As has been customary since the Roosevelt administration, we farmers like to reflect back on the first 66 days of the current season to assess our success and use the information to forecast how the season will turn out. Why 66? Because that is when this newsletter is written. If we wrote it tomorrow it would be the first 67 days. If we wrote it some time last week it would be more like the first 59 days. Sometime in May? More like 75 days. It’s not rocket science (rocket scientists of course would use the metric system).
But before we get into this season reflecting lets reflect on a few announcements.
Job Opening
We are still looking for someone to work here this season. Since it is the same job as last season I will just link to last season’s job posting. Preference will be given to applicants who can commit to the whole season (May through October) and can work normal business hours (7:30 am to 3:30 pm M-F). However if you can’t commit to these requests please still apply since we haven’t found anyone yet who can.
NextDoor
We seem to have pretty good success recruiting new members via the hyper-local social network NextDoor. If you use NextDoor and feel comfortable sending out a notice on our behalf please let your neighbors know about us (and include a link to our home page). Since NextDoor only allows people in the neighborhood to join we need to rely on you to help spread the word — we can’t join NextDoor neighborhoods where we don’t live. And if you see anyone request a suggestion for a CSA please point them to us! And finally, if one of your fellow members and neighbors mention us do not hesitate to agree as to what a great farm we are. If you don’t think we are a great farm then keep it to yourself.
Potatoe (I learned to spell potatoe from Dan Quayle) Planting Party
We are still planing on planting potatoes on Saturday April 29th from 1:00 until done. We could use as much help as we can get. We may need to switch to Sunday if it is too wet. Everyone can participate. No age limits. No physical limitations either. If you can sit and cut potatoes, we can use you. If you can walk on uneven dirt, we can use you. If you have small hands, we can use you. So please let me know if you can make it! And be sure to check our web site on Saturday morning in case we need to reschedule.
Order SalmonShare soon. Deadline is May 15th.
Order everything else like fruit, cheese, meat, eggs, ice cream, coffee, flowers, and winter share soon just so we have an idea of what to expect this year.
The First 66 Days
Here are our accomplishments for the first 66 days in no particular order and in bullet format to ease reading comprehension!
- Greenhouse seeded (listed in chronological order) shallots, onions, green onions, leeks, celery, celeriac, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, Swiss chard, parsley, oregano, thyme, lettuce, tomatoes, flowers, fennel, kohlrabi, rosemary, more tomatoes, more broccoli, hot peppers, eggplants, sweet peppers, more flowers, more lettuce, more tomatoes, Napa cabbage, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, basil, bok choi, more broccoli and more flowers.
- Enacted eggplant reduction legislation to reduce the number of eggplants grown this season.
- Transplanted broccoli, onions, green onions, shallots, beets, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and Swiss chard.
- Built a bench on the southern border of our greenhouse. A big, beautiful bench.
- Direct seeded snap peas, snow peas and carrots.
- Brought farming jobs back to the farm.
- Planted Spring cover crops of oats, peas, tillage radish and mustard.
- Repealed and replaced our standard pick-up days and times.
- Cultivated the garlic, onions and broccoli.
- Made farming great again!
It has been a tremendous first 66 days and I look forward to the next 196 days! As always, do not hesitate to send in questions. comments, and suggestions for the next 66 days!