Yay, more rain! The only thing growing in my still uncovered and underwater high tunnel are frogs and tadpoles. Lots of them. And just when I thought the eggplant was making a much needed comeback – that’s a big fat nope. That third planting of cucumbers I was banking on to fill my cuke cravings? Yea, that’s them above. Disease climbing right up them before I’ve even picked one fruit off them. 5 (more) straight days of leaf wetness will do that to even the most promising plants that are prone to fungal disease. You can be sure that if we get anything out of this cucumber planting, it won’t be much. This season is unprecedented in my 10ish seasons of being at the mercy of the weather (ie farming).
On the brighter side of the rainbow, roots and greens love the rain (to an extent). Below is a nice spicy salad mix just starting to size up. I can’t get enough of that Tokyo Bekana – the main non-lettuce component in the spicy mix last week (large yellowish leaf in picture below). Not sure why it took me this long to remember its glory.
Sure would be nice to be raising beef on Potter Hill right now because our pastures are lusher than I’ve ever seen, which is really saying something! Diversification is incredibly important in farming – it’s pretty much a guarantee that whatever does well this year will crap out on you next and vice versa. But this farmer can only be pulled in so many directions before I tear. Next year I’m hoping for a business partner that can raise animals while I focus on veggies and children. Wouldn’t that be nice!? You could get your meat, veggies and eggs all in one place! Come back Jeff…dream farm! If you know any Jeff 2.0s, send them my way.
Anyway, enough dreaming about the future and back to the here and now. Jenni tells me we’re going to meet Nora tomorrow. It would be about a month early so no need to panic just yet. But then again, this isn’t her first rodeo, so I’m hitting the hay early(ish) tonight.
Veggie Ordering and Pickup Procedures:
Put your veggie orders in online before
6am Monday. We’ll have your order available for you to pick-up from
4-7pm Monday on the farm at 64 Potter Hill Rd in Grafton. Pickups are in the long white garage on the left across from the big red barn at the crest of the hill.