instructions for Ian and Jeremy who will be taking care of the plants and you.  I am so ready to relax for a few days, camping on Cape Cod.  We will see Seba for a few days. I did not have a weekend in a long time.  Between garlic festival and getting the High tunnel ready we seem to be always busy.

The garden s look good.  We got the last carrots, beets and potatoes in.  The onions look better than ever. (I had bought irrigation for them and never needed it because of the rain.)  Unfortunately the leek moth got under the net.  I did apparently not check the edges enough to be tightly sealed.  That is a real bummer, having such a great crop.  We weeded and took the netting off to let beneficial insects in.

We left the greens on the carrots because a friend of ours made the most wonderful pesto with young carrot tops, garlic scapes and basil or parsley or cilantro.

I am supposed to go on vacation now, see you in two weeks.
Dulli

Dear All,
It has been so eventful that I am writing to you so soon again. 
First, we have our annual garlic harvest fest on July 18 and 19 from 9am till done.  I hope to see you there and be part of the fun days.

Come and Celebrate Garlic
Harvest, Peel and Have a Good Time
Sat. July 18 (Live Music 1:00)
Sun. July 19 (Call for afternoon)
Birdsfoot Farm, (315) 386-4852,
1263 CR 25, Canton, 9 am—6 pm

Second, we got our high-tunnel , we named it "High Five" approved , so 3/4 of the costs will be reimbursed.  We planted tomatoes and peppers so far with watermelon and basil to go today. 

Third: We got a surprise visit by the Department of Agriculture food safety division inquiring about our Mixed Greens.  Since they are dunked and mixed in bathtubs they appear to be so clean that they could be taken as pre-washed and for that we would need a processing facility and permit.  I told them that we use the tubs of water to mix the greens and that we have no claim in them being pre-washed.  We have a few days to put the disclaimer on the labels.  Fortunately we were about to have new labels printed and Steve designed them so they also say that we are certified by NOFA, NY LLC.  So, in case you didn't know, please wash your greens before consumption.

That was a lot of officials in one day.  We got three rows of tomatoes and four rows of peppers weeded.  Lots of weeding if anyone has an itch for it, please come and help.
Jeremy is on vacation, I better get out to harvest those greens for the day!
Dulli