What’s been going on!

I keep trying to get the newsletter out on Wednesday but is has been a busy, busy week and still a bit hung over from the Farm Tour.  The Farm Tour weekend is always long and the wet weather, especially on Saturday, made it even more tiring.  It was good to see all the people interested in what is happening on small farms and we hope that it was an informative visit to Peregrine Farm.

Between rainy periods we got the last of the Big Tops covered, it is the final big spring hurdle that always takes just the right combination of people and weather conditions to get it done smoothly.  Now Betsy’s most tender flowers will be protected from excess rain as they begin to bloom.  One more big spring chore to do, pepper planting, but that one can be stretched out over a few days and multiple sections to the work.

It also dried out just enough to turn under the beautiful crimson clover and oat cover crop that will feed the winter squash.  The last few years we have gone back to clean cultivated winter squash production instead of the no-till system we had used for many years, mostly in an effort to reduce some weed populations that had become too high.  This now allows us to use crimson clover as the nitrogen source for the squash as it matures earlier than the hairy vetch that we use in the no-till mix and should provide plenty of nitrogen to grow a good crop.

Picture of the Week

A beautiful spring day and crimson clover cover crop

What’s going to be at the market?

Remember that the Saturday market starts at 7:00 now and the Wednesday market is back for the season 3:00-6:00.

The cool weather has extended the beautiful Anemones in blues, purples and reds but the rose like Ranunculus in yellows, oranges and pink are slowing down.  More of the crepe paper like Poppies.  Dutch Iris mostly in blue.  A few lovely mixed bouquets.

Lots of nice Red Leaf Lettuce, Little Gem, Green Boston and Romaine, and Salad Mix in the Lettuces.  Sweet and tender Japanese salad Turnips.  Green Onions. Radishes.  New planting of tender Spinach.  First Lacinato Kale of the season.  Cilantro.  The first appearance of the much talked about Celtuce stalk.

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex, Betsy and Jennie

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