Diary 6/6

Another surprise, my white peonies are pink this year!

Diary 6/5

Some weeding and transplanting onions this morning. Yes, another kind of red onions went in. They will be late, but should still make it as long as they don't worry about their day length too much. Wonderful groovy disco party this afternoon with girlfriends. Great food and fun fellowship. Here is the first of many pictures of the Texas twosome working in the onions. Great gals!

Tomato staking

When the tomato plants are about 12 inches high(or less), I like to put a stake next to each one. They seem to gain some confidence from the process, like, "Oh, there's my stake." As the plant continues to grow, leaning into the stake, I tie them together loosely in three or four places. When the plants are close to the top of the stake it is time to add the fencelike frameworks. You can see the downhill framework in place(with Hobbs tending his worm in the background).

Diary 6/4

So, while I worked on tomato frameworks with the interns, Hobbs, the garden dog, found a worm he befriended. He picked it up very gently and carried it from end of the row to another, setting it down, carefully, sliding all the dirt off as he did. He watched it slither and picked it up again, taking the worm to the next area we were working in. Don't worry, no worm was injured in the process, just cleaned.

Diary 6/3

Yes, yes, more rain. Ahh, but I think we may see a reprieve this weekend. I don't dare listen to the extended forcast, just happily dreaming of sun and the ability to till fields someday! Started corn in flats today for insurance. At least that way, I can get some started to put out in the field at some point. Planted some cabbgaes inside the coolest greenhouse because I don't have ground outside prepped to put them in. Also put the few last peppers I have and an eggplant in here and there, so less babysitting all the time. Have a few straggler tomatoes to find homes for and then I am done with plants in planters, except for the new corn, of course. What a year!

Diary 6/2

"Every crop, every place, every climate, every year is different. We can establish a set of principles to work by, but our specific responces require waiting and watching and responding creatively in the moment." Michael Abelman, Fields of Plenty

Diary 6/1

Lots of help today, so we attack more weeds than I thought would be annihilated in a week. Good crew, good conversation and good looking beds at the end. Separated those Fourth of July tomatoes from the peas. They look pretty scraggly, but will enjoy their new space. Harvested for 10 bags tomorrow and then taking Friday off to let things catch up and offer new selections, carrots, broccoli, and beans next week. More rain on the way. Hurumf!