Spring Farm. April - Week 3

Upper annual field. Garlic for days.

It has been a rainy week. We worked outside during the breaks in the rain showers and we marked a lot of indoor barn and farm projects off a never ending list. A few projects this week: expanded work station in the barn, organized the barn, organized the micro building, worked on the orchard, started more seedlings, mended row cover, finalized the big flower seeding plans,  started building some of the new gardens, covered the strawberries, weeded the asparagus, mowed & weed wacked the entire property, and Morgan cultivated and tilled the new field. We also started the first microgreens of the season as we prepare for our first market in May. I'm probably forgetting something...

First asparagus harvest for the season. And ever.

Really wide row cover is expensive. So I sewed 2 10 ft x 115 ft pieces together to cover the lower strawberry patch.

Once a seamstress. Always a seamstress. I've come a long way from sewing my prom dresses in high school :)

Turning the compost pile.

L-R: The new 2015 bin. The middle bin will be ready next year. The third pile on the right is now the finished compost and ready to use.

Currently blooming: blueberries and strawberries

Seed potatoes getting ready for planting

 

Covered all 715 ft of the strawberries. About 358 plants.

We cover the strawberries after the flowers have been pollinated and begin to fruit. They will be covered for the rest of their growing cycle to protect them from birds and insects. It also protects flowers from a late frost (which would kill all possible fruit).

 

Then we uncover and recover them everyday when we start picking the strawberries in a few weeks.

Upper property view.

Lower strawberry patch. About 225/ 358 plants.

Farm yoga. Justin putting in the hoops to support the row cover.

The giant row cover I sewed for the bottom patch. (shown folded in half)

Morgan cultivating the new field. We disked and plowed this new field in the fall and after this pass, we will till each row as needed.

Happy farmer.

Currently blooming: creeping phlox

 

Lupine showed back up

Salvia

Studio garden looking good

My moon garden is ALL white flowers. I can't wait for this one to bloom for the first time this season.

Catmint

Siberian wallflower

The last of the grape hyacinths

Alliums coming soon

And always...weeds :)

 

New garden being expanded on the right (mapped out with tobacco sticks). The left side will be a new path to the barn.

Morgan tilled over this in the new field....And left it on the porch for me to find.

There is always time to slow down and help the little guys across the road.

Spring Farm. April - Week 2

It is never too early to plan that trip to Asheville this Summer and to come visit Root Bottom Farm. We would love to save a seat at the table for you. More information at www.rootbottomfarm.com

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Another busy week on a springtime farm. Perennials are starting to make their appearance. We are keeping busy with weeding, reclaiming beds, seeding and planting transplants. The sun is warm and it is great to be outside in the dirt. We are grateful for this life we get to live.

The first asparagus has made an appearance. We have over 250  three year old plants in the ground. This year, we get to start cutting, eating and selling it. For 15 years!

Strawberries are weeded and looking great. Over 350 plants will produce this season.

Nature is cool. Little seedlings break through.

Hardy Kiwis can take up to 4 years to establish and fruit...AND they can last up to 50 years!! We just got these babes in the mail.

Morgan and Justin weeding the blackberries.

It is going to be a big year for berries. Any work done now helps with their growth and our harvest.

Reclaiming and planting in "Jill's garden". This year we planted wild flower seeds, gladiolas and dahlias.

When friends visit from NYC, they borrow your clothes. Come back soon, Click!

Transplanting in the new field. We planted collards, kale, broccoli & chard.

Pretty chard.

Transplants

We had another wave of dandelions in the yard, so we made another two gallons of dandelion wine.

Photo by Justin Weas

I love Spring. So much life is just below the ground.

Gourds from last year were dried over the winter and processed this spring. We are going to sell them to local artists who make bird houses and art pieces with them. Not pictured: Another three bins.

Got praying mantis eggs in the mail. No. Big. Deal. I hope these voracious eaters brought their big appetites.

Pretty cool.

Bulbs currently blooming: tulips, daffodils, anemones, striped squills and Grecian wildflowers (below). Many more on the way.

The difference a week makes for a tulip.

Music night started for the year on our porch with friends from Double Tree Farm.

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