Since we skipped spring and went directly to summer, things here at applewood farm have been even less organized than usual.
Typically, there is a period of weeks between the last frost and the incredibly hot Dog Days of summer.
This year, not so much.
We planted seeds back in late March and early April. These have been germinating and becoming seedlings at varying rates depending upon what was planted and when.
Tomato starts demanding immediate attention.
The plants that really take off quickly demand transplanting sooner as well. This means that we have to have our transplant locations (raised beds, gardens, etc.) ready and THIS means that we have to be organized and have more than one hour a day to dedicate to the project.
Lately, time has not been so much on our side.
Between the restaurant, the cheese shop, the farmer’s market, the firehouse, and the pigs/chickens/goats/bees/dogs/cats/children, there hasn’t been a great deal of time for such frivolities as ensuring that our future food is planted in the ground where it can grow.
Something had to give, so the first line of defense was to stop caring for the children. At 10 and 14, they’ve had a good run and now they’re on their own.
Good luck, kids!
The rest of the creatures still need a little assistance, so Dave graciously cut back on firehouse activities a bit and lo-and-behold! stuff started getting transplanted!
Moving day.
In the past week, we’ve managed to get half the tomato beds planted, a flowerbed started, the back garden filled with squash seedlings of several varieties, the cucumbers and peas in and trellised, the brussels sprouts planted, two raised beds built, five existing raised beds seeded, and all the lettuces and leafy greens started as well.
Plus, I got to mow the lawn for the first time this year and not much makes me happier than that.
Future delicious food.
There aren’t a lot of jobs more satisfying than getting the gardens planted.
Hopefully, this year will prove as bountiful as all the ones preceding it.
Hopefully, all these little seedlings will be delicious food before too long.
applewood farm 
There are few things nicer to see than a good, stout tomato plant. May your salsa bowls always overflow….
Ah! A beautiful sentiment if ever there was one!
as usual….great story
let’s talk about compiling this for a book
Thanks, Tim. I would love to do that! Do you think anyone would buy it? 😉
Having just turned my compost today and sifted all I need for tomatoes in pots and my kale bed, I feel you in the haste to get things ready more swiftly than usual. Good on you for cutting those good kids loose! I bet they know just where to find the peanut butter. So happy my friend A Raisin and a Porpoise sends me your great posts. xoxoxS
Thank you for your support. Surprisingly, some people feel that children should be cared for. They are, of course, misguided.
‘Gardens in’ is like a sigh. An exhalation of satisfaction. Our weather has not been so kind. Yes, the thaw, and then some really hot weather, and now…again the threat of frost. Next year–floating row covers. But for this year, I’m juggling starts–outdoors in nice weather and then trundling them all back in for the night. Soon, fencing (and that will handle the deer threats), hopefully, by then the nights will be warm enough to trust the babies outdoors.
I don’t know how you do it all. Amazing.
Having the gardens planted is a great feeling. I just finished our summer planting yesterday. As for mowing the grass, I haven’t done that in a couple of weeks. From the road our farm looks abandoned.
May your harvest be bountiful!