Each year we trial new and different varieties of vegetables to see if we can discover something unique that our members would enjoy. This year is no different. One of the items we are trialing is a broccoli cross called “Happy Rich”. It is a small headed broccoli that is sweeter than typical broccoli and develops faster. Our thought was this would be a better early broccoli for those first few weeks when not a lot is growing. Seems like a reasonable plan.
Well, surprisingly the results are already in and are quite positive. Who’d a thought we’d have results from our trial before the season even started? It has been determined that Happy Rich is incredibly delicious and irresistible – at least to deer. Yep, you read that right. I hope everyone enjoyed the Happy Rich they’ve had to date since there isn’t much left out there. Never before have we had a problem with deer eating brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, etc.). Sure they have eaten our lettuce. Then they started liking our beets. Not a year later the swiss chard was chosen as yet another tasty treat. But this year the deer have a hankerin’ for broccoli. Oh, but not only broccoli. They also have a hankerin’ for Brussels sprouts! Who the %&@#$ likes Brussels sprouts? Obviously we are growing some delicious Brussels sprouts this year.
You are probably wondering how we plan to prevent the deer from eating these crops? That’s easy. First we are encouraging the neighbors to plant gardens. Second, we transplanted the beets this week so the deer can feast on them instead. Our hope is that the deer will eat the beets. Then they’ll be surprised by their red urine and think they have kidney disease. They will freak out. Go see a doctor. Become embarrassed at their stupidity and then not come back. If that doesn’t work we are putting together some hoops and cloth to protect the plants from the deer’s midnight snacking.
Other than feeding the deer we are pretty much just planting and planting. So far we have put in onions, shallots, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, Swiss chard, beets, broccoli, kohlrabi, peas, carrots, and parsnips. Later this week (if the weather cooperates) we’ll transplant the lettuce, bok choi, and more scallions. In the greenhouse we recently planted squash, and another round of broccoli. We’ll seed sweet corn this week if the weather cooperates. We are still waiting for our sweet potato slips; we have the hoop house setup and ready to go.
How about a few announcements?
Currently the Wednesday harvest day has more than half the total shares sold to date. Though we can work with this it would be better if the demand was more spread out across the whole week. It evens out the workload for our workers and more importantly for the plants. Anyone want to switch from Wednesday or Thursday to Monday or Friday? Pick-up times are 3:30 to 6:30 on both those days. Just let me know and I can make the switch. Even if you don’t remember which day you chose and want to switch just let me know and I can make the change.
Last call for SeafoodShare and SalmonShare. We place our order on May 15th so have your order to me by the 14th.
Keep sending people our way for purchasing those shares. I’m not sure why the slowdown the last month or so but we’d like to sell out again this year.
Herb plants will be ready the week of May 19th.
Down to six EggShares left. Let me know ASAP if you’d like some eggs this summer.
Of course you can still order fruit, coffee, cheese, meat, flowers and winter share.
Why do potatoes always argue?
Because they can never see eye to eye.