Starting the Crop Plan
This week I started working on my crop plan for the 2016 season. This begins by looking at what I grew last year, what sold well last year, and what new things I think I might want to add to…
Tag farm work
Time for a Winter Break
Friday was my last farmers’ market for the year. The time has flown by since March when I arrived at the market with spring vegetable seedlings and green garlic. As the year progressed the vegetable seedling selection expanded and contracted; tomatoes…
Garlic in the Ground
Last week I planted garlic. In addition to my favorite garlic variety California Early White, I have also planted an heirloom variety Inchelium Red garlic. I’m excited to see how this new variety grows and taste compared to my old favorite.…
Harvest is Slowing Down
There is not much left in the field. The winter squash has all been harvested. It was a small yield this year because the ground squirrels found out how sweet and tasty butternut squash and all his friends are. They…
Autumn Days
The morning light starts a little later and the evening sunset shows up earlier everyday. The air is crisp and clear, autumn is here. The crops all know that summer is over. The tomato plants are still producing but the…
Tomato Love
The tomato harvest is slowly starting to roll in. The various cherry tomato plantings are all starting to ripen. Even though, back in January when I was working on my crop plan I scheduled the plantings to be weeks apart…
Summer Maintenance
Last week was filled with general summer field maintenance tying tomato rows, patching drip tape that animals have chewed on, mowing the edges of the field, moving flash tape to keep birds away from the wee popcorn, and of course weeding.…
Spring is Busy
I have been busy this spring both in and out of the field. Right now the greenhouse is still packed with seedlings waiting to find their forever home. Out in the field the tomatoes and tomatillos are growing tall, with…
Tool Delivery Day
Last week I received several deliveries of equipment and farm tools. After months and in some cases years of researching and fantasizing about equipment, it is an exciting day when your new toys arrive in the mail. The biggest and heaviest…
Rain Day
Waking up to Thursday’s rain, reminded me of my childhood school days back east, when I’d wake to find school closed because of snow. Instead of a snow day it was a rain day! I was lucky enough not to…