All Hail the Start of Summer!

It is officially summer and while most of the days are warm, the evenings are getting colder with the increased chance of frost for my little valley. Thunderstorms still move through and usually bring herald their arrival with an onslaught of pea-sized hail. Since the greens are grown in the field, you'll see the evidence of the hail in the head lettuces, chard, and anything else that has broad leaves. I like to think of them as rugged, Montana-style veggies!

The chickens run inside when there is heavy rain since their feathers only over them so much protection, but the ducks LOVE it. Hail, rain, wind; they run around like it's christmas.

Because most of the cut flowers can't tolerate a frost, they live under their low tunnels, and even though those are raised up each day to ventilate they still over great protection from the carnage of the thunderstorms. I can't say the same for some of the radish, spinach, and kale younglings. But they had a good few days to root in before being hammered so they will recover!

The sun and heat of summer has caused a lot of the mustards to bolt and go to flower. I don't mind as those flowers make a yummy addition to salads, giving it a little kick of flavor and color. Plus the bees love the flowers too!

All that sun and rain helps the grass to grow, including in my rows. There is so much of it that even Hella kitty felt obliged to help me remove some as we inspected her progress of Project Mole Control.

With all the hail, wind, and rain sometimes you need to take a moment to enjoy the sunshine of a Montana summer while you can!

What's available this weekend?

• Eggs! The grass is still growing and the coops are roaming, gobbling up the fresh greens and worms!!!
  • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs $4
• Flowers!
  • Large and small bouquets
• Veggies!
  • Salad Mix
  • Butterhead, Romaine, and Red Leaf Lettuce complete with hail holes so you know it's can only be from Montana
  • Rainbow Chard
  • Mizuna, a mild Japanese mustard green
  • Kale
  • Purple Boc Choy
  • Microgreens
    • Lemon Basil Mix
    • Spicy Radish Mix
  • Petal Power Salad Topper
    • a blend of mustard flowers and pansies

Where to find it all?
I'll be at the Farmers Market at Libby, this Thursday from 3-7pm!

I'll be at the Troy Farmers Market, this Friday from 330-630pm!

I'll be at the Kalispell Farmers Market, this Saturday from 900am to 1230pm!