The outdoor farming season has begun at Fresh Earth Farms! Well, let me clarify that a bit. We are preparing the soil for planting this season. We aren’t planting anything out yet but we are prepping the soil. So I guess we could say the outdoor season is underway.
With the forecasted cold temperatures coming up this weekend we are holding off planting out in the field. Most plants we plant this time of year can handle cold, but when forecasts call for 28 degrees we can typically expect temps of 24 or lower out here. At 24 we risk losing plants – even the frost hardy plants. And if they are newly transplanted they tend to be more susceptible to injury and death so planting them out now is not worth the risk.
We did do something different this year that seems to be paying off. We typically plant the early crops in smaller 1” cells. The size of the planting cell we use is dependent on the size of the plant at the time we want to transplant it. Plants that are small when transplanted can be planted in smaller cells. This allows for more plants in a given amount of greenhouse space. Plants that grow fast or that we want big when we transplant them are seeded in larger cells. Though this takes up more greenhouse space it is worth the extra space since it gives us a larger jump on the growing season.
As I was saying, we typically plant the broccoli in 1” cells. This allows the plants to get big enough to transplant in the five or so weeks that are growing in the greenhouse. This season we felt that the spring might be starting a bit later. So we planted the first planting of broccoli in 1.5” cells. I think we made the right choice. Not only will we have larger plants to eventually transplant, but we should still get the broccoli in the earliest weeks of the season, despite starting the planting season weeks later than usual.
The garlic we planted last fall is up and looking great (see the above picture)! Garlic is pretty frost hardy so we shouldn’t have a problem with the temps this weekend – cross your fingers.
We are looking to purchase a high tunnel this season. A high tunnel is basically an unheated greenhouse. It provides a more controlled environment for growing our crops. Many farmers use them to grow early tomatoes. Other use them to grow plants that are not quite hardy enough for Minnesota winters. One great benefit to high tunnels is that they keep the rain off the plants. What? Don’t we want the plants to get water? Well, yes we do. And rainwater is a good source of water. Unfortunately it also gets the foliage wet which promotes diseases. By growing plants in a more controlled environment we should have fewer disease problems. Look for future announcements regarding a high tunnel raising party!
Potato Planting Party
Speaking or parties, plan to attend the first event of the 2011 season: Potato planting! Potato planting is a great starting activity. It is easy. It doesn’t involve bending. Small children can participate. And the result (eventually) are yummy potatoes! Here ar the details:
What: Potato Planting
Where: Fresh Earth Farms
When: Saturday April 30th 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty. No school clothes! All are welcome to participate. PLEASE RSVP if you plan to attend so we know how many people we can expect!
Final Payments Due
If you haven’t made arrangements, and you haven’t paid for your shares yet, please do so as soon as possible. Final payment was due March 31st. If you don’t know how much you owe please let me know and I will send you a breakdown of your account.
Additional Products
Also please consider adding additional products to your account! We have delicious, certified organic fruit that is a great compliment to the vegetables. The fruit comes from small family orchards so you are supporting like minded farmers.
Then there is organic chicken, beef and pork from pasture raised animals. These animals are treated quite well and live a happy life. If you eat meat this would be a great way to purchase meat from a local, small family farm raising animals in a humane way.
We also sell raw milk cheese from grass fed cows. Much like the above mentioned meat, this cheese comes from very happy cows raised in a wonderful environment. It is a local, small family farm that produces the cheese.
For you coffee drinkers please consider our CoffeShare. This is as close as you can get to buying coffee right off the plantation. The local family that provides the coffee has their brothers and cousins growing it in Honduras. Plus it is delicious coffee!
We also have flowers and Winter Storage shares. Two more ways to enjoy products from the farm!
If you are a current member and would like to add any of these to your account just send me an email and forward payment at your earliest convenience.
We are still taking orders for the 2011 season. Please spread the word. We’d love to sell out as soon as possible so we don’t have to recruit anymore.
Speaking of recruiting, I will be at the Seward Co-op CSA fair this weekend. Stop by and say “Hi” if you are in the neighborhood.
That is all for now. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.