Planting Frenzy!
The greenhouse is SO FULL, there is barely room to work. Most of these crops are warm weather plants, just waiting for the temperatures to settle. (It was 28 here last night!) I have lots of crops in the ground, but luckily they are all cold tolerant and I was not lured into planting warm season crops when we had those few 80 degree days. Come the first two weeks of June, all of these flats will be acclimated to the wind and cooler nights and it will be time to get them in the ground! If anyone has a couple hours to spare during the day, during the week, I am sure I could put you to work!
The pigs are enjoying their new lifestyle...sleeping on a cozy bed of straw, rooting for grass and laying by the pool side. They are a gregarious bunch this year. Hooting it up as they run around and curiously nibbling my pant legs. They LOVE attention, so be sure to visit them...Just don't touch the electric fence!
Although it's been a little dry, the plants are looking great, and it's given me a chance to get into all of the fields with the tractor. Spring is usually run like mad and then come to an abrupt halt when we get 3 inches of rain. But this year we've just been running like mad. Going from field prep, to planting and seeding, cover cropping and then running irrigation lines. In some ways, I feel a little ahead of the game. I was able to accomplish some tasks earlier than usual, like planting potatoes, and now that I have all the irrigation up and running, I feel ready for summer (although this outrageous wind keeps blowing it all over the place and drying out the fields too fast!)
I am sure many of you have noticed the apple trees this spring. Both ornamental and fruiting, the flowers look and smell glorious. Zach and I were just commenting that it's hard to not just stop and stare at them when we head outside. This beautiful tree is on my neighbors property. I think it has the cutest shape and of course the little swing makes it the quintessential tree. When it fruits, Denis, is gracious enough to share its bounty with the pigs...even though he is a vegetarian ; )
Here is Zach sporting the Little Ridge Farm "crew" t-shirt. He was getting geared up to help me chip a bunch of brush this weekend. He is anxious to plant the PYO flower garden. and is eagerly waiting for the temps to stay above 40...this week is looking hopeful!
This Week's Bounty:
From the root cellar: potatoes, carrots, shallots
From the field/hoop house: scallions, parsnips, lettuce, asparagus, chives, sorrel, rhubarb?
Recipes:
