New Leaf Organics
One Farming Mama
Yup, we’re moving things outside. One, because we are running out of space inside our greenhouses, and Two, because it is officially mid-April. We’ve got a short growing season up here and that means you’ve got to capitalize on every week you’ve got. So, despite the 40 degree and raining weather outside, we are hardening off (essentially torturing with cold) our onions, swiss chard, kale, snapdragons, and a few other cold tolerant items. Last week we transplanted spinach and seeded our first round of early veggies; mesclun, arugula, carrots, beets, peas,etc out into the fields. Everyday now I go out and check to see what, if anything, has started to show itself. It is sort of a silly excercise, I admit but the ritual of seeing the first seeds germinating in the field has become my official/ mental start date for high gear. In that same vein, until I see those first little guys, I am feeling like I am stuck in between pre-season and full on high energy mode. So far, only a few peas are brave enough to poke out into this weekend weather.
We’re also moving plants out to our local Coop in Middlebury to sell. Yesterday I accomplished my first solo plant delivery with two kids for the season. I feel like I truly deserve a gold star as I was dreading it and it was fairly painless. Perhaps the produce staff wouldn’t agree with me on that one because my tolerance for noise may be a little higher than theirs, but no real parenting catastrophes for sure. Alas, when done setting out the plants, we were in snack heaven for Ruby, so we finished well. Now our real tasks for the week are getting the farm stand in order and getting some things in the ground.
