June Farm Report/News

A newsletter is on its way - but in lieu of that - here is a newsy GFF farm post.

• Current rain patterns are welcome for crops but difficult for workers to get things done. We needed just 12 more hours of workable soil times one of the last four periods between rains and we'd be fine. But, since we haven't gotten that. And, no, we have not considered getting miner's helmets and wearing those to work through the night....at least not too seriously.
• The first CSA deliveries will begin next week (June 14,15,17). Expect just a few things early on for each delivery - but it builds up dramatically as the season goes forward.
• Crop report: Potatoes all in, winter squash all in except 2 rows (trying to find where the seed was placed), onions in with a few late rows planned, brassica plantings 1&2 in, 3 is ready to go in soon. Lettuce plantings 1 & 2 are weak and did not enjoy the dry, windy weather. #3 is waiting for soil to be ready to transplant. Sweet peppers all in, tomatoes all in, eggplant 75% in, summer squash & zucchini plantings 1 & 2 in. Garlic sending up scapes for harvest. cucumber planting 1 in, 2 is on hold until weather allows. Pea planting 1 in and replanting of 1 is 50% done. Pea planting 1 suffered from the weather and germinated poorly, we have tilled in most rows and are replanting. They'll do fine now, but will be later than we wanted. Green bean planting 1 is in, 2 is due to go in. Dry beans 75% in. Lima beans in. Beet planting 1 failed. Turnip 1 is good. radish 1 is weak, but ok. Radish 2 is still waiting to go in (do you get the feeling radish are not high priority for us?) I'm sure there is more to report, but can't think of it right now.
• Plant sales report. Plant sales were reasonably good this year, with a few sales to local retail businesses and the rest to those who are growing the plants out. Remaining plants have been donated to the Food Bank and to a community garden in Cedar Falls that will grow the plants to donate the fruit to the Food Bank.
  
• Building reports. Work on wood salvage has resulted in piles of useful lumber - most of which is now moved to another building to dry out/stay dry. There is still much clean up to do yet, but most will simply be burned at this point. Work has begun to create new rooms for the poultry in the old hog confinement. And, the high tunnel field day is coming in early July.
• Meat chickens are growing well. New hen chicks are healthy and the turkey chicks are growing and needing a place other than their starter boxes to be. (see above endeavor).
• We're considering another Tom Sawyer Day VERY SOON to help us get things done prior to the field day. There are numerous things around that farm that would be nice to have completed that could use extra hands. Anyone have suggestions for when?