Peaches are in full bloom, but temperatures are supposed to drop to 34?? Will we skim by without a true freeze? The greenhouse is to the side of these trees and does provide a degree of warmth each year, hopefully it will be enough. I am hoping also that the Yukon Gold Potatoes do not have to start over with a freeze. The leaves will die with a freeze, but the potato will continue to grow, just a bit slower than I would like; I was hoping for May potatoes. On the other hand the rain and/or snow is welcome and so is a day of rest.

Future Herb Garden

Here is the future herb bed, and hopefully the rabbits agree with us that it can stay. It will be unprotected, but I am hoping that between the "not so desirable" nature of herbs and the fact that they are eating well out of the compost pile that the rabbits will choose to let me keep this as is. Here goes . . . This bed will allow me to increase herb production by 10 fold!!

Italian Bean Sausage Soup with Barley. It does not get much better and closer to the earth than this recipe. Made with fresh pork (easy to use 1 pound packages from butcher), fresh rosemary, sage and braising greens from the garden. A great vitamin filled protein punch soup. I could live on soups like this. Let me know if you are not a CSA member and need the recipe.

Lettuce Choices

Winter Bibb, Revolution, Merlot, Speckled lettuce heads all well on there way. I love the varieties that I can grow since I only deliver a few miles away! These are all favorites of market gardeners across the country. I am fortunate to have a few online forums that I participate in that provide me with great advice from some of the biggest market gardeners in the country and many of them are starting to provide to our schools!! The Revolution, Merlot and Speckled are also in the gourmet lettuce this week. NRCS was out and measured for the second hoop house. I will be financing another 800 sf personally if the grant does not go through, but if it does than another 3,600 sf will be going in this year; that is a lot more produce and in the long run actually easier to manage with being able to plant larger quantities.

New Hoop House Site

The new site will be 20 x 80 in addition to the first site of 20 x 100. I currently work out of 20 x 40 so you can imagine how much this will help. It will enable me to overwinter carrots and beets for continued harvest, expand all winter produce and summer produce will become that much more productive thanks to the protected environment. Green onions and Daikon radishes are going in first. Hopefully the rabbits will leave them alone otherwise the fence being moved will be the next endeavor. For those of you planning a little garden of your own Daikon radishes do an awesome job of breaking up the soil. Also a word to the wise if you are moving a pile of boards where a lizard is hiding from your dogs do not stand too close as you move the last hiding place board; the lizard will run up your pant leg to hide!! It must have been quite a sight as I shook my leg and prayed that he would fall out otherwise I would have been stripping out of my overalls for all to see. For those of you who have been here you know this point of the garden is prime viewing for all my neighbors!!

Tomato Time!

Okay, I checked the temps, here goes, first tomatoes go out over the next few days, but not until I finish prepping the new area for inspection on Tuesday. A few raised beds and I will be done! Of course, you do know at some point I will be running out there to cover these tomatoes and say a prayer over them before the "unexpected freeze" hits; probably something like June 2nd?? Have to love Mother Nature she keeps you on your toes!! Spent some time networking too; definitely not my greatest strength!. Phil and Donna from Fanci Farms are coming in to help with produce and this is a great step for me; that is asking for help!! Val Halla Soaps are coming on board too with soaps and Pets Goat Milk. Thanks to Tom if he happens to see this for his great support with lots of good books and seeds and most of all encouragement!!

Expanding!!!!!!!

Well as I sell out here quicker than I can blink I am planning, and so down goes the fence this week to add another 20x 80 area. I mentioned this to the NRCS (share of cost hoop house project where I currently have an application in for 20 x 100) and she said "Good, it will be farmed land, did you want to add hoop house?". I said "Yessssssss!!!!!" So now I have one 20 x 100 hoop house and one 20 x 80 hoop house pending approval!! In the meantime I will have more room for green onions and everything else that needs to go in the ground over the next 30 days. In the picture is the Piracicabo Broccoli. Broccoli is a costly per head crop, but if you grow this variety and sell this nonheading variety that simply stems out you have a wonderful multiple cutting broccoli with very sweet small heads perfect for steaming, salads and best of all dipping!!