NEWS FROM THE FARM |
May, 2010
The growing season has begun! All the alliums are started: storage onions, leeks, shallots, scallions and pearls as well as lettuce, tomatoes and some herbs. We've been blessed with some very spring-like weather this month: temperatures have been in the 50s for days on end now, rain has been minimal and nights haven't dipped much below 30. The ground is still too wet to work, and as any good Mainer knows - it's not safe to trust these stretches of warmth. An arctic cold snap could come any moment and a spring blizzard is never out of the question.
There are some things in the hoophouse growing, though the ground is still quite wet there, too. Cutting greens and spinach have sprouted and should begin producing very soon - long before it will be time to place the tender tomato plants there in mid-May.
The broilers are ordered for the season and should be arriving in early May. I've decided to get away from the Cornish cross hybrids. After three years with the breed I'm realizing that I just don't feel good about this bird that was bred to grow incredibly fast. Too fast for it's own good or for my conscience. Plus, they are horrible foragers and they are raised to serve double duty: move through the fallow sections of the garden digging, scratching, eating weed seeds and fertlizing, then filling the freezer for the coming year. The Cornish cross is an incredibly lazy breed, laying about and waiting for the hopper to be filled. So this year I'm going with Freedom Rangers from the good folks at J.M. Hatchery in New Holland, PA. Freedom Rangers are a slower growing breed and are natural foragers, happy as can be on pasture: scratching, eating bugs and weed seeds, taking dustbaths and soaking up the summer sun!
The bees are taking to the skies for cleansing flights and to forage for scant offerings. There are some crocus in bloom and the alder are blossoming, too, but it's still very early - we're hoping they are not building up brood too soon. Perhaps they, too, are ready to launch headlong into spring!
Trish