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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Nina Harris RootVue Planting Project

My sister Steph is pretty cool. She teaches profoundly disabled children at Nina Harris, a public school in Florida, and she came up with a science project for them that was right up my alley. It started with a fundraiser at DonorsChoose.org where she raised money to purchase four RootVue Boxes. These boxes have one clear side which allows you to see the roots growing underground.

With the boxes purchased Steph and her assistant Cathie bought seeds and began teaching their kids about how plants grow and what roots do. They wanted to planted some root vegetables and some vegetables that grow above ground so that the kids could see the difference. Lucky for me I was home in Florida visiting on the big day and got to go in and help the kids plant.

As I prepared the soil we took some to each kid and let them feel it and smell it. These kids are not able to play in the yard or on the playground and may never get a chance to interact with the earth like this. This was my favorite part of the experience because I love playing in the dirt and I loved sharing that with these special boys.
Ian couldn't move much but would show his interest with long stares

Cyriz was so excited about the soil and all the seeds 

















Eric got pensive and interested with each new thing we showed him



Steph showing Cyriz how the RootVue boxes work

We all worked together to get the 4 boxes planted

Cyriz tended to explore the world with his mouth
so I had to keep the seeds at a distance, but he was enthralled.

Eric the gardener

Harris, the ever smiling, ever laughing future farmer
Ian helps to plant a seed


About a week later the seeds are sprouting. Yes, I told her to thin them out but now I'm just an out of town consultant. 


Beets, Onions and Radishes all coming up!
Check back later for more pictures and updates from the class including a peek at those roots!

Sweetest Thank You Card Ever. 

If you want to show your kids or classroom how cool roots are check out this book by Kathleen V. Kudlinksi. What Do Roots Do?




Sunday, March 24, 2013

EatWell Natural Farm Week 1

This week began a new adventure in farming as I started in my role as Farm Manager at EatWell Natural Farm.  The farm is owned and operated by EatWell DC

"Eat Well DC was not just conceived as a restaurant management company, but a place where synergy is created. We bring together great food, service and people to create an exciting & provocative atmosphere. EatWell DC operates five neighborhood restaurants and employs over 180 people. The partners also own and operate a private farm in La Plata, Maryland, less than 40 miles from DC. We care very much about our many loyal guests and care equally about our team. We’re in business to make a profit but we do it with our people and the planet in mind first. Quality of life and profitability go hand in hand at EatWell DC."

I arrive Sunday night and Monday morning I woke up to this!

Old Tobacco Barn



Snow covered deer fence


The main field behind the farm house

Luckily it warmed up and all that snow was melted by the afternoon.




I am staying at the farm for a few weeks while I settle in and find a comfy spot to plant myself in Southern Maryland. It is a beautiful farm house with some great WWI and II era artwork. 



Feeding the Farm

As soon as the snow melted the work started. These fields have been worked for 2 seasons now and the original soil tests indicate a low pH and low organic matter content. So each year they spread lime, manure and compost. This year was no exception and these tasks have kept me pretty busy all week. 


First I spread Lime to raise the pH of the soil. Veggies like a pretty neutral soil between 5.5 and 7.5.



Next I spread 3 pallets of composted manure, about 9,000lbs with a a wheelbarrow and a shovel. Talk about a shitty job. Just kidding. The weather has been amazing and it felt good to get back to the land after a long cold winter.













On Saturday we received delivery of 60 Cubic Yards of compost. This truck was only half the load. Tony, one of the partners at EatWell DC, helped me spread all the compost. He dumped it in small piles all around the fields with the tractor and I spread it out with a rake. It only took about 4 and a half hours.




One thing there is NO lack of right now is Lady Bugs! This surely bodes well for a successful season. 



Here are a few Lady Bug Wive's Tales, I find them quite charming. 

  • The Norse believed that the ladybug came to earth by lightning and was connected to the goddess of love and beauty.
  • In northern Germany, counting the spots on the backs of ladybugs would tell if they could sell their harvest. If the ladybug had less than seven spots that meant they would have a large harvest.
  • The French believe that a ladybug in their vineyard is a sign of good weather.
  • Austrians would ask ladybugs for good weather.

  • In Sweden if a ladybug walks on a girl’s hand it signifies that it is measuring her hand for wedding gloves, which means she will be married soon.

  • If a ladybug lands on you and then flies away watch it carefully, the way it flies is the direction of your true love.

  • When a ladybug lands on a woman in Burgundy, she should count the dots to see how many children she will have.

  • The country dwellers of England believe the spots on a ladybug stand for the months of happiness that are to come.

  • In Canada, finding ladybugs in your garage during the winter is a sign of good luck. If you pick up the ladybug and make a wish the way it flies is the direction in which the luck will come.
On a more practical note, one Lady Bug can eat as many as five thousand Aphids in a life time. That makes these cuties a valuable beneficial insect and explains why they are so loved by gardeners all over the world. 

There was also cleaning, inventory and ordering to be done. 


Crop Planning and Seed Orders



Harvest bins being washed and counted.


Seed Delivery, this should get us through May

And I was formally introduced to a very important member of our team, Priscilla, the tractor.




Hard to spot but there are huge hawks flying around each morning and evening.


Shitakes!

Sunday I met Jillian. She is a local landscape designer, master gardener, permaculturist and cool chic. She, Jesse (local kid/awesome helper), and I spent the afternoon inoculating Oak logs with Shitake Mushroom spores in a sawdust medium. Jillian did all the research and ordered the inoculant and the tools. Jesses cut down the trees (you have to use live wood) and sawed them into 4' logs. Then he drilled all the holes. Jillian and I injected the inoculant with special Japanese tools and sealed the holes with hot cheese wax. 
Red and White Oak logs ready to go




Holes drilled 6" apart with a special bit
Special Japanese tool :)

Jillian injecting the inoculant


Melting the wax on a camp stove

Sealing the hole with hot wax


Inoculated and sealed

12 Shitake Mushroom logs!

Eating Well

As things shape up around here I may return to my old format of Harvest, Production, Maintenance, Planting and Farm Life and I think I'll add this one; Eating Well. I hope to feature some of the foods I enjoy from the farm and locally around Maryland as well as some of the food from the EatWell DC Restaurants. 
There were a few things left to harvest that had over wintered. This week I thoroughly enjoyed the Brussel Sprouts. 
Looking up at the head of the plant

Sauteed with olive oil, sea salt and a squeeze of lemon. 

I also harvested the last of the Kale and sent it off to the restaurants with Tony. I did keep a little for myself as a treat for all that compost spreading.
Fresh Kale
















Braised with a little butter and sea salt



Puddy Time
Soaking up the sun




Because she is so cute, and because half of you would get up and walk out if I didn't include it, here is a little Puddy time for you. For those of you new to the blog, Puddy is my 5 year old lab/pitt mix who loves hanging out on the farm with me. She keeps me company, keeps the ground hogs at bay (hopefully) and brings a nice close to the blog every week. And so, without further ado, it's Puddy Time...

Surveying her new realm


Jillian brought her dog, Betty. Betty and Puddy had a blast chasing each other all over the farm. As I write this Puddy is passed out on the couch after a long day of running and playing.