Here is Helen planting melon seedlings in the new caterpillar tunnel. You always have to be mindful of your shutter speed if you intend to get a non-blurry picture of Helen planting. 7th try is a charm!
Planning for fall harvest in the height of summer always gives me pause. It seems so strange to prioritize planting more at a time of bounty. In the spring, well that makes sense. We are starved for greens, for fruit, for sunlight. There isn't much to do other than pine over our plans, perfecting our trajectory in our mind's eye. Now? We are living in the high times of summer. We are up to our ears in greens. Cabbage just rolled in the door (that's right!) We know those peppers and tomatoes are coming. The melon! All the fruit! And yet, if we aren't mindful now, come fall, we will be hungry again.
We haven't even started harvesting our spring carrots (all those sweet, sweet baby carrots were from a late winter planting) and yet here we are hustling to prep ground and seed our first round of fall carrots. Welcome to the beginning of the busy times, when everything has to get done at the same time. July, August, and now that we do more winter production, September, are like this. Full swing harvest, full swing planting, full swing care, and full swing market keep us on our toes, bouncing from one task to the next.
Here is a window into our to do list for this week:
In other news, as prophesied, we mowed the thistle in the field lovingly known as thistle town. I hate a big mowing. It is like a giant nature eviction. I worry. And after I walk the field hoping to find creatures well. I found baby pheasants, a giant toad, birds nests, and come evening, the lightening bugs still rose. I felt okay. And I was glad to know that another million thistle seeds won't be added to our seed bank.
Stay cool in the heat and hope to see you this week!
We haven't even started harvesting our spring carrots (all those sweet, sweet baby carrots were from a late winter planting) and yet here we are hustling to prep ground and seed our first round of fall carrots. Welcome to the beginning of the busy times, when everything has to get done at the same time. July, August, and now that we do more winter production, September, are like this. Full swing harvest, full swing planting, full swing care, and full swing market keep us on our toes, bouncing from one task to the next.
Here is a window into our to do list for this week:
- Finish preparing ground for fall carrot and beet plantings and put those seeds in the ground!
- Plant additional rounds of fennel, basil, head lettuce, and the remainder of brussel sprouts
- Prepare ground for fall cabbage plantings
- Put shade cloth on greenhouse to keep our seedlings out of the heat
- Keep up with greenhouse seeding, including microgreens and sprouts
- Weeding galore- finish weeding the onions, celery, and celery root (lovingly called "Oniontown" and "Celerytown", weed round two of cilantro and dill. Tractor cultivate fall Brussel sprouts and more recent plantings
- Stake and trellis final tomato planting
- Begin preparations for fall ground by mowing and discing
- Continue preparing next spring's ground by plowing down the cover crop we grew there
- Jim's equipment list includes adjusting the mount for the cultivation bars so they don't wiggle, building a table for our three-point hitch transplanter, and fixing the things I have broken, which are many.
In other news, as prophesied, we mowed the thistle in the field lovingly known as thistle town. I hate a big mowing. It is like a giant nature eviction. I worry. And after I walk the field hoping to find creatures well. I found baby pheasants, a giant toad, birds nests, and come evening, the lightening bugs still rose. I felt okay. And I was glad to know that another million thistle seeds won't be added to our seed bank.
Stay cool in the heat and hope to see you this week!
See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers
Fresh From the Field!
Cut greens:Salad mix!
Greens:
Head lettuce: Butterhead, green leaf, red leaf, summer crisp, and romaine!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. I had some on spaghetti this week and it was one of the best decisions I made that day
Shoots: May be limited toward the beginning of the week and more bountiful as the week goes on.
Swiss Chard
Herbs:
Basil
Cilantro
Dill
Mint
Oregano
Parsley-basically good in anything and very nutrient dense
Sage
Thyme
Roots:
Baby carrots by the bunch- Limited- There are only enough for the beginning of the week. But never fear, that was from the winter planting! We have the whole spring planting yet to come in!
Radishes
All manner of deliciousness:
Cucumbers- just coming in. Expect them towards the end of the week in limited quantities.
Cabbage! It's baaaack! I love cabbage! Regular and we have the delicious caraflex (cone-shaped) type too!
Garlic scapes- pesto, pickles, stirfry, roasted, is there anything these delightful flowering stalks can't make deliciously?
Baby Fennel
Kohlrabi: Delicious, juicy, and crispy! The only vegetable apple. Great raw or roasted. These delectable varieties can be eating with the skin on when cooked.
Peas: snow and snap!
Radish Whippers- spicy seed pods from the radish plant!
Summer squash- yellow, green and striped zucchini, plus patty pan and yellow summer squash
Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
Thursday: Jackson
The Jackson Green Market at Allegiance Health is located at East Michigan Avenue and Waterloo Street. It runs from May through October 9 am to 2 pm
Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm
Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.
Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers
Fresh From the Field!
Cut greens:Salad mix!
Greens:
Head lettuce: Butterhead, green leaf, red leaf, summer crisp, and romaine!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. I had some on spaghetti this week and it was one of the best decisions I made that day
Shoots: May be limited toward the beginning of the week and more bountiful as the week goes on.
Swiss Chard
Herbs:
Basil
Cilantro
Dill
Mint
Oregano
Parsley-basically good in anything and very nutrient dense
Sage
Thyme
Roots:
Baby carrots by the bunch- Limited- There are only enough for the beginning of the week. But never fear, that was from the winter planting! We have the whole spring planting yet to come in!
Radishes
All manner of deliciousness:
Cucumbers- just coming in. Expect them towards the end of the week in limited quantities.
Cabbage! It's baaaack! I love cabbage! Regular and we have the delicious caraflex (cone-shaped) type too!
Garlic scapes- pesto, pickles, stirfry, roasted, is there anything these delightful flowering stalks can't make deliciously?
Baby Fennel
Kohlrabi: Delicious, juicy, and crispy! The only vegetable apple. Great raw or roasted. These delectable varieties can be eating with the skin on when cooked.
Peas: snow and snap!
Radish Whippers- spicy seed pods from the radish plant!
Summer squash- yellow, green and striped zucchini, plus patty pan and yellow summer squash
Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
Thursday: Jackson
The Jackson Green Market at Allegiance Health is located at East Michigan Avenue and Waterloo Street. It runs from May through October 9 am to 2 pm
Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm
Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.
Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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