April Showers

A rainy day is a great opportunity for updating the farm blog, after planting the squash and cucumbers of course! Even though it might not be the most pleasant weather to work in, cloudy and rainy days are the perfect conditions for transplanting. We’re in a transplanting frenzy this time of year, with more and more going in the ground each week. It’s also the start of the farmers market season. We’ll be back at both the South of the James and the Carytown farmer’s markets this weekend. This spring we’ll be bringing some heirloom tomato plants to sell at the market in addition to our chemical-free produce. We’ve still got a few spots left in our CSA, so if you’ve been thinking about joining, you’re not too late! It starts the weekend of May 30th, and you can find all the details by clicking here. By joining a community supported agriculture program you are making a commitment to support a small farm, but you are also making an equally important commitment to yourself- to eat healthy locally grown food each week. See you at the market!

Lettuce patiently waiting its turn to be planted.

Lettuce patiently waiting its turn to be planted.

Potato plants off to a great start.

Potato plants off to a great start.

Preparing the field for spring transplants.

Preparing the field for spring transplants.

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Greenhouse Season

This spring is turning out to be quite different than last year. I spent some time looking back at the temperatures for 2012 in the Richmond area:  the last date with temperatures in the 30’s was March 11th, and we had already experienced several weeks with temperatures in the 80’s! With nighttime temperatures forecast to be in the 30’s the next couple of days, I sure am glad to have a greenhouse. Swiss chard and Kale will survive a light spring frost, but starting them in the greenhouse will speed things up considerably. They’ll be going in the ground soon though, to be replaced by the rapidly growing tomato, pepper, and eggplant seedlings.

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Swiss chard in the greenhouse.

 

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Kale as far as the eye can see.

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Green onions.

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Dinosaur kale.

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More kale.

It Begins!

It may seem wintery outside, but we’ve already started sowing seeds! Perennial herbs take a long time to establish so we’re giving them a head start so they will be producing in time for the farmer’s market and CSA. They will spend their first few weeks inside under grow lights before they move out into the greenhouse.

Gus is sowing herbs into trays of potting soil.

Gus is sowing herbs into trays of potting soil.

Look how tiny the oregano seeds are!

Look how tiny the oregano seeds are!

Sowing oregano.

Sowing oregano.

If you’re looking for info on the 2013 CSA, it’s right here!