Rain, the sequel!

STORM

Well, it's quiet now.  Kids are in bed sleeping.  Even Casea our dog is out.  However, Emily and I sit and wonder if our greenhouse made it through the storm.  We just had a VERY strong thunderstorm with heavy winds and lots of rain.  Through the flashes of lightning I could see that the greenhouse was holding up.  I just don't know if it flooded inside.  My biggest worry, besides the buildings coming down, is all the seed I put in the ground today...atomic red heirloom carrots, two varieties of red beets and golden beets.  I transplanted about 400 swiss chard plants too...  I just wont know if the seed washed away until germination...or not.  I believe they were calling for hail too but I didn't see or hear any.  I hope everyone else made it ok.

TOO WET...

If you haven't noticed or you don't live in this part of the country, we have had a very wet spring.  Most farmers who depend on heavy machinery have been completely unable to get into their fields.  Fortunately, I can do a lot by hand (or foot) so I have been able to do some field work.  But I, like most other growers, am behind in getting field work done.  It's simply been too wet. 

FROST???

Typically, the last frost date in these parts is about May 15th, yesterday.  Welp, I've grown mistrustful of the weatherman but pay attention to his forecasts like my life depends on it.  They are calling for mid thirties tomorrow night and almost as cold the next.  Now I'm glad I didn't set my tomatoes and basil out yet.  I was going to but, gee it was too wet to plant (see TOO WET... above).  About a week ago we got a cold evening down into the upper thirties.  I don't know if this farm is succeptable to frost (cold pocket) but I wasn't taking any chances so I shoveled about three cubic yards of hot steamy mushroom compost in and covered the tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil with tarps.  Welp it worked!  Let's see if I can figure out how to evade a freeze this time.

SEASON BEGINS

Less than three weeks away from the Markets and CSA start up.  We are really excited about getting started.  We'll have lots of greens as usual for the first couple of weeks but should have a good mix by mid June.  If all goes well  we will have over 90 varieties of herbs, vegetables, and flowers this year.  We are still looking for a van to haul veggies with.  I'm thinking something like what Jed Clampet drove in the Beverly Hillbillies!

Aside from this crazy storm, things have been sunny here in more ways than one.  I got a tri-axle load of poop!  Actually aged mushroom compost.  I've been able to amend this new soil (new to me that is...) with the hopes of building tilth and an overall healthy meduim to grow in.  Casea (the dog) has been working hard scouting the property and killing groundhogs.  She's gotten two so far.  We've caught snakes and fish and even buried a couple of birds. 

Anyway, as always, I hope all are well.  Lets pray for just the right mix of sun and rain.  If my seed keeps getting washed away, we'll have one crazy salad bowl in our fields!

Peace.