The soil is too wet to till still. So i used a rake and planted some spinach in a bed that was pumpkins last year. I didn’t add any compost to this soil so i will need to feed the plants with the drip line and pump into it a strong dose of fish emmulsion which is a good organic source of nitrogen. Since spinach never produces a fruit or a flower, it needs mostly nitrogen. And we’re timing the planting before the snow so we don’t have to water.
Lazy gardening tip #1: Always plant before it rains or snows.

I’ve found several preying mantis egg cases in the past couple weeks and transplanted them into the garden.  Shire is going to be very pest-free this season.

In case you’re wondering what’s been going on at your CSA, its mostly been emails, and brainstroming, and planning.  We’re trying to reach a lot more people next year so its all about marketing right now,  and getting everything organized so we can handle the increased memberships next season. 

I wasn’t able to keep the greenhouse warm enough to keep the tomaote plants going, but thats okay because it will be good to clean the whole thing out and let it ‘rest’ for a few weeks before we start planting seeds for transplants. 

Till next time.

Luke

Hello friends and neighbors. 

A Few Announcements.

The most important news I have is that  We are now enrolling members for 2011!

Now is the time to let me know if there is anything unique or special you would like me to plant for you next summer.  Horticultural challenges are my passion so lets see what crazy stuff we can grow and eat.

Also let me know if any of you have any special skills or items that you would like to trade for a portion of, or perhaps for full membership fees.  Some ideas may include accounting, mechanic expertise, a tractor and/or rototill, etc. 

Keep warm and stay cool cause 2011 is coming together already so Thursday nights will be back before we know it.  

Luke

Wasn’t it just May.  Sorry I haven’t posted any news, but those of you that were members this summer know that a lot went on.  I’ll try to fill the rest of you all in as best I can with some more posts now that i have the time. But for now the season is well over for us and we’re sitting back to some nice frozen pasta sauce from the garden.  Thanks all for a great first year.

Luke

Luckily I planted more seeds before this snow.  Nothing compares to putting seeds in the earth, and watching clouds drop water on them.  Something invisible kicks in. 

In a constant effort to have produce as early as possible we built a mini hoop house in the garden with some greenhouse plastic and we are going to transplant tomatoes, corn, squash, watermelons, basil, eggplant, chard, and more out side next week.  The snow stretched it out somewhat so it drooping right now.  But I’m surprised it held up to that wet snow.  Anyway this will be our 50/50 crop.  If it lives we’re ahead, if it dies we’re not behind. 

Plus planted more lettuce, tat soi, and a bunch of other stuff in uncovered beds.  Plus we had almost %100 germination for all our pepper crops in the main greenhouse.

For those of you who were lucky enough to see Joel Salatin last night at the Lincoln Center, I hope you enjoyed his speech as much as I did.  I think he raised a lot of very good points and I hope his momentum only builds and adds strength to the local food movement.  I loved the way he pointed out the nonsense involved in food laws and inspired me to continue to try to return to an old world way of living; with the butcher, the baker, the brewer, the windmill maker, the farmer and the chef.

So i heard it was going to rain today so yesterday i planted some peas, raddish, beets, carrotts, lettuce, and onions; but i’m not seeing the rain yet.  Atleast the seeds are there waiting.

one for the rook, one for the crow, one to eat, one to grow

Shire CSA would like your seeds.  If you have any old seeds packages that you don’t think you’ll get around to planting let us do it for you.  We are interested in preserving old heirloom varieties especially so don’t through Grannie’s seeds out either.  We’d like to create a seed bank to help preserve and collect as many different varieties of plants as we can. Thanks, Luke