My goal of creating an environment of positive energy was achieved over the weekend as 7 of my gardening buddies arrived to lend a hand layering compost, and working with me in the poly house. What I was most afraid of when I resigned as manager of the Farm was losing my connection to the people I cared about and who had become my close friends. It was great to see everyone and catch up, to spend time working outside, and being squeezed together in the poly house where we laughed and laughed.
We are all still trying to get used to communicating via the blogosphere. I found and posted all of your interesting comments and made some adjustments that should make it easier for you to post directly to the blog. It will take some practice, but I believe it will be the best way to exchange information. I will post the weekly chore list and my gardening schedule which will help to eliminate multiple phone calls and emails.
One of the unexpected benefits of the garden's current location in my yard is that it is so visible to people in the neighborhood. I am finally meeting neighbors who I've lived close to for years. It is becoming a challenge to get work done with all the socializing that is going on, but I love that people have taken an interest in the progress of the garden. Many of my neighbors are gardeners themselves and we have been exchanging information and creating a dialogue about organic growing and healthy eating. I believe it is these small scale personal discussions that can lead to real change in the way we think about food in this country.
As you can see, the onions have germinated in the greenhouse. Lettuce, beets, cabbage, scallions, kale, and bok choy have also sprouted and are looking healthy and strong in their seed trays. I seeded eggplant, purple scallions, more onions, and golden beets, but it will be a few more days before the tops of their green leaves are revealed. I also seeded 7 trays of a variety of lettuces for a baby greens mix and all the trays have germinated. However, I realize that I am going to have to continually seed trays every couple of days so that there will be plenty of salad greens to go around. Please check your garages and sheds for black plastic trays (the kind that hold cell packs of vegetables and flowers.) The trays are not expensive to buy, but the shipping costs are out of sight. We also need seaweed for the compost if any of you get to the beach this week.
Cost: Fencing $78.00
Chores this week: plant peas (may wait until sunday, the best day according to the lunar calendar,) and carrots, divide dahlias, layer compost, seed trays of lettuce mix,
Next week: Direct seed: broccoli raab, h.salad turnips, arugula, and spinach.
Poly house seeding: basil, peppers and zinnias.
Garden time this week: Thursday (9-11), Friday, Saturday morning
Did a box of dahlias made up the second box for Leah. Left two on table in poly house that I could not find eyes on and one was a blue tag so maybe we'll get lucky with it or not! Wood ashe is in the garage in a clear bag. If you leave instructions of what you want done either in poly house or garage that will be great it should be nice tomorrow! Will look at the bog from first posting to last and get some thoughts down on community farm letter we spoke about soon.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to see if I can actually use this weird blog thing to communicate.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed seeing the new "digs" and seeing old friends.
Let's see if this works!
Hooray Nancy!!! Welcome to the blogosphere! It was great to see you today. You and Dona B did a great job planting those tiny carrot seeds! Have a great weekend...
ReplyDeleteJen we can test out if the animals in the area will be attracted to seafood. evidently the refrig in garage went off at one point so have some defrosted fish and whole bag of shrimp. Don't know if you want it in the compost or the tumbler. I'll be by on Fri early. Hope it is as nice as today was.See wonders never cease Nancy and I computer non wizards can even bloggggggg!
ReplyDeleteMom,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the ladies are getting the hang of the blog posting situation :)Good job Everyone !!
Dona B,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely bring the seafood over. We should also get some seaweed. We have enough stuff to layer again, but I need to mix up a batch of compost starter that won't be available to use until tomorrow (saturday.) We can either keep the seafood in the fridge or put it in the tumbler until tomorrow.
Jen:
ReplyDeletefun reading the blogs.Esp. us who grew up using party line phones. Will come by Sat early to help.
Now for the part of farming we all like the best:NUTRTION:spring alliums abound. They are an ancient food that were sent by the bagfuls into the afterlife with the Pharaohs. Alliums are of two catagories: sweet like the chives, garlic scapes,and ramps and fall storage onions.
Alliums are rich in flavinoids that help ward off predators in the wild and are associated with reduced risk of cancer and heart disease today. Then why don't we just adore alliums; well because the reek, give us bad breath and stinging eyes. this is due to a sulfuric coumpound that attack the nerve endings in your nose and eyes. These sulfur compounds are absorbed through the allium root from the soil. To make the point: this is why Jen is so careful with her ammendments and sources of soil nutient.