Growing A Farmer: May Flowers and Strawberries are in!!!!

This picture is a week and a half old and already the farm looks different. Things are really starting to GROW!!!

Roses are in bloom

Blackberry flowers

Blackberries in bloom

Blueberries!

Teeny Tiny Little Grapes!

Harvest

In the harvest bins this week: STRAWBERRIES!!!! Kale, Broccoli Raabe, Lettuce, Arugula, Sage, Mint, Oregano, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Radishes, Asparagus, Pea Shoots, Baby Mustard Greens, Lavender, Catnip, Choi and Grape Leaves.

Strawberries are in. Don't they look cute?

Until you are drowning in them....

45# in ONE DAY!

Broccoli Raab, Kale and Radishes

Asparagus is starting to slow down

DeCiccio Heirloom Broccoli

Production and Cultivation

First big delivery to The Pig!!! Rhubarb, Radishes, Grape Leaves, Strawberries, Pea Shoots, Arugula, Asparagus and more!!!

I have been collecting pint containers from the restaurants with the intention of using them for the strawberries. However, after the first delivery of Strawberries I have abandoned them. There are just too many to pack when I end up delivering them by the pound.

Washing Kale

Our new field is a bit out of whack nutrient-wise. The phosphorous is off the charts high which makes it difficult for plants to take up the nutrients they need. This is probably a result of years in tobacco production and will take several years to correct. In the meantime I am working to get the plants what they need through fertigation and foliar feeding. Fertigation is just what it sounds like, Fertilizing through Irrigation. I am mostly providing the plants with compost tea, kelp and fish fertilizer.

Straining compost tea so as not to block the irrigation

Fertigator, this contraption injects the liquid plant food through the irrigation

I finally got around to hanging a fan in the greenhouse. It helps to have it up so high since heat rises. Since I hung it and put it on a timer the greenhouse has not gone above 100.

Our fig tree did not make it through the winter. Or so I thought. But now it looks like the root system is still alive... it is sending up new shoots!

Fig, everything above ground died

The roots are sending up new growth!

I started the leaning and lowering tomato support system in the hoop house... more on this in the next blog post but here's a preview.

We got some good weeding done, thanks Gayle!

And, more rain! 2.5" in one day

Here you can see the floating row covers being held down by old onion bags from Commissary filled with rocks.

And here is the Kale that the row covers are protecting from all the bugs who love to eat it...

I had a few aphids on my Choi but the Lady Bugs found them and stepped up their game. These two will lay eggs who will hatch into lady bug larvae who DEVOUR aphids...

Spring is in the air

Here is a not so welcome bug, the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB). He loves to eat potatoes and anything in the potato family. That includes tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, also known as the night shades.

Colorado Potato Beetle

Planting

We got a new Chestnut tree in the mail from Raintree Nursery and planted it. I have transplanted all of the tomatoes out and seeded more fennel, chard and brussel sprouts.

How do you ship a chestnut tree?

Eating Well

Fried Green Tomatoes with Asparagus Spears at The Pig

EatWell attended the Chef's Best event again this year benefiting Food and Friends. Chef Tate at The Heights featured our kale in his dish.

Chef's Best

What are the restaurants even doing with all those Strawberries? I had to find out. I met some friends on the patio at The Heights and enjoyed a strawberry drink special.