Pollination of the Corn
The popcorn has all tasselled out and now the ears are starting to develop. I love watching the pollination progress of the corn plant, as its different from other crops. The tassel which emerges from the top, after all of…
Tag popcorn
Field Observations
Everything is getting tall. The popcorn is about hip high and so are some of their companion weeds … I did get about half the popcorn field weeded. The bush bean plants which will later be dried beans are blooming…
Just Keep Weeding, Just Keep Weeding
I’m still weeding the field, I mean I’m not sure it will ever end. When you work for yourself, you make the work schedule, create the tasks, you are the enforcer, and you are the employee. Normally I’m a great…
Oh Weeds
Right now it’s weeding time. The field is almost completely planted so the focus is on maintaining and nurturing everything to grow big and beautiful. This is the part of the season where you have to remind yourself that as…
Seedlings for Sale
Yesterday I returned to the Sonoma farmers’ market. The last time I was at the Friday market it was a grey cold day in December, I only had pumpkins and popcorn for sale. A lot has changed in four months, the…
Organic Seedlings
The greenhouse is filling up with vegetables at different stages, some seeds have just germinated, some are wee little sprouts, others have put on their first set of true leaves, and a couple are big enough to be potted up…
Popcorn Research
While visiting family over the holidays I had the opportunity to go to the National Agricultural Library in Maryland. The National Agricultural Library is one of four national libraries of the United States and houses one of the world’s largest…
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…
Waiting on the Popcorn
The popcorn crop is not ready for popping yet, it was all harvested weeks ago but the wait continues. Most years I’m eating bowls of fluffy popcorn by the second week of November. I shouldn’t be surprised as I stare…
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…