As the Farm Turns

Sometimes farming does feel like a soap opera. Scandalous rumors, unexpected accidents, cut-throat rivalry between poultry growers (no pun intended), and trade secret jealousy. There is certainly something always brewing on our farm and when sharing a farm with two other growers, things have to be kept wide open. We successfully negotiated our way through shared tractor fuel consumption without any flaring tempers or passive aggressive nonsense. Our resolution was to treat the tractor like a rental car-- whoever used it last tops off the tank. I am thankful that we all have the same long term goals of growing food, enjoying each other's company, and trying to juggle family life, farm duties, employment, and down time.

Flashy Trout Back lettuce

The weather is slowly starting to warm up and our average soil temperatures are creeping slowly closer to 50 degrees. This translates to better seed germination and accelerated plant growth, and as for me, I was pleasantly surprised to see lots of new growth today under the reemay. Allyn and I have been losing sleep and I have been quite fussy and grumpy because June has been rapidly approaching and plant  growth has been slow to say the least. Many of our Asian vegetables and some of our greens are starting to approach full size while the brassicas (kohlrabi, broccoli rabe, etc) are starting to experience explosive growth as the sun peeks out for a few days at a time.

We should be planting dry beans soon and I am very excited to try three new varieties this year (Black Coco, Adzuki, and some funky new garbanzo). Our driveway in Seattle is now currently filling up with sweet corn, popcorn, cukes, melons, squashes, and

My favorite: Jacob's Cattle bean

zukes while all of our tomatoes and peppers have moved out and are now getting comfortable in their fancy new hoophouse.

On a side note....We post all of our day to day pictures of plants and operations on facebook now. I have caved into using Facebook and I must admit that it is a nice way to keep farm updates short and sweet. For thosee folks who enjoy using Facebook, visit us at our Roots Underground Facebook page. Stay tuned!

Reality of farming

As a new farmer, I must admit that there are serious challenges one faces when growing crops on newly-opened ground. Allyn and I pulled all of our reemay off today only to discover that early sowings of seed did not emerge aside from those sprouts that found large cracks in crusted-over soil. Our later seed plantings are doing well and are growing nicely, yet we may lose even this if it does flood tomorrow. This is terribly discouraging and makes me wonder why anyone should even venture into farming--especially in King county. I long for the days of farming in Whidbey's rain shadow and sandy loam soil where crusting was never an issue. This farming paradise would distort even the most objective perception that a young farmer would have about how things grow and react to vastly different soil and weather conditions. I try to remain focused on what is working and think that eventually things will become easier and that the knowledge will come, yet I feel at the same time that America has lost (or is losing) much of the know how that was passed down from generation to generation when agriculture was a part of life and a family's survival to an extent. Whether or not this venture succeeds, I will put one foot in front of the other and continue to do what feels right--grow food.

After the possible flood, we'll plant our tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

June peppers

Despite all of the poor weather, ongoing slug attacks, and gas-price creep, it was refreshing to see blossoms on our pepper plants. It is a sign that warmer weather is on its way and that fresh local food will be here soon. I started our peppers

Peaceworks sweet pepper blossoms

pretty early this year and their timing has matched our space limitations for plant starts here in Seattle better than the tomatoes have. One of our early bloomers so far has been the Peaceworks sweet pepper, and I am now starting to harden our peppers off so they will make the transition into the valley's cooler greenhouse weather without croaking. Our greenhouse hoops are supposed to be delivered today and we should be able to start getting many of our tomatoes that are literally bursting out of their pots into the ground. Since I am from Florida, this will be an exciting day for me because I love the warm greenhouse mugginess that clearly is not present at any time of year in Northwest Washington.
We are beginning to build a farm stand, washing table, and packing table while we are waiting for the temperatures to warm up and sun to appear. Carnation-Duvall Road clearly needs a farm stand and everybody that I talk to says that one is sure to be successful. With the price of gas rising this may be just the solution we need to help offset the cost of petrol. Our shopping list includes a few used refrigerators and long folding tables, so if you know of any that are hiding away waiting to be used for a good cause let us know.

Dward Pak Choi

Van Strom the plow master came by yesterday to finish up the remaining plowing for us. He does heavy tractor work for hire and claims that many of the farms he does work for are struggling with the weather too. Van also confirmed that for those farms that do have plants in the ground, the weather is just too cool right now for starts to grow or out-grow the pests.
We learned a dirty little secret of the valley a few days ago. A friend of mine spotted a Charlie's Produce truck making the rounds so he inquired as to who had enough produce to sell to bulk distributors. The answer is nobody. Farms are buying bulk produce to fill CSA boxes or orders. Charlie's does sell quality organic produce, but as a farm entity we would rather have light early boxes and over-fill boxes a little later to make up the difference for a poor weather spring. CSAs are largely a relationship between a family and a farm. Members celebrate bountiful harvests, mourn farm flooding, and have high expectations for an abundant season--we will celebrate again when all of our food comes from the farm and the baby arrives.

Ruby Streaks Mustards

A beautiful spring day.

Peas and onions.