Farm Report: June 1

We are hoping to provide you with a farm report on the first of each month during the growing season.  Depending on the state of the farmer - you will get more or less detail.  Depending on the state of our stock of current farm pictures, it will be more... or less... visual.  We hope you find this interesting and informative!

Working on Some New Things at GFF

Every year sees change at our farm as we continue to find ways to make the farm a better place to grow good produce.  But, it feels like the changes are coming fast and furious this Spring.

Anden, Darrell and Elizabeth planting bushes

We continue to try to improve our buffer strip on the borders of the farm by adding bushes.  The mixture of bushes include Ninebark, Highbush Cranberry, Nannyberry, Serviceberry and Arrowood.  They are all bare root stock from the Iowa DNR and we're working hard to get them into the ground and get them mulched.  They actually provided us with a good project when fields were much too wet to work in.

Holland transplanter

Another change is the addition of a transplanter to our arsenal of tools that will work with our tractor (Rosie).  We have yet to try this thing yet - for a host of reasons.  But, we are looking forward to it.  It is possible that it could reduce our transplant time significantly in the future, which is important for us since windows of opportunity can be short in the Spring for our farm.

The Snort continues to sit and stare at us

And, of course, there is the matter of a second high tunnel to put up so we can grow things in it.  The recent wet weather hasn't helped us there.  We still have dirt that needs to be moved so we can put up the building.  But, we are also still waiting on a delivery date to be confirmed for the building kit.  We thought we were busy in May?  Wait until June gets rolling.

High Tunnel at Work

The current high tunnel has been used slightly differently this Spring because we knew the second one was scheduled to arrive.  We actually used the building for starting trays, potting plants and giving those plants and trays a place to stay warm.  This took up space we would normally use to get an early start on a number of crops.

But, of course, we do have things growing in the high tunnel now as we move more and more of the trays and pots out.  They may have gone in later than we ideally wanted, but they will produce well for us if early germination and growth is an indication.  Currently in the high tunnel: snack tomatoes, earlier season peppers, melons, beets, carrots, green beans and onions.  Oh, and a few cucumbers as well.  It's a good mix and we look forward to harvests of all of these things.

Golden Beets making an appearance.

Flowers Make Farmers Happy
We like our flowers.  And, Rob especially likes his iris friends.  They help us feel as if the farm is a good place to be.  And, we often will stop to take a picture of one, or two of them in hopes of sharing them with you.

Proud Tradition Iris

Nelly Moser clematis

Red columbine

Quick Crop Report
We've had a typical Spring for us.  Often the fields are too wet for much progress.  But, the good news is that we have been working over the years to acquire tools and knowledge that allow us to take advantage of much smaller windows of time and get more done during those windows of opportunity for field work.

Lots of trays and pots of plants waiting to go in the ground

We've continued to increase the number of crops that we start in trays and transplant into the ground once they reach a certain stage of readiness.  This allows us to get crops started even though the ground may not be ready.  It also helps us get some crops ahead of the weeds that would have germinated at the same time as the seed we plant in the ground. 

Radishes and turnips

But, when it comes to direct seed crops, we can often get to those more efficiently and hit good planting windows.  The germination of the radish, arugula, mustard, spinach and turnip in the field shown above was excellent.  Most of our pea rows have started well, as have the carrots and potatoes.  We have several beds of onions in the ground and our first iteration of broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco, kohlrabi, chinese cabbage, pok choi and cabbage are also in the ground.  It's a strong start for what we hope is a strong season.