Intoxicating scents

Have you seen the documentary "Fridays at the Farm?" It's a short film, 24 minutes, and a personal essay exploring the experience of writer/ director Richard Hoffman when his young family joins a community supported farm (CSA.) Compiled from nearly 20,000 time-lapse photos, the film follows the director on his journey from being a passive observer to an active participant in the planting and harvesting of produce on the farm. "Fridays at the Farm" has been on the international film festival circuit for the past year and is part of the Green Series on the Sundance Channel. Go to http://vimeo.com/2100402 and type in the password fridaysscreener to view the film right on your desktop. I was moved by it and I think you will be too. Although I am no longer involved in the Farm at St. Peter's, I am still a big supporter of the principles and philosophy behind CSA's.
I've been remiss in posting to the blog this past week because it has been too nice to be inside typing on the computer. However, I'll give you a quick recap on what has been happening outside.
I spent some time weeding, cultivating and pruning the perennial herbs. I trimmed the boxwood hedges and made room for the cilantro, dill, parsley, and thyme that I had started earlier in the poly house. I love working with the herbs and inhaling the scent of rosemary, thyme, and lavender as I brush past the plants. It is natural aromatherapy and I can spend long stretches of time meditating in the perfume scented beds.
Out in the vegetable garden I transplanted collards. Collards are a staple in most southern households, but I had never tried them until last year when I went to Charleston to visit my college roomate and ate dinner in a rib place called 9 bones. The ribs were fine, but the collards, which were cooked in bacon fat and lots of butter, were unbelievable! I know, it probably wasn't the healthiest thing in the world to eat, but it certainly was delicious!  I also transplanted golden beets, purple scallions, and broccoli raab. I planted the nasturtiums along the front fence where they will provide color once the tulips have faded and zinnias along the side fence where I'll be able to cut them all summer long.
I direct seeded Swiss chard which has already germinated out in the garden and seeded 4 trays of tomatoes and 2 trays of fennel which will grow for several weeks inside the poly house.
We weeded the peas and added some poultry fencing to the bottom of the trellises which will give the young vines something to grab on to as they begin their long climb up towards the sky.
We finally enclosed the vegetable garden with poultry fencing that we stapled onto the bottom rail of the split rail fence. Knock on wood, I haven't seen many rabbits around, but the fencing will help to keep them out of the vegetable garden. I still need to buy 12 more rails to complete the fence along the top.
Around the property the azaleas and dogwood tree are blooming. And across the road a purple wisteria vine that I planted 10 years ago along the fence is blooming. I can enjoy its intoxicating scent as soon as I step out my back door.
Chores this week:
Buy pvc pipe at Home depot and paint dark green to use for dahlia stakes.
Begin moving dahlia tubers to the cold frame to harden off. Start planting by the weekend.
Work on planting topiaries with small leaf plants.
Greenhouse: seed zucchini, summer squash, and more lettuce
Direct seed: radishes, more arugula
Transplant: Leeks
Jen's gardening schedule this week: Tues, wed, thurs a.m.,  maybe friday, saturday.
My schedule is subject to change