The forecast for snow showers next week notwithstanding, spring does seem to be inching its way in on the farm. The greenhouse is brimming with trays of cold-hardy crops: onions, leeks, broccoli, kale, mustards, lettuce, cabbage, kohlrabi and chard are all beginning to poke through.
The midday sun warms the soil and the woodstove + box fan set up keeps everything from freezing overnight.
The field is another story. There is finally more ground showing than snow, but it seems a long way off until the soil will be workable. Last year I transplanted the first round of lettuce on April 9; this year I don’t expect to get anything in the ground before May. Nevertheless, I have begun to gently wake up the field by spreading compost on the beds, clearing old plants and weeds, and repairing the fencing that took a beating this winter.
With a little patience and a little sunshine we’ll be rolling into the 2014 season in no time. We hope you’ll join us on the journey.
