We Love Weeds

"A farm is always in some kind of tizzy." Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
As an organic grower my main goal is to provide organic matter to the soil to feed the soil organisms, which in turn break the stuff down and release nutients that plants use. For years I have struggled with finding a window of opportunity to plant cover crops to feed the soil, and this year is no exception. Extended periods of wet conditions combined with heat bring forth very aggressive weed growth, which is impossible to keep up with no matter what new scheme I try. After several years of fighting the jungle, I have decided to relax and enjoy the weeds for what they are, free cover crops that provide organic matter for the soil, and I don't even have to plant them. Why fight it? Nature has provided a system. So, if you happen to drive by our farm and you see me with my string trimmer instead of a hoe, just consider me another grower properly humbled by nature. For the market this week we will have the following:

*Mesclun
*Arugula
*Italian Dandelion
*Sorrel
*Baby Potatoes
*Mangetout Peas
*Pearl Onions
*Beets
*Lettuce Heads
*Radicchio
*Escarole
*Rapini
*Baby Carrots
*Rainbow Kale
*Lacinato Kale

June 16, 2007 Farmer's Market

"There is in fresh green stuff a vitalizing power, as any farmer can see when he turns his cows and colts out to grass, or supplies green stuff to growing pigs or laying hens." Bernarr Macfadden, Physical Culture Cook Book, 1924
Today I dug my first potatoes of the season, and as always, during a heat wave. Usually if the heat extends more than 3 days it raises havoc with production of the fresh green stuff mentioned above. But the good in this process is that soon we will have more varieties of crops to bring to market. Next week we will have two types of peas; rustic petite pois, and a gourmet Korean snow pea. Also Fava beans are not that far away. For the market this week we will have the following:

* Mesclun - 2 types
* Arugula - 3 varieties
* Kale
* Sorrel
* Italian Dandelion
* Mustard
* Spadona Chicory
* Lettuce heads
* Turnips
* Beets
* Pearl Onions
* Baby Red Potatoes
* Rapini
* Lavender
* Garlic Scapes

Thanks everyone for your support, see you at the market!

June 2, 2007 Farmers Market

"Among al herbest, non hath so good juyce as lettyse. It doth sette a hotte stomake in very good temper, maketh good appetite, and eaten in the evenynge provoketh slepe. It provoketh mylke in a woman's breastes, but it abateth carnall appetite. Sir Thomas Elyot, The Castel of Helthe, 1534. June and September are the best months for salad greens for us and this week is no exception. This is the first harvest of the season of our Nicoise salad mix. Based on the wild mesclun of the Nicoise (Southern France) region, these savory once-wild greens are an aquired taste for those whole value their bitter palate. At the market this week we will have:

*Arugula
*Italian Dandelion
*Red Russion Kale
*French Sorrel
*Butterhead Lettuce
*Mangetout Peas
*Carrots
*Beets
*Baby Turnips
*Spinach
*Radishes
*Lavender
*Mesclun
*Nicoise Mesclun