Market List; Grass Fed Lamb, Purslane, Yard Long Beans, Sam' Famous Salsa, Sunflower Bouquets
Well folks, it's been an unusual season for sure. For weeks we couldn't get into the garden for rain and mud. We planted every inch that we could in the raised beds and our small high tunnel but of course it wasn't enough. I'm not sure if it's common knowledge but it's really bad for the soil to work in it when it's wet. It destroys the construction. A fancy way of saying that it becomes like concrete which impedes not only the workability but also air and water being able to move easily through it. We tilled and it rained and rained. It dried up and we tilled again and it rained and rained and so on and so forth. We never till more than the beginning of the season but the rain brought weeds and tomatillos. You can see the 1000's of tomatillos that came up from the 3rd time that we tilled 5 weeks ago.
Directly after the rain we went straight into a heat wave. Radishes were a short season because they hate the heat more so than anything. At least with greens, it's not too tough to eat when it bolts. Radishes become woody or pithy is the old fashioned term. After the heat came more rain again, 10.5 inches in 6 days about a month ago.
Above are the cucumbers that were the first thing we were able to actually plant in the garden. Rayven and mom are helping to put the netting up to hold them off of the ground to make easier to pick. Most days, it's me and mom doing everything in the garden. Bill comes home every other weekend and does projects, for instance, this weekend he's putting up the frame for the shade cloth. Mom and I do nearly all the planting and weeding. Occasionally we get a volunteer for a week or so. This month we have Rayven. She's volunteered 4 seasons in a row usually for a month at a time. I knew her mom when she was growing up and Rayven loves it here. We're grateful for the help, especially when it's time to make pickles or salsa. Don't forget that I have to make those too.
Above are the cucumbers that were the first thing we were able to actually plant in the garden. Rayven and mom are helping to put the netting up to hold them off of the ground to make easier to pick. Most days, it's me and mom doing everything in the garden. Bill comes home every other weekend and does projects, for instance, this weekend he's putting up the frame for the shade cloth. Mom and I do nearly all the planting and weeding. Occasionally we get a volunteer for a week or so. This month we have Rayven. She's volunteered 4 seasons in a row usually for a month at a time. I knew her mom when she was growing up and Rayven loves it here. We're grateful for the help, especially when it's time to make pickles or salsa. Don't forget that I have to make those too.
Here are some of the Lemon Cucumbers growing vertically up the back of the high tunnel. We love everything about Lemon Cucumbers, the way they look, the texture and how beautiful that they are in a pickle jar. The thing about them though is that they are one of those cucumbers that put on a ton of flowers for about 3 weeks that do not put on fruit. After that time, they begin pollinating and about 2 weeks later, then you actually start getting cucumbers. If you are lucky and the cucumber (are you counting how many times that I write cucumber?) beetles and squash bugs don't destroy the vines. We have about 200 hills of these and pickling cukes going.
Below are pictures of an actual Lemon Cucumber on the vine and of another vine right next to the one pictured that has been decimated by the aforementioned bugs.
Speaking of, Rayven and I put up Cucumber beetle traps. So far, not so many caught, but you have to keep trying right?
Finally the Kentucky Wonder Pole beans are blooming and we are reaching our balance of tomatoes to eat and tomatoes for salsa and tomatoes to sell. This is our 3rd week for Salsa this season. We're getting Black Krim, Sun Sugar, Amish Paste and Mortgage Lifter tomatoes. With weeding all of these things, rotating plantings, thinning tomatillos and cutting flowers, we still have to feed the animals, ourselves, go to the doctor, look for new vehicles(we got a new, used van this week) and all the other things that life entails. Most days
we manage to jump in the Lake for a half hour- it's at the bottom of our property so it's easy-from April to October. It's a full life for sure.
It might take us a little longer than some of the Farmers who have more help or a bigger high tunnel but rest assured, we are working and planning
every day to bring you the things that we have taught you to love. As Willie said, You are Always on My Mind.
We'll see you tomorrow, Tom and I at the Tower Grove Market.
God's Blessings on you and yours,
TTFN,
Sam, Bill and Rayven
TTFN,
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