Tarps & Tillers

The three 'T's of weed control, tillers, tarps, & time. They work wonders, especially on grass. I know because last year I tested it and covered a few rows with solid, black silage tarp. All the farmer blogs, books, videos say it works but sometimes you gotta see for yourself that it works in your context. Those few rows stayed over 95% weed & grass free for the whole season with only a few unnecessary plants popping up that blew in or jumped over from neighboring rows. Thus, any unplanted or fallow ground will be tarped for the winter and together with other methods I should have a very weed free next season.

Each week now sees more tasks and items on the to do list that have to do with prepping the farm for winter, as well as next season, as the cool weather slows down more and more crops and foretells the impending hard frosts and freezes to come that truly mean the end. It is an introspective time for making notes of what worked and what didn't, what hopes there are for next year and what needs to be avoided.

But the farm isn't totally done yet as the potatoes are being dug and the flowers keep pushing hard to finish blooming amid the cool mists of morn and evening and midday as the need to raise their little tunnels up becomes less and less so that they stay cozy and dry all day and night.

This week I'll be at the Kootenai Harvest Festival on Saturday at the Riverfront Park. It's a great event with music, food, kids activities, and many local vendors or all kinds of goodies! I hope to see you there!

Also many more Snow Maiden dahlias are featured in the mixed bouquets. If you missed them last week, this may be your last chance (at least for ~360 days)!

Hella looks out over her domain keeping a keen eye out for anything that moves

This week was the first time in three years that I went exploring around the Chain of Lakes. Kudos if you know which one this is because I'm not telling ;).

What's available this weekend?

• Eggs! Both chicken and guinea eggs. The grass is going golden and the grasshoppers are thick and juicy and sometimes not quick enough to hop away from the chasing chickens!
  • dozen pasture-raised, rainbow chicken eggs $5
  • half dozen pasture-raised guinea eggs $4 
• Flowers!
  • Large Bouquets featuring Snow Maiden dahlias
  • Large Bouquets featuring Rio Negro lilies
  • Medium Bouquets
  • Small Bouquets
• Veggies!
  • Spicy Microgreens (Radish & Arugula)
  • Herb Microgreens (Lemon Basil)
  • Rainbow Cherry Tomatoes
  • Heirloom Tomatoes
    • Orange Woodle
    • Emerald Evergreen
  • Eggplant
  • Garlic
    • Chesnok Red (best for baking/roasting)
    • Moroccan Creole (best for general use)

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

I'll be at the Kootenai Harvest Festival, this Saturday from 12-6pm!