Gearing Up for the First Week of 2019

It’s not too late to enroll in the CSA! 40 weeks of deliciousness, starting in early April! There are still a few open spots.
Click here to download the enrollment form.

If a weekly pickup is too much, try a Mystery Box subscription. Eight monthly boxes of produce, with a touch of unusualness.
Click here to download the enrollment form.

After the freezing and snowing of January and February, what a gift it was to have sunny, warm weather in March. So many things are planted!

It’s been a warm and sunny week—the temperature topped out at 85° on Tuesday! While it was a shock, it dried out the wet ground nicely and I was able to get a bunch of things planted. Based on the early springs of the last two years, I had planned on starting the CSA and Farmers Market Season the weekend of March 28. However, the endless freezing nights and snowy days created delays in growth of overwintered crops, as well as early sowings outside.

First crop of beets have popped up.

I started planting in soil, inside the hoop houses in February. But it was so cold (some nights were 17°) that it took quite a long time for them to germinate. Now that we’ve had some warmth, all of the crops I planted inside have sprouted. It’s a relief to see the seedlings in their rows: Carrots, Beets, Turnips, Arugula, Mustard, Chervil, Cilantro, Dill, Miners Lettuce, and Spinach. Up in the heated greenhouse at Auburn Mountainview High School, the Basil, Parsley, Thyme, Green Onions, Leeks, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, and Artichokes are all clipping along nicely.

The earliest carrots come from planting in a greenhouse in February. They’re up!

I’ve checked again on the overwintered crops (things that were planted last fall, and hardy enough to handle the winter, and be ready for spring harvest) like Spring Onions, Green Garlic, and Kale have done ok, but the Purple Sprouting Broccoli was severely damaged by temperatures as low as 12° on some of those January Snowpocalypse nights, and the wild rabbits helped themselves to a number of the plants that were visible above the snow. I would have hoped for more, but spring is a bit of a gamble.

I put up trellis in one of the greenhouses for the early peas. Fingers crossed now for peas in May. I started plants back in early February, and in another week or two I’ll plant the main crop outside.

I’m now planning on starting up the week of April 14, possibly April 7, if the weather stays warm. It all depends on when those early plantings are big enough to harvest. The CSA will still comprise 40 weeks, but I may have to finish up in January or February, like I did this year. I think that was a nice surprise after the holidays anyway.

Green Onions, Parsley, and Basil are all growing well.

Please pay attention to your email and/or the farm Facebook page. I’ll continue to post updates as they’re needed. It’s going to be a fantastic season. I can’t wait!

As soon as the weather warms, the pussy willows bloom. Those furry grey buds are actually flowers, and their pollen is important baby bee food.