July 28, 2003
To every season turn turn turn
Already, we are looking ahead to the change of seasons. Yesterday I direct seeded my last planting of string beans, which take about sixty days to mature. Sixty days will push us up against the average September 20 frost date for our area, so that was the last planting of string beans to go in.
Starting to pull back on our direct seedings means that my time will start freeing up for more long term projects and planning for next year. Which is good, because I was just starting to get bored of doing the same plantings each week. Now I am thinking about building more hoophouse space for next year, how the barn can be re-configured, how to improve my efficiency at starting seedlings for next year, what crops I want to keep or drop, etc. Another example of the changes -- instead of starting broccoli seedlings yesterday, I seeded a couple of trays of kale.
So at the same time the tomatoes and melons are starting to come in (yay!), we are already beginning to think fall.
Posted by peter at July 28, 2003 06:36 AMIt must be fun to be looking ahead and planning for next year. A lot of things to think about.
It sounds like you are not planting anything that won't be ready before 9/20 except for what will grow in hoophouse #1?
Posted by: Joe at July 28, 2003 12:11 PMGreetings farmers!
I've been slacking on my blog reading lately, so this is belated, but I wanted to thank you both so much again for taking time out of your super busy lives and joining Matt and I at our party last Saturday night. I am also kicking myself for not wishing Pete a Happy Birthday that night...so continue celebrating throughout the entire month of July!
You have written quite a bit about bringing your veggies to market, but you haven't told us how you are enjoying the fruits of your labor at your own table. Are you canning, freezing, or eating them right off of the vine?
I have great memories of helping my mom and Grandma Griffin make strawberry jam and grape jelly in the kitchen on Pine Street. The key was to fill the jars right to the top so that the judges at the Guilford Fair would award a ribbon. Any thoughts of entering your produce in local aggie fairs?
Take care and greetings from Memphis :).
