First Tuesday CSA Pickup

Today was our first CSA Tuesday pick up and it was a success. I am always so nervous before the first pick up because you wonder, will people be happy with the selection? Will there be enough produce to fill the baskets? Will every one show up? Below is what was included in the first weeks share of the CSA. We'll see you all again next Tuesday, enjoy your veggies.



1 = Komatsuna
2 = Mizuna
3 = Spinach
4 = Strawberries
5 = Summer Turnip
6 = Arugula
7 = Tatsoi
8 = Chinese Cabbage
9 = Radish
10 = Lettuce Mix

Potato Bugs!!

The potato bugs are full steam ahead. John and I have been walking the patch and picking every morning before it gets too hot. We pick them into ice cream containers and then put them in water to drown. Sounds rather harsh but if we did nothing they would completely eat the plants down to the ground and no tasty taters for the CSA or market. The beetles get really active later on in the day so its best to try and nab them while they are still rather sleepy. We are looking at purchasing a back pack vacuum that would suck the beetles off the plants. It sure would beat bending over and picking them off the plants by hand. Another glamorous job here on the farm.

CBC Summer Series

Today was the kick off story to CBC Island Morning's summer series where our farm will be featured. It is always interesting and nerve wracking to hear your voice on the radio. Karen Mair came to the farm last week to do the initial interview and throughout the summer there will be more stories as they follow the ups and downs of our growing season. I'm assuming that Derek will be doing the next interview as I'll probably have my hands full with our new little farm babies. Countdown to baby time, less than 20 days now, yikes!!!

We had a great Saturday at the farmers market in Summerside. We had several unknown greens including Komatsuna, Mizuna and Tatsoi and that involved a lot of explaining to people what they are and what to do with them, what a great conversation starter.

The long range weather forecast for this week is looking much better than it did yesterday. We do need rain and my fingers are crossed for a nice soft steady 20mils but we also need warm calm sunny days to help the strawberries ripen, to help set in the transplants and to germinate some of the late planted carrot, bean and beet seeds.


The peas are growing very well


A look at the peas and turnip growing under row cover

Stay tuned into CBC radio Island Morning for more stories from the farm.

Another week of progress

Finished pea trellis

Well another week has pretty much flown by. John and I got quite a bit accomplished this week including trellising the peas, transplanting over 450 tomato plants, transplanting the peppers, celeriac, leaf celery, fennel and turnip and direct seeding beans, seeding more broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce in cell trays and we made new labels for the growing veggies out of cedar shingles. I'm sure I"m forgetting something in there but its been a good week.


Newly made signs - cedar shingles



More signs


John trellising the peas

I had a doctors appointment this week and all is well with the babies. Baby B or "righty" has taken over the lead position and will likely the first to make an appearance. I'm happy to report that I did not make the scale rise anymore this week which is great because the last time I went I had gained 8lb in 2 weeks. The babies are growing between each visit so that's the important thing, or at least that is what the doctor is telling me. 35 weeks gone, only 3 or 4 left according to the doctors predictions. Now to get those squash and cucumber transplants in the ground and get ahold of the weeds that will be abundant after tomorrows rain.


Looking down at my huge belly



Squash transplants soon to be planted, next week I hope. We now just need some heat

Too relaxed??

I have this feeling that I am way too relaxed so far this season. I usually have several panic attack moments as I realize that I"m behind on planting, the weeds are over taking the plants, not enough moisture, too much moisture, too windy, too buggy, transplants are too small or the transplants are too big, oh i could go on and on. But this year for some reason I'm just taking one day at a time and working with what nature throws at me and not freaking out if I planned to plant lettuce mix and the weather said it was supposed to be fine and it turns out that it rained all day. Derek has taken the last few Friday's off which has helped immensely and our neighbor John has been working with us here and there and that has also been super.

Derek and John planting potatoes, I am hardly able to bend so I just dropped the sets on the top of the hill and the guys did the rest.

Last Monday the Summerside Katimavik group came to the farm for the day and helped to tackle the weedy strawberry patch and they also helped to plant several trays of greens and broccoli that were really needing to get planted. That was awesome!!!

The Summerside Katimavik Work Team!!! Life savers!!!
So maybe that is why I am feeling so relaxed, help really is a wonderful thing.

Now if only I could feel as ready about having these babies as I do about the status of the planting. A friend asked me lately if I was ready for the twins arrival. Well, I thought to myself, I have two cribs, two car seats, a bath tub, little sleepers, diapers and a whole lot of other stuff that I'm not even sure what to do with. Of course I'm ready I thought, then I actually started to think about it and mentally I am really not quite in the baby zone. I've been so focused on getting seedlings in the ground and plans made for the summer for Derek and John to take over that I haven't left much time for thinking about the realities of bringing home two babies and what that will look like. But, for now I"m happy to live in the world of denial and keep focusing on the farm.