This Week On The Farm ...

On Sunday I cleared out the last of the Asian greens that had bolted in Bed #4, amended the soil with some compost and chicken manure and planted 196 carrots (Mokum) on seed mats (thanks, AG, for the Seed Mat Tutorial ... this is so much easier on my hands with the smaller seeds).  As I was making the seed mats I realized that I have never posted a photo of the way I organize my seed packages...

 The Mason Jar box came with cardboard dividers between the jars ... exactly the size of most seed packs.  I group them by root crops, lettuces, brassicas, bush beans, pole beans, peas etc.  And yes, I do have to admit that I am compulsive when it comes to buying seeds ... I probably need intervention ...

Yesterday I made seed tapes for more lettuces; 10 each of Spock, Sulu, Red Sails and Speckles (Yes!  I am growing Spock and Sulu! How cool is that?  I wonder if there is a lettuce called Enterprise?  I need to Google that : )   I also got some of my fall/winter brassicas started in soil blocks ... I have more to do today; my fall seed order from Johnny's is here.  I'll have a few more when my fall seed order from Territorial arrives ... yes; I ordered more seeds ... I'm hopeless ...

I transplanted out some of the leek starts (Lexton) that have been growing under lights in the potting shed ... I added 20 leeks to Bed #6 ...

... and 10 more next to the newly planted carrots. 

There is an open spot in the bed for fall/winter beets and turnips that I will be planting in the middle of July.  I find it hard to leave a "hole" like that empty ... I just want to plant something in it ... now!!

Today I am going to put a Carlos Nakai CD on my boombox and get out there and and do some serious weeding.  It is a weekday and all the neighbors are at work so I can turn the volume up : )  Do you listen to music while you garden?

Enjoy!

This Week On The Farm ...

The weather continues to be cold and cloudy.  On "The Farm" side of the property the peas, carrots, potatoes, lettuce and cabbages are all happy; everything else is pouting.  The potted peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos are all now housed in the little greenhouse or the newly expanded "Pepper Palace" ...

I moved it to the side of the greenhouse so I can tap in to the drip watering system and the electric box there.

Yes, that is a heater in the right hand corner.
It is still getting down into the 40's at night!

I harvested my broccoli this week, what little of it there was.  I have to agree with Annie's Granny on the subject of broccoli; I don't think it's worth it.  Ditto cauliflower ... 

As I mentioned in a previous post, this is the first time I've tried to grow brassicas.  Am I missing something here?  Looks like I've got all "cauli" and no "flower".  Shouldn't it be showing some sign of  a head by now?

I think the cabbages are doing what they are supposed to ...

...at least I hope so; that is a head forming in the center, isn't it?

On the bright side, the Dakota shelling peas are just about ready to harvest; maybe another week or so ...

...and the two pumpkin plants also seem to be doing well.  This bed is under some large trees which I think shelter it a bit from cold and wet.  I added the trellis in the back of the bed this week and planted runner beans (Sunset and Painted Lady) at it's base ... I'll add some bush beans after I pull the peas out.

Also on "The Farm" side of the house ...

There is no sign of any hatching going on in the junco nest.  The nest is in the basket right next to the back door which is the most commonly used door into the house ...

Mama junco jumps off the nest every time anyone goes in or out or if the dogs are in the yard, so I can't imagine that the eggs are staying very warm.  I'm hoping that they will still hatch ....

Well, that's it for "The Farm" report ...I'll save "The Garden" for later ....

Enjoy!