NEWS FROM THE FARM |
NEWS FROM THE FARM: ARCHIVE - May, 2011
May, 2011
It's been a bit of a wet and cold start to spring here in Maine. Safe to say we're about two weeks behind this year. The ground is still quite cold and the fields are wet. The farmer nearest me who grows sweet corn is usually planning on tilling fields and sowing seed--this year he's playing the waiting game: waiting for the warmth of the sun; waiting for dryer days.
I've had some luck here as many of my beds are higher and dryer than others. So far this season I've gotten in peas, fava beans, spinach, cutting greens, mustard mix, swiss chard, cilantro, dill and radish.And there's lots of head lettuce wintered over in the hoophouse that's ready to harvest, and trays of lettuce seedlings awaiting transplant.
So I'm feeling marginally on track to have some crops ready for my first farmers' market scheduled for late May. This farmers' market is brand new: a friend and I got it started this winter and we've now got at least ten vendors signed on to join us. It's shaping up to be a wonderfully diverse market with some great folks selling their local goods. Biggest hurdle for us now is to get customers to come visit us on Friday afternoons between 2 and 6 p.m. So if you're near to Union, please stop in and say hello. There will be lots of other great items for sale including wood-fired oven pizza, lamb, goat, seasonal fruit pies and fresh salsa. Check us out on facebook if you have a minute--and tell your friends!
Friday was the annual FEDCO tree sale. A much-anticipated day for farmers and gardeners in these parts: a chance to get supplies for the season ahead, pick up potatoes, grab those extra seed packs you forgot to order, stock up on bare-root fruit trees, and to re-acquaint with old friends. Unlike past years, this was a warm and sunny day--making for an even more festive atmosphere than usual. This coming week is a big and busy one: time to get the early potatoes in the ground and transplant onions. Luckily I've got some help this spring: a woman who last year worked aboard the schooner Stephen Taber (one of the boats that I sell vegetables to) is hoping to get into farming and volunteered some time this year to help. She is hoping to find work on a farm out west, but in the meantime has been an invaluable extra set of hands this spring. There's just so much to do in April and May and she has helped to cross many items off the "to do" list. Happy spring to you all.
Trish
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Trish