July 22nd, 2020

Tis the season of blooms! 

I was originally scolding myself that this week and the next few will be lighter on veg, except greens, because I forgot a few seedings, but now that the flowers are basically exploding, it turns out I did good. The less veg to tend to right now means I can get all those blooms at just the right moment for harvest for the longest vase life (the stage of harvest varies from flower to flower) and all done before the heat gets too, well, hot since a flower (or veg) harvested in the heat won't last as long as if it was harvested in the cool of dawn and you can plunge a head of lettuce into s bucket of cool water, but not so much with a flower, unless 'drowned rat' is the floral aesthetic you like.

That also means most of the field chores are done before the heat sets, except irrigating as that goes for awhile, so I can check on the chickens, ducks, and guineas often to make sure they have plenty of water and haven't spilled it all, fouled it, or just need a cool refill if they are struggling to not overheat. 

I really appreciate all my customers wearing their masks and other face coverings so we can all stay safe and healthy! And if you can't wear a mask/shield or just don't feel comfortable coming into the Libby market, you can order and pay online or email/message me for a preorder and use the special designated parking space right next to the Market Manager tent to let them know you're there to pick up your order and we will bring it out to you! Of course you can order for the Troy Market too!

The Old Girls don't scratch and peck the ground much anymore (as evidence I give you the jungle that is their run) but they like to eat the grass seed tops and hunt for a few crickets, but mostly they like to be let out during the day and sit on the cool, quiet porch.

The big roosters aren't as easy to keep cool in the heat as their giant bodies hold it in, but Elvis is demonstrating one of the two cool down techniques of holding your wings a bit away from your body to ventilate. The other option is panting, just not as drooly as a dog.

Warm days call for a light lunch of salad with a little spicy microgreens and spicy flowers to top it off! If you wanna enjoy some of the edible flowers and learn a little about them while having a yummy meal, check out the "Vegetables of the Season" class August 3rd at the Gracious Table. I'll be there with the edible flowers for a fun and socially distant class and a great meal! Check it out at GraciousTableMT.com

The only problem with having the tomatoes in the dome reaching for the sky is that there is a limit to that sky! And then they need to be 'lowered and leaned' on their trellis strings which means they like to 'lean' into the middle so moving through means a very intricate dance among and beneath the stems and fruit, who new years of yoga and rock/ice climbing balance work would be a necessary skill for farming?!

It turns out the new shed's shade is not only a great place for the farm tools to take a break, but also for the farmer! No guarantee the hammock will be able to stay in there though.

What's available this week?

• Eggs!
  • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs 
  • half dozen pasture-raised duck eggs 
• Flowers!
  • Mixed Bouquets with lotsa different blooms. Tis the season!
    • Small
    • Medium
  • Posies
    • Anemones or Sweet Peas
• Veggies!
  • Microgreens
    • Spicy Mix
    • Mild Mix
    • Cinnamon Basil
  • Baby Greens Salad Mix
  • Salad Mix
  • Butter Lettuce
    • Red
    • Green
  • Red Leaf Lettuce
  • Romaine Hearts
    • Tall
    • Short
  • Spinach
  • Dino Kale
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard
  • Purple Snap Peas (pint)
  • Basil Sampler
  • Petal Power Salad Topper
  • Garlic Scapes

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!