Farm & Garden Updates
It was a productive week of transplanting hundreds of brassicas, annual flowers, many herbs and new perennial flowers. Yesterday’s Garden Morning was an awesome kickoff to the weekend (see photo below).
We have a planting of snap peas and one of snow peas, but they are 50% of our targeted amount. There are multiple possible culprits. Cold temperatures and then several inches of rain within a 24 hour period. Also we soaked the seeds overnight in hopes of speeding germination but it may have been an undesirable mix with the subsequent weather. There will be less peas available this spring than we had hoped. Now that the temperatures will be consistently in the ’80s for nearly a week, that adds additional stress for certain spring crops, and the planting window for this crop has closed.
In more upbeat news, we have excellent germination for the second plantings of spinach, carrots and beets. The kale and chard transplants are settling in well and there’s a patch of mixed lettuce greens that will be available in a few days.
Introducing Harvest Helper Hours- Harvest Helper Hours are specific times of the week when someone from littleGrasse will be available to harvest for shareholders. There are many reasons that harvesting may not be realistic for a person for short or long term: mobility, chronic pain, medical recovery, under the weather and more. Folks are invited to the farm during the hours listed below and one of us will be available. If Harvest Helpers would be useful for you, text or call Bob at 315-854-5395 to let us know are interested in this service.
- Saturdays: 9:00-10:00am
- Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm
Dozens of folks attended the May Garden Morning and Potluck. There was a flurry of action including weeding a couple dozen beds plus mulching kale and chard. A crew trellised the peas and another amended the soil in the greenhouse. Several friendly dogs made the rounds, including 5 month old fluffy puppy Moose. Thank You! Thank You!
The onions are coming along nicely in Irene’s field. Some years, there’s been extended early heat that has made it more difficult for the spring crops to transition and start immediate growth in the field.
We caved and planted Brussels and broccoli for the shares! Returning shareholders might recall that in the February farm update we explained how we were reducing the amount of brassicas grown in 2023, due to a disease challenge, see here for reference. As it turns out, we opened up additional field space and have found a home for these popular foods.
This time of year, farming can feel a lot like moving things around. Soil amendments into the field, plants out of the greenhouse or vehicle, transplanting then more transplanting, Piecing it all together- where will all the food go! This week Flip’s mom delivered some lovely celeriac (celery root) and flowers she grew for littleGrasse in her greenhouse. Plant power, invigorates people power.
Tips & Flavor Notes
- Greens are edible leaves, which by their nature are fleeting and transient. Their size and flavor changes quickly as the plant wants to proceed with it’s natural pattern of copious seed making. The leaves often thicken, becoming less sweet and tender. In the garden right now, an example of that is the arugula, which moved into seed production mode (bolting) before we collectively cut the patch. That is how it goes sometimes, especially with greens. There is a second planting of arugula marked in the same field, a few beds to the east.
- Bring us your food scraps! The galvanized trash can at the entrance to the wash stand is a spot to toss your own kitchen scraps, as well as items from the field (such as rhubarb greens other parts of plant that you won’t be bringing home).
- It’s ok to include any food item (including bones and coffee grounds and such), but we don’t want the containers and utensils and bags, even if they are labeled eco or made of plant materials. These take years to degrade.
We tried a rhubarb cake recipe this week. Moist, rich, not too sweet. Note, it was a really thick batter, it took pressing it into the pan. So good, find it here.
Lettuce, it’s time to fill your fridges and bellies with greens!
Crops Available
This list and availability are subject to change, check the share whiteboard at the start of every visit. If you are unsure about how to harvest: ask us! In person, via text or email.
Cell phone numbers, Flip: 315-854-5399 and Bob 315-854-5395.
*Asterisk marks crops added this week
- Arugula
- Chard*
- Green garlic
- Lettuce*
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Spicy mixed greens
- Spinach
Culinary and Medicinal Herbs
- Bronze leaf fennel
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Lemon balm
- Lovage
- Oregano
- Sorrel
We found a freshly hatched painted turtle, making its way through the clover by the new barn.
Hot spell a comin!
-Flip & Bob