I wanted you all to see some more things that are happening on the farm...
When I am not weeding, picking, or planting; I like to take pictures of what is growing.  We have had some really nice hot sunny days so things are really moving.  It may be kind of dorky, but I still get really excited when I see things growing. 

Grapes

Zinnias

Our jalapenos are just starting to produce peppers

The kale and chard are still going strong.

The large outdoor garden looks like a jungle. 

Summer squash

MMMM...Tomatoes

Look at this huge Zucchini...

Purple beans, they are so pretty.

Lissa is often running around the farm putting together individual orders.  This was an order she was putting together yesterday and it looked so beautiful I had to take a picture.  

Broccoli, Chard, Nastertiums, and Basil

Kale, Carrots and Fennel

Just give Lissa a call if you live in the area and are looking for some veggies.  We also have pints of raspberries for sale, we pick so you don't have to endure all the deer flies and mosquitoes.

I am so itchy...

I am allergic to deer fly bites...seriously.  I get puffy welts when they bite me, the bites itch and hurt and it is miserable...but I still love farming.  Even deer flies can't keep me away from pickin' beans.
We were picking mint the other day and Lissa had this great idea to make some mint oil and take a cool bath...the mint to soothe  my itching and my frazzled nerves (from always being itchy).  The cool water helps to minimize the itching as well.  I took all the stems and clippings from the mint we picked and boiled it for about 30 minutes until the water was greenish brown and the cabin smelled like mint.  I then strained all the leaves and stems, and dumped it in the bathtub. This is not really how you make mint oil but for my purposes it worked really well. 

I poured a cup of the mint water in a mug and threw some peach black tea in and enjoyed it in the tub, a good soak and some quiet time made all the itching go away...at least for a while it subsided I will be taking some Benadryl tonight just to make sure I get some sleep. 

Tomorrow, I will be joining the guys in the swawp digging for roots to use on one of Grant's birch bark canoes.  You can look forward to that post, I am sure I will have a lot to say or complain about in that post.  

"I am so excited"

This coming week is going to be very, very busy but I can not wait to get it started.  We are in the third week of July and the farm is working overtime.  The forecast looks brutal 90 degree days that feel like 110 with the humidity; needless to say we will be starting all our days very early.  This week will be a big week for the CSA, we have lots of things coming up and that means lots of things to be picked.  This will also be a big week at the farmers market.  There will be 20 different vendors, a band, and cooking demonstrations by chef Eban.  Eben is in the process of writing a tex-mex cookbook and will be sharing some recipes using King Gardens/Neighborhood Gardeners produce.  This would be an excellent opportunity for of our CSA members to get some ideas of ways to cook the vegetables and of course meet me.  This will also be the Grand Opening of the Green Scene in Walker, so even more reason to celebrate.  Here are some pictures to inspire you to make the trip to Walker...

First picking of summer squash

Tomatoes are getting ripe...

Raspberries are just starting to ripen

Jalapenos

Updates

* A while ago I wrote a blog post on a company called Control Stuff; they are responsible for the sweet set-up we have in the first hoop house.  John and Lissa are able to see what is going on in the hoop house from the comfort of their own home.  There are 29 sensors that measure temperature and humidity outside as well as 3 locations inside, soil temperature and soil moisture; all of which can be manipulated from a computer in the house.  When John and Lissa find the time to go on vacation they can still check the hoop house on the internet; you can also check out what is going on in the hoop house using this link First Hoop House.

* In another blog post I mentioned that we tried to grow ginger; but, we were unsuccessful.  A couple members of our CSA, Jan and Brian picked up some organic ginger in hopes that we would be more successful.  It is certainly possible that it is my fault, maybe it is the growing conditions in Minnesota but once again we were unable to grow ginger. Kind of a bummer, but I think we will try ordering it from a seed catalog next year.

* I am sad to say that the robin eggs I found are officially dead.  I think something happen to the mother; a sad but necessary part of nature.  I am hoping the nest gets used again...I will keep my eyes out.

* I also wanted to announce the official BLT month.  I hope you have stock piled your bacon because the lettuce and tomato are coming. Starting August 1st, I will be embarking on a 31 day journey through the wonders of bacon, lettuce and tomato.  Lissa and I are coming up with some very creative recipes to try and I will be posting pictures and reviews all month. 

Settling back in...

Now that I have done some weeding, harvesting, and planting and I am really back into the swing of things, I decided to take a walk around the farm to take some pictures of Lissa's gardens. They are all chock full of lilies; all different kinds and colors, they are such beautiful flowers.

John found this orioles nest in a branch that fell.  I have never seen and orioles nest and didn't realize how incredible they are.  Orioles build nests in trees but not on top of branches, they hang from the branches.  I think I can make a pretty good looking nest with my opposable thumb but it is a real accomplishment to have built this nest with just a beak.

I wanted to show all you folks living in the big cities somewhere my commute to and from work everyday...

...makes you think twice about your day job

Home

I spent the week at Watkins Glen in NY; I got to see three nights of one of my favorite bands.  It was fun to get a way for a while but real showers and weeding is what I really love.  It didn't take long for me to do both of those things.
I knew things would be different but I can't believe how much things have grown...it still amazes me.  Here are some before and after shots from the week I was gone...

Peas are overgrown

Peas are now torn out of the hoop house...but there are more planted outside

The cucumbers have started to blossom

Holy moly...look at those tomatoes

There are hundreds of these

Bean rows - Before

Bean rows - After

You can really see how much the bush beans have filled out and the pole beans have started to really climb up the trellises.  There are even very small beans on now, another week or two we will be picking beans.

The summer squash was big but...

now they are covered in blossoms and starting to grow squash

I am anxious to go over to Grant and Christy's for a tour of their gardens, I bet just as much has changed. I will get over there as soon as possible and make sure to post some pict

Back to work; since the peas were pulled out, there is now some more available space.  It does not take long to fill space on this farm, they keep a pretty tight turn around time on this farm.  You really have to take advantage of the dirt while you still have the weather to grow stuff.  In the place of the peas we put more lettuce, and a few remaining tomato plants that did not sell at the farmers market.  There were a few more empty spots around the farm so we threw in some more carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower.  It is awesome to watch Lissa plan this garden, she is always thinking ahead and making sure we have a constant flow of vegetables.  She factors in seed germination time, size of the plant, how long till it fruits, what other vegetables will be ready, and is able to make a clear plan.

The Sun is Out...and I went on Vacation

John has slightly modified his tiller by adding a panel on each side; this allows him to till up the rows without throwing dirt onto the crops.  This is going to save my poor little right hand a lot of time.  He tilled the walkways in all the gardens and Lissa and I followed behind weeding in between the crops.  With the all the rain we have had and the sun we will be getting and now all the weeds out of the way, these crops should shoot up.We should see a lot of change in the next week; unfortunately, I am going on vacation. I am heading out on Wednesday for a week in upstate New York.  I will be camping and unable to use a computer or a phone or any technology for that matter, I will be sure to update you on all the progress around the farm when I get back. I am sure you all will be just as anxious as I am to see what is going on.  Until next week, when I can write again...