It is quite hard to get to the computer these days, slow down, take a deep breath and write about all that is happening on the farm. Here’s the short top ten list for July (I know there is more that I’m not thinking of):
- planted fall and winter carrots (Bolero — the best!)
- harvested over 350 pounds of beans in five days (woah!)
- planted winter and fall brassicas–cabbage (savoyed..yeah), broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower
- said goodbye to an amazing crew member and the best weeder ever, Pearl. Good luck Pearl!
- saw a porcupine on Thompson Creek Road (Josh)
- received 50 broiler chickens in the mail (who are growing very fast)
- ate the first of the red cherry tomatoes (Matt’s Wild) out of the hoophouse–yum
- started flats and flats of kale, chard, bunching onions, rutabaga, overwintering cauliflower, salad greens
- began building the outdoor kitchen, which we have now promised Cameron & Mark for almost three months
- had about 7 mini-meltdowns about farming and the challenges we face as very small farmers trying to make this whole system work efficiently, profitably and sustainably. We had pretty quick recoveries. I think we’re good now.
- Okay…11 not ten…survived 106-degree weather.
The Ashland Food Cooperative came out and took pictures of the farm last week. Here’s a link to their Facebook page with all the pictures. These are pictures of our leased vegetable field. The other day, Josh and I went to the top of the hill where our irrigation pump lives and saw the view of the field from the top. I promise to take a picture. It was quite astounding to look down at the beauty and diversity of our vegetable farm and realize the accomplishments we have made in the last few months. We need to celebrate those accomplishments more often. They matter.
