Summer continues and so do the projects of summer. Some of the most important are making sure the plants and animals stay comfortable through the heat. That means plenty of water, cool treats like watermelon rinds, and shade for the chickens and ducks and irrigation for the crops. This last week saw 4 nights of frost so the little tunnels are working overtime to keep the sensitive crops protected, even if the squash and nasturtium leaves that press against the sides get a little crispy. The field crops are slowly transitioning to the later plantings and a not planned but pleasant break in the rush of harvesting has slowed me down as a result of getting behind in spring. This will be over once the tomatoes are ready but it gives me time to take a break and think about what needs to be done on the farm for next year and to plan the fall well so that spring isn't such a rush! What's available this weekend?
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! I haven't been making it to the Kalispell Market recently. It is still possible but if you really want anything make sure to find me at the Libby or Troy Markets!
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The rush and joy of spring is over, the fall clean up is far away, and everything is growing and producing (even the weeds). This is what I call the midseason crazies. Planting is still going on, especially the rush to get fall harvested or overwintered crops in. Harvesting is going, going, going especially with the flowers which require a daily 'harvest walk' to cut and grab everything at it's perfect peak moment for the longest vase life and beauty. Chores, like weeding, irrigating, and just general plant care pile up. It's pretty much the same amount of work of any other time of year, but as the summer heat picks up, you try to get it all done in those few morning or evening hours that are more tolerable, or even necessary to get done while it's cool. If you harvest flowers in 80+ temps, you will have sad flowers and then you'll be sad too. It is a game of prioritization. What MUST be done before the sun gets crazy? This year has been milder than most and a mid July rain storm gave us a thankful break from the cramming, but the heat will return... ![]() Pinch, pinch, pinch. I'm not dreaming but the plants may be. Many of them benefit from pinching (cutting the growing top of the plant off to promote more and longer stems). Here is the aftermath of the dahlias getting pinched. Behind them the cosmos, celosia, sunflowers, snapdragons, carnations, delphiniums, basils, calendulas, zinnias and more all got pinched. It can seem harsh as I sometimes cut away more than half the plant! But the plants go 'hey mean person, you wanna cut me down? I'll show you!' and within just two days you'll see a surge in growth that will reward you with many more and much longer (= usable) stems! Not everything likes it and some it wouldn't matter to at all but those that benefit from it get pinched! ![]() After pinching and getting all those long, long stems to grow, they will need some support so they don't get knocked down by the blustery gusts of the world. There are different types of support and these carnations and snapdragons like nets. Small posts are put in the ground on both sides of the row and reusable and almost indestructible plastic netting is placed horizontally just at the tops of the plants and their stems grow up and through. Larger, bushier plants like sunflowers or dahlias like to be corralled by stringing twine around the edges of the posts. Each method can make harvesting a bit harder but without them I might not have any stems to harvest! What's available this weekend?
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! There are a lot of farm animals on the farm but even more come in from the wilds to make their home here, find food, or just pass through. While the larger ones usually make people nervous, the small ones are very welcome neighbors (the big ones are too, I just watch them more cautiously). The farm laborers (my parents) have arrived again and while my Mom has been busy tackling the weeds that have taken over my field plot (she's taken 5 trash bags of lamb's quarters out so far and moving on to the others before they set seed), my Dad has started on insulating my trailer so I can bring plenty of veggies and flowers to market and keep them cool while there. I've been harvesting, planting, managing the chickens, and trying to keep up with the tomatoes as they reach for the sky in the greenhouse. The heat of summer finally feels like it's here and most outside work is done by early afternoon, beginning again after dinner as the day cools down again. This eats into the amount of work I can get done each day but it is a welcome forced break as it is easy for farmers to burn out as summer burns on. ![]() It's busy season for the hummingbirds as the young are fledging and everyone is hungry, hungry, hungry. I often spend a few minutes each evening standing near the feeders getting them to perch on my finger as they eat their dinner (its hard to feel tired or grumpy as you can feel all the breeze from their wings, their tiny feet, and watch their exuberance). It is chaos as they all flit around to each one, chase others off, or startle each other. I have 5 feeders and all will be full of little hummers each night. Trying to walk near them feels like a war zone and I often flinch thinking they are going to collide with me but it hasn't happened yet. What's available this weekend?
![]() Oscar and Tilly make a good team it was their leader that forgot to lock the differential for the sandy bit so the beds got a little squirrelly. A second pass fixed my newbie mistake. It seems almost ridiculous that 15 minutes (which was mostly spent turning them around at the end of each bed) was enough time to prep 3 full beds. That same task would have taken me 2 hrs per bed before and been tiring enough that I could only do one a day. ![]() Ebony & Ivory, two of the many Easter Egger hens on my farm. They are the ones responsible for the blue-green eggs that everyone loves. They are sometimes called Ameracaunas or Aracaunas but they aren't really the true breed but mutts, one of the 'true' breeds crossed with a brown egg layer. This doesn't mean much to most people except some of them lay eggs that are not blue-green. Ivory, for example, lays perfect cream-colored eggs while Ebony lays blue-green ones. There are one or two other Easter Eggers on the farm that lay cream-colored eggs but even if they aren't doing what they are supposed too, they are still a favored breed as they are very hardy, intelligent, and adaptable hens, much more so than some of the 'true' heritage breeds. Viva la 'mutts'!!! What's available this weekend?
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! |
AuthorI'm Farmer Megan with a life full of cackles, clucks, quacks, weeds, crazy kitten, and one tiny, senior, blind dog. Archives
May 2023
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