This week has been busy, but it all seems manageable. What used to take me several hours at the Farm, now takes just a few minutes. I am no longer overwhelmed by putting up 7 beds of pea trellises or fertilizing dozens of garlic plants, or planting thousands of arugula seeds. I love that I can walk outside my kitchen door to check on my plants which all seem to be thriving. This week I weeded the herb bed, transplanted the onions, seeded 4 trays of tomatoes, and direct seeded the Swisss chard. I had the irrigation lines repaired and the heads raised. With a few minor adjustments, the existing irrigation system now covers the entire garden area. I made a salad from the bag of baby greens that I harvested last week. I could feel the texture of the individual greens in my mouth and I could actually taste the difference in the varieties that went into the mix. It left me wanting more. So this morning I planted 16 more trays of greens that should be ready to cut in about 2 weeks. I will be on the lookout for trays and will try to keep up with the planting. Being out in the garden in the early mornings is peaceful and meditative. I have seen cardinals and blue jays in the magnolia tree. I can watch the robins pecking for worms in the garden. There is a swan that takes off like a plane on a runway on the lake behind the house searching for food for the female who has not left her nest in weeks. I realize how lucky I am to live with this beautiful garden that nourishes my body and soul. It is an oasis and I am grateful to be here. At the same time I know that there are many people who are not as fortunate as I. They live in food deserts and have no access to healthy food at all. There are entire city neighborhoods of fast food outlets and convenience stores where the residents have to take two or more bus rides just to be able to buy a head of lettuce or a bag of carrots. I can't imagine how awful that would be, but it is a reality for so many people. My neice Julia just did some research on these food deserts. I am curious what you discovered Jules? I would be especially interested in learning your thoughts on possible solutions......By the way, congratulations on your summer internship!
The peas are up
April rains go away Judy wants to garden. After being out of sync with the farm schedule for 2 weeks Sunday was my day to play and I am soooo ready to get my hands dirty. The season had another idea. Still out of sync but not out in mind. I will be in Vermont preparing the land for the growing season next week and thinking of all my friends who are sharing wonderful renewal energy with Jen.
ReplyDeleteHaving much experience with food and nuture; I have a lot of thoughts on the enpoverished soul. Statistically Julia is right that economic poverty is linked to opportunism. Conversly; so is the enpoverished soul.
A question for the farmer. I am using manure pots to start my begonia bulbs and they developed a white fuzzy fungus that I assume is from too much moisture. How do you assess how much water to add to your potting pods?
Be home soon.
Love, Joules
I think you are correct that your begonias are getting too much moisture. I water pots and seed trays thoroughly, until the water drips out of the bottom. But then I don't water again until the tops of the trays and pots feel dry to the touch. Not parched and completely dried out, but dry. Too much moisture leads to fungus, as you have seen, and damping off which kills the seedlings.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see it this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much aunt Jenna! I am very excited about the internship! I'll be in the city until August 13th, so I was thinking if you ever need an extra hand after my mom leaves the beach, I could come on the weekends and help out in your garden! I would love to learn all about it. Also, I learned some very startling statistics about "food deserts". Most of my research was based upon food deserts in Chicago, and I discovered in the Chicago Suntimes that over 500,000 Chicagoans live without easy access to mainstream grocery stores or whole vegetables and fresh meat. And you know I really don't know where I would start fixing this! Walmart and Farmer's Best grocery stores are starting to emerge in Chicago food deserts, which is a great start. But, I think community gardens would be the best option, especially if kids were allowed to get involved and participate. In Peru there is a program called Ania which I worked with a few summers ago, and their main goal is to allocate a certain amount of the land, I think 1% or something, to children to learn to garden. We went down there and turned a former yard that was filled with old construction supplies into a garden filled with fruit trees and vegetables, etc... Its actually a really interesting program that tries to teach kids about taking care of the earth so they will grow into adults that will do the same.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting stuff!
Anyways, things look like they are going great over there, I can't wait to come to NY and check it out!
I too am a fortunate one...and grateful!! I am getting excited to do my shopping at the farmers market again now that the warm weather is on its way. Julia if you see this congratulations on your internship and we need to chit chat soon :) Mom I am so looking foward to seeing the garden in action. I havent been home in so long...see you soon !!
ReplyDeletePlanted the asparagus on Sat so they have gotten plenty of water. Hope to see them sprout in the near future. Dropped off compost in the tumbler and turned it a few times. Hope to get by this week. What days are you there in the afternoon after 3?
ReplyDelete