April and May 2015
As spring sprints ahead, we are busy in the greenhouse seeding everything from lettuce, scallions, and bok choy for the first boxes to peppers, tomatoes, and winter squash for later in the season. There is a constant rotation of seeding, moving mature plants to the cold frame to adjust to wind and weather, and then transplanting out in the field. It is a busy time but very rewarding to see little seedlings flourish in the fields and direct-seeded crops--sugar snap peas, salad turnips, and spinach--popping up through the soil.
Having a one and a half year old has added an interesting twist to the hours we farm. A lot happens during Edith's cat naps and after she goes to bed at night, which is actually a really beautiful time of day to transplant or weed. We are often serenaded by frogs, and cranes, ducks, and geese fly overhead. The buzz of mosquitoes have yet to join this orchestra--until then, we'll enjoy the time we've got.
The spring has been quite dry, but in the first two weeks of May, we've had enough moisture to help germinate a cover crop of oats and peas and help transplants adjust to their permanent home. The rain also brought on the first major flush of weeds. With family in town on Mother's Day, we took advantage of having childcare to get a laundry list of things done. One of those items was cultivating with Belle for the first time this season. It was wonderful to knock back weeds before the next round of rain and give spring broccoli, cabbage, and lots of potatoes a leg up.
In the coming weeks, we'll be planting loads of winter squash, tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, and cucumbers. With the arrival of June comes the race to keep weeds at bay. We'll be keeping a close eye on the early crops for the first CSA box in mid-June. There are still a few shares available, so if you are looking to become a member of a farm or know of someone that wants to support a local family farm, please share our information with them. You can register for a farm membership online. To read a wonderful article about Sweet Top Farm, please visit the Hudson Star Observer.
Having a one and a half year old has added an interesting twist to the hours we farm. A lot happens during Edith's cat naps and after she goes to bed at night, which is actually a really beautiful time of day to transplant or weed. We are often serenaded by frogs, and cranes, ducks, and geese fly overhead. The buzz of mosquitoes have yet to join this orchestra--until then, we'll enjoy the time we've got.
The spring has been quite dry, but in the first two weeks of May, we've had enough moisture to help germinate a cover crop of oats and peas and help transplants adjust to their permanent home. The rain also brought on the first major flush of weeds. With family in town on Mother's Day, we took advantage of having childcare to get a laundry list of things done. One of those items was cultivating with Belle for the first time this season. It was wonderful to knock back weeds before the next round of rain and give spring broccoli, cabbage, and lots of potatoes a leg up.
In the coming weeks, we'll be planting loads of winter squash, tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, and cucumbers. With the arrival of June comes the race to keep weeds at bay. We'll be keeping a close eye on the early crops for the first CSA box in mid-June. There are still a few shares available, so if you are looking to become a member of a farm or know of someone that wants to support a local family farm, please share our information with them. You can register for a farm membership online. To read a wonderful article about Sweet Top Farm, please visit the Hudson Star Observer.
March 2015
Graceful onions
Hello Spring!
The weather has been just wonderful lately (although the wind a bit strong). We are hard at work seeding vegetables and flowers in the greenhouse and enjoying walks around the farm with Edith looking for all forms of wildlife from swans to tiger salamanders. In the next week or two, we will begin field work with the hopes of seeding sugar snap peas and transplanting broccoli, kale, and beets within the next three weeks. We are also going to trial a bunch of flowers under two caterpillar tunnels to try and get some early bouquets. Oh, the excitement!
In other news, we have joined Facebook. You can now follow farm life and see photos there on a more regular basis than our monthly website updates. Click here to "like" and Follow us on Facebook! Feel free to share this link with your friends and family so that they too can see what is happening on your farm.
We still have several vegetable and flower bouquet CSA shares available. If you have not yet signed up (or know someone who would like to become a member), there is still time. Click here to view the online registration form. Flower Bouquet Shares are now open to everyone. You can sign up for just a flower share or just a vegetable share or how about both! Also, we are now delivering to the River Market Community Co-op in Stillwater. Our CSA members and customers are our best advocates, so please share our information with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Help us spread the word about sustainable agriculture and Sweet Top Farm.
The weather has been just wonderful lately (although the wind a bit strong). We are hard at work seeding vegetables and flowers in the greenhouse and enjoying walks around the farm with Edith looking for all forms of wildlife from swans to tiger salamanders. In the next week or two, we will begin field work with the hopes of seeding sugar snap peas and transplanting broccoli, kale, and beets within the next three weeks. We are also going to trial a bunch of flowers under two caterpillar tunnels to try and get some early bouquets. Oh, the excitement!
In other news, we have joined Facebook. You can now follow farm life and see photos there on a more regular basis than our monthly website updates. Click here to "like" and Follow us on Facebook! Feel free to share this link with your friends and family so that they too can see what is happening on your farm.
We still have several vegetable and flower bouquet CSA shares available. If you have not yet signed up (or know someone who would like to become a member), there is still time. Click here to view the online registration form. Flower Bouquet Shares are now open to everyone. You can sign up for just a flower share or just a vegetable share or how about both! Also, we are now delivering to the River Market Community Co-op in Stillwater. Our CSA members and customers are our best advocates, so please share our information with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Help us spread the word about sustainable agriculture and Sweet Top Farm.
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master of the greenhouse
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Winter 2015
After months of transitioning, we have finally settled in to our new home and farm. Belle is happy with her accommodations and is putting on a little winter weight. Edith is exploring everything, either by foot, bicycle, or sled. Adam, with the help of friends and family, is almost done rebuilding the greenhouse. And Megan just sent off all the seed orders and is dreaming of kale salads and flower bouquets. We were lucky to visit family, both in New Hampshire and Minnesota, over the holidays and have spent the past month connecting with friends and other area farmers. As greenhouse and planting schedules come together for the upcoming season, we look forward to warm days seeding in the greenhouse, spending time on outdoor projects, and putting the first transplants in the ground.