The Joke is on ME

I waited all summer for these beets to grow beet roots.... We ate the tops mixed with other greens, but I never noticed that they were not beets at all. Obviously, I was not paying attention. Chard will never grow good beets. I thought I handed Vanessa beet seeds in the spring

and I never considered that they might be something else all these months.

chard seeds

Sweet Peppers

Found these in my garden. Yum. So sweet and good.

Harvest is On!

Call Vanessa this evening or in the morning if you want some.

Early May Update!

I can't believe it's been three weeks. Those plants have transformed.... and my greenhouse is nearly empty. Nearly everything is planted in the ground or sold.

Cool Nights

 This cool week has been cooler than I like for my tomatoes at night

even in the greenhouse.

The frost fans have been blowing all night every night for the last three nights.

Tonight is suppose to be the coldest,

so, we've been transporting the plants up to the house in the evening

and taking them back out in the morning.

 The outdoor rows are doing well!

 Salads at our house these days 

are delightful!

Our market garden patch is all prepared and waiting. . .

My Best, But Oh So Inefficient Helper

Sprouting Up

Seed Time

My little peaceful sanctuary. 

In my bedroom.

I'm slower than usual. I get about one tray planted a day.

Trouble in the Barnyard!

The Trouble Maker... or, at least, He's one of them... 

First off, no one wants our rooster.

I put him on freecycle and there are no bites!

Yesterday we cornered him and put him in a separate pen but that doesn't solve much since he's trapped in the room where the feed is stored. 

James won't be feeding chickens with him around.

I can guarantee you!

Second, we managed to identify the egg eater.

Yes, we have an egg eater. 

She stands over the other hens waiting for them the lay and eats the whole egg so fast there's no sign there ever was an egg. 

I watched her for awhile then locked her out of the barn.

Later came back to find eggs in the nest boxes, but it was late afternoon

so after collecting the eggs we opened the barn door and she went straight back in and I found her once again standing over a hen eating the just laid egg. 

Now she is locked away.

We're on a roll....

There's good news in the barnyard, too.

My BEES survived the winter!!!

 YAY!

Isn't it amazing how it was winter 

and the next day it was spring?

The robins are back.

The bird songs in the morning are incredible.

Everything is springing to life.

Seed Order DAY!

It's 60 degrees out in the sun and it makes one feel like spring is here! 

Must be time to plant. Only it isn't yet. 

I can't plant for two weeks or we'll end up with spindly plants wishing away the spring. 

I just checked my seed supplies and was amazed to find I had used up nearly 

EVERY tomato seed I ordered last year.
Just placed the 2013 order.
So excited for those seeds to arrive.

There are a few types that I tried last year that I will not be repeating. 

I will not be planting a fancy variety of heirloom seeds.

Those just did not work out so well for us. 

They crack, and are weird shapes, colors and textures.

In short, they don't sell well.

I'm expanding my Roma Varieties.

They don't sell to markets but friends will can them.

I plan to charge a little for my canners this time around.

I ended up giving away way too many tomatoes last year.

We've weeded out the grape and cherry varieties over the past few years to three we like best:

cupid

sugary

nugget

On the advice of friends we are trying a new cucumber for the greenhouse.

Socrates ~ from Johnny's select seed.

I'll let you know how that turns out.

Can't wait to get started!!