First Seeds

The weather has been unseasonably warm, and we have unconfirmed reports that the soil temperature is over 50 degrees farenheit.

I say “unconfirmed” because Evie checked the soil temperature, and no grown-up has had the time to recheck it behind her. But she is a smart cookie, and we are taking her word for it.

We started some seeds indoors, specifically the first round of bok choy (planning for three plantings over 6 weeks); summer broccoli; summer cabbage; and two varieties of brussels sprouts. We have never had good luck with brussel sprouts. We get big, beautiful plants that produce nothing but empty, squishy blobs of loose leaves. After some research we think if may be do to low calcium, which we know our soil is likely deficient in, so we are going to lime the brassica bead, probably this coming weekend. Should have done it last November, but then again, we should have done all the garden prep last November too, so…

Lasagna beds taking shape. (Lasagna beds refers to a technique of using a paper or cardboard ground layer to suppress weeds, and then piling layers of nitrogen rich [chicken manure] and carbon rich materials [straw and old bedding hay] on top of it, and then covering that with a layer of dirt or top soil). Our “soil” is the dirt from the walkways which is last year’s wood chips, which have had a year to be pooped on by chickens, rained on, mixed in with dirt and inhabited by earthworms. It is not as fine as we would like it, but it will do for this year. Next year, God willing, we will top it with a layer of screened compost.

While Daddy moved dozens of wheelbarrow loads of wood chips for the pathways, it started raining pretty hard, so the kids played fort on the strawbales under cover. Seppi was the guard.

Once the beds were prepped, Ellie planted peas, lettuce and spinach.

Evie and Winnie planted potatos. Apparently, Saint Patrick’s day is traditional for planting potatoes, but, well, we were busy. St. Patrick will forgive us.

And Evie planted radishes. We plan on doing a new planting of lettuce, spinach and radishes every week or so through the cool weather until it gets too hot and dry.

Doing man work!

Four of the six beds shaped and prepped.

The one surviving grape vine at the farm is budding!