April 18th, 2008

Greetings,

Today, as I was in the field putting row cover on in alternating gales and sun breaks, I was musing how spring is the season of multiple personalities. (Okay, I was cursing some, too!) It is 8o degrees one Saturday and threatening snow the next. I feel like an artichoke when I go out to work as I am constantly peeling on and off layers as the sun dodges behind clouds and pops out again. Jim and I each have a few inside and outside projects going at any given time so we have something to do when the rain squalls hit.

Jim plowing

It is cold this spring, more so than usual, I think. There have been a few dry windows, though, and we have been able to plow up some ground and get the first round of peas, carrots, and spinach planted. Cylas, our 10 yr. old is my official "tractor seeder unclogger". He faithfully follows behind the tractor as I seed and yells when the seeder binds up with clods of cover crop debris. He'll clear away the roots, check to see if seed is still coming out and then waves me on with a bit of self-important attitiude. I love it! Sane seeding in new ground could not be done without a helper like that.

The greenhouse is quickly filling with plants that will brave the elements soon enough. It is this time of year that proves just how much of a gamble farming is. We are at the complete and total mercy of the weather. We can make plans, but how and when we execute them is not entirely up to us. It seems to always work out though, and we are rewarded for our faith and trust when the first peas and carrots are ready to be eaten. There is also security in the style of farming we engage in: diversification. We grow so many different crops and do multiple plantings of many so there is always a great variety and quantity of produce. I would hate to put all my eggs in the proverbial one basket.
We, like you, are chomping at the bit to eat fresh, homegrown veggies once again. The produce isle in the store just depresses me and there is not much left from last year’s crops. The kale and leeks are starting to flower and the potatoes are getting wrinkled and sprouty. So sad. Oh well, I suppose this time of year makes the abundance of late spring and summer all the more meaningful.

We still have CSA shares available. Click here to download a registration form. Tell your friends and neighbors.

Happy spring!
Jennifer