Diary 4/14/12

We have had our day and a half of sun. Now the clouds are moving in.  It has been nice, and we have accomplished quite a bit.  Attacked more blackberry bushes before they get going and take over more ground.  In addition they are a terrible fire danger with all the dead growth they store underneath each bush.  I made more soil mix so I am ready for the Wildflower group to come transplant tomorrow morning.  I have also stuck the first tomatoes in the ground; 4 Early Girls and 4 Fourth of July's.  They are both heavy duty climbers and early.  Next I will begin planting our slicers, SuperTasty, in the beds I have ready. 

Diary 3/22/12

The sun was out for a short time today and I tried to go out and do a little weeding, but I had no stamina, and accomplished little other than admiring how well the weeds were growing and finding where a gopher had eaten some pea sprouts xxx###!!!### . I did get some of the baby tomatoes into their trays.  I finished setting up the lights yesterday.  I dreamed of getting one of the new LED light systems, but I know the price is going to go down rapidly and the technology will increase likewise, so for now, set up the same old shop lights, nothing special, but they have worked for 30 years. So here is a picture of the first gold cherry tomatoes and the variety I grow the most of, SuperTasty. Aren't they sweet?

Diary 3/16/12

The rain which came down in buckets yesterday leaving 1.6 inches in the gauge has slowed today.  Of course when I went out to try to get something done, it started up again and is once again raining hard. Seed trays are ready.  I will start the first tomatoes tonight.  It will take them a few days to sprout and then they go upstairs under lights.  I keep them here in the house for the first three weeks or so of their lives. Here we go!

10/27/11

Last deliveries accomplished and what is left out there is ours.  I have some up and coming products that may provide some scant winter income, but not for a few weeks. Gophers have undermined the rows in the greenhouse that are so dry they are caving in.  Not exactly sure about my anti-gopher approach, but I am mounting a campaign.  Deer are passing through and eating the tips of all the raspberries.  They don't seem to really want the berries, but the canes and leaves instead. There are still some berries, but it is a challenge to pick a half a gallon and they are soft and want to fall apart. So they are good for jam if not straight munching. Still quite a few tomatoes ripening.  Hope to can a couple more batches of sauce this next week. Otherwise, it is time to pull plants and clean up, then let rest for the winter.

Diary 10/5/11

Wildflower luncheon today.  Our little group or retirees and a mean age of 74 probably gave were able to give the fire department chief a check for $3000.  That gives us some money to work on next year's show and nothing more.  Even with the economic difficulties and the size of our community, we still were able to add to the many items the local fire folks need. The high blood pressure chair at the grocery store came from funds we donated many years ago.  It is old school, and even if Chief had to renovate it a bit last spring, it works fine. A few bags of produce today, but it is slowing down.  I have figs.  Boy, do I have figs.  They are in the greenhouse, so I can pick them until they freeze. A few tomatoes still trying to ripen, but this cold weather may promote mold soon.  If I keep it very dry in the greenhouses, I can get a few weeks more of tomatoes before the moisture cracks them all.