Apr 14

Written by: host
4/14/2007

Storytree Farm Member News

 A couple of weeks ago, during our delightful two days of sunshine and warm weather, Mike and Nelson prepared the South garden. We have learned to jump in and prepare the planting beds during those short spring windows of dry skies between the rain showers.

 

Composted plant material and grass clippings were mixed in, and the living soil is now resting and soaking up spring rain. I use the word “living” because that is exactly what healthy soil is doing. There is an amazing variety of life in every handful of sustainably-managed earth. As always, we remain committed to avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides in the production of food, and the soil responds to this gentle treatment. We use OMRI-approved soil additives such as natural rock phosphate for phosphorus, crushed limestone to raise pH, compost and aged goat manure to add organic material, and Jersey greensand, for potassium and trace minerals.

 

In the relative warmth of the greenhouse (Yes, Storytree Farm now has a place to grow special varieties from seed, and we can’t wait to show it to you!) dozens of trays of baby veggies are stretching out their leaves in preparation for planting. When the soil reaches the proper temperature, we'll tuck in delicious varieties of tomatoes, purple and green cabbages, cauliflower, endive, Swiss chard, baby lettuces, machè and other greens, eggplant, kale, spinach, leeks, bok choy, joi choi, broccoli, sweet and purple onions, bunching onions, and lots more. After a long winter of horrid supermarket lettuce, the baby pea shoots are particularly tempting right now.

 

In May, the warm-season veggies will be direct-seeded into the ground. We plan a great variety of melons, beans, tomatoes, summer squash, pumpkins, peppers, and some really yummy winter squash varieties that we have selected for this year.

 

We will keep you completely “in the loop” as we progress toward our first picking date in June. Also, we are currently working on our summer schedule. We're planning a farm tour, cooking demonstrations, and herb classes. If anyone has a request or a suggestion for a class topic, we welcome your input! We are honored to be your own personal farmers, and your ideas are very important to us. Please call or email anytime you have a question or comment.

 

Happy Spring!

 

The Lawrence Family

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