Nice Weather = Busy Farmers

The fields are workable and the weather (while windy) is nice enough for us to put in very full days.  Consider this a very short(?) farm report.

• We welcome Denis back to the farm as he works for us again this season.  He joins Andrea who has been working for a few weeks.  Jo has also put in some time on the farm.  We expect Anden to return as well.  So, the crew is taking shape.
• The wind...the wind.  Uf.  
• The meat birds are out on pasture now, with the electric fence up to keep them in (and predators out).  Those birds go through ALOT of water on hot and windy days.
• The beeps (baby turkeys) and peeps (baby hens) are doing reasonably well in the poultry pavilion.   Per the norm, we have lost a few baby turks.  Usually the losses are contained in the first few weeks until their immune systems kick in to full gear.  Would you believe some of these little turks are trying to fan?  They don't even have tail feathers yet (silly birds).
• The high tunnel is undergoing changes as the greens are bolting.  Time for some warm weather crops in there.
• Tammy got to taste the first radish of Spring today.
• All 2000 + feet of potatoes are IN THE GROUND.  Ha!
• The 60 tomatoes in the ground are wondering what they did to deserve their present fate.  Well.  How would you feel if you were subjected to 30-40 mph winds your first two days out in the field?
• 400 feet of green beans, another 200 feet of hybrid green/dry, another 250 feet of lima types, 100 feet of pole beans and 450 feet of dry beans are in.  Cool.
• We'll be doing our last plant sale day on Saturday at farmers' market.  After that point, we will cease to sell plants and move on to the next phases of the season.  We do still have tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and some spices.
• Iris Fest was attended by a smaller (but no less appreciated and enjoyed by us) crowd this year.  We get the feeling that perhaps Memorial Day weekend is not the best choice for this festival (especially when the Iris fail to show - we had two open).  Any suggestions would be welcomed.  The event isn't a popularity thing - it's a matter of finding the best way to serve those who are interested in such joining others of like mind in a party at the farm.  We are grateful that those who came found ways to deal with the howling winds.  Seriously, we didn't order that part of the weather - I think it was a 'throw in.'
• We'll try a separate post to talk about the recent Tom Sawyer Day - it is worth it.... so stay tuned.
• The first CSA distributions are the FIRST FULL WEEK of June.  So - June 7 Waverly.  June 9 Cedar Falls.  Remember - the first few weeks start slow and then things pick up.  
• I am getting the feeling that the only reason we are both awake is because we are too tired to get up so we can get ready for bed.
• We have turnips, radish, arugula, mustard, spinach, lettuce, peas, cucumbers, swiss chard, beets, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi and onions in the ground and growing.  Remember - we plant multiple successions of most of these to spread out the harvest and try to get around any blips in the weather.  So far so good for most of these.   
• Goals for tomorrow?   Plant the rest of the tomatoes (about 440 of them), plant vegetable amaranth (calaloo), marigolds, calendula, cucumbers, cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, onions, radish, winter squash and whatever else we can before it rains.  Forecast calls for rain tomorrow night and Thursday.  Every item we can get in the ground *right now* will be a plus for us and for all who get veg from us.  Here's hoping!