Great egrets , keeping our view optimistic

Well, it has been a rough start in a strange year in general, but I’d rather not dwell on that.
I’d rather tell you what the garden looks and feels like right now.
Each week brings new growth and what was bare soil not that long ago is now a lush, green garden. 

                            March 20th                                                                              April 20th

There are as many as 6 Great Egrets that I sometimes see soaring against the backdrop of the many shades of spring green the tree leaves hold right now.  I try to take pictures, but when I look at them, they do not do the scene justice.
They are an excellent reminder of why we chose to farm and why, against all odds, we continue to do it.  Our love of the natural world and residing in it has always been a strong motivator for our work.

In the garden this time of year, there is an overlap of spring crops being harvested and some succession plantings being tended to for later harvest, as well as summer crops that we are regularly planting and tending to.  In the span of two days, I transplanted cucumber and squash plants into the field and seeded a succession of them in the greenhouse. 

potatoes with lettuce and radishes behind and spring flowers beyond those

Maxwell and Flora helping to seed a succession planting of cucumbers, squash, and zucchini

​Over the winter we assembled a third high tunnel, which allows us to plant even more early tomato plants.  In the newest and largest high tunnel, we will experiment with a ‘lower and lean’ trellising system. 

newest high tunnel full of tomato plants, April 5th

Growing in a high tunnel sometimes feels like a bit of agricultural magic in an occupation filled with things that seem out of our control.  The plants are planted directly into the soil, but the greenhouse-like plastic covering keeps the soil from becoming compacted by heavy rains, protects the plants from strong winds, and gives us a bit of control over temperature.  It creates an ideal growing environment in which plants thrive.

our resident tomato whisperer

More tomato plants are going into the field as well, along with flowers, peppers, and eggplant.
We are choosing to keep our focus on the positive things sure to come out of the garden this season!