Fork & Knife

September 9 Depositions

The first few are Asian greens from different areas that can be eaten in salad or braised.
Komatsuna "Summerfest"- Mild, tender, Japanese greens for salad and braising mixes. Uniform, upright plants with slender, fleshy, rounded green stems and dark green, rounded leaves.
Vitamin Green or Bitamin Na- An entirely different and delicious leafy green brassica crop. Band-sow thickly for baby leaf mix. For bunching, mature leaves, avg. 12" x 4", are smooth and brilliantly deep green. The plants are slow-bolting and will grow for a second harvest. The tender leaves are flavorful, but not at all mustardy. Tolerant to both cold and heat.
Hon Tsai Tai- Purple flower stems and buds. A Chinese specialty. The young plants soon branch and produce quantities of long, pencil-thin, red-purple, budded flower stems. Pleasing, mild mustard taste for use raw in salads or lightly cooked in stir-fries or soups. For multiple harvesting of tender stems and leaves. Can be spring sown, but yields best when sown June through October for harvest from midsummer through winter (in mild areas).
Maruba Santo- With Maruba you get two vegetables in one. The loose round vibrant chartreuse leaves provide a mild piquant mustardy flavor while the flat white stems impart a juicy crisp pac choi taste. The flavor is more subtle and complex than that of other greens and if cut small is great for mesclun mix.

This one is a European favorite.
Très Fine Maraîchère Endive- Large frizzy endive with very fine ribs suitable for late spring and early summer harvests. Known to chefs as frisée. 19th century French heirloom.

The following three, along with Sylvetta Arugula planted last weekend are especially good for the colder months and can produce through the winter with a little protection
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)-Cold-hardy salad green.
Quantities of heart-shaped leaf pairs, each "wrapped" around a white-flowered stem. Hardiest of the winter salad greens, can tolerate moderate frost and can be grown all winter in mild regions or in cold greenhouses. The taste of the young leaves is wild and fresh. Suitable for multiple cuttings.
Minutina or Erba Stella- Especially for winter salads.
A cold-hardy salad plant for fall, winter, spring, and summer production. Small plant with a rosette of slender green leaves. Provides a crunchy texture to salads without fiber. Flower buds are edible. Regrows after cutting, but succession sow for best quality and appearance.
Large Leaf Corn Salad or Mache- Miniature gourmet salad greens, popular in northern Europe, France and Switzerland. The dark green leaves form a fancy rosette and the flavor is delicate. For best taste, grow in cool weather.

Labor Day weekend plantings

Busy weekend planting. Here is what I got in the ground:

About ten varieties of lettuce,
400' of Red Russian Kale,
400' of Champion Collards,
300' of Early Mizuna Mustard,
300' or Osaka Purple & Red Giant Mustard,
300' of Bloomsdale Spinach,
400' of Cilantro,
400' of Early Wonder Tall Top Beet,
250' of Tatsoi,
250' of Sylvetta Arugula,
500' of various radishes including French Breakfast, Altaglobe, White Icicie & Daikon
500' of Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Have a bunch more to plant in the coming days including carrots, peas, parsley, Asian greens, different kinds of kale, collards, mustards, radishes, lettuces and other stuff too.

October 15 & 16 Plantings

Last weekend I planted the following:
Easter Egg & Altaglobe Radish, Red Giant Mustard, Tatsoi, Yukina Savoy,  Arugula and Champion Collards.

I have two more 4' X 125' beds left to plant. I will then start making some more beds or cleaning up summer crop beds closer to the house for other greens and stuff to overwinter.

I wonder if there would be much interest in a winter greens subscription?

October 9 plantings

Replanted Space Spinach, Wildfire Lettuce Mix and Kinbi, Nelson, Cosmic Purple, Atomic Red and other carrots. Planted the following: Bright Yellow, Magenta Sunset, Lucullus, Bright Lights and Ruby Red Rhubarb Chard along with Bull's Blood Beets. Toscano, Winterbor, Redbore, White Russian and Red Russian Kale. Tyee Spinach.

Labor Day weekend plantings

This weekend has been a busy one for planting. When I hand dig potatoes the process leaves a narrow, three to four foot wide, almost double dug mound of earth that looks for all the world like a fresh grave. Over the course of the summer I have dug about twenty rows that are about fifty-five feet long each. Several of these were tilled and planted the day after they were dug. Summer squashes went into these beds including Costata Romanesca Zucchini, Prolific Summer Straightneck, Zephyr, Eight Ball Zucchini and a couple others. This left me with fourteen that had not been planted. Sunday I planted them all. I planted the following:

1 bed of cilantro

2 beds of Purple Top White Globe Turnip

2 beds of Nelson Carrots with some Shin Kuroda Carrots

2 beds of Kinbi, Cosmic Purple, Atomic Red and Sugar Snax 54 Carrots

1 bed of Tatsoi

1 bed of Yukina Savoy

1 bed with H-19 Little Leaf and Diva Cucumber

1 bed with Amira and General Lee Cucumber

1 bed of Chioggia Beet

1 bed of Early Wonder Tall Top Beet

1 bed of Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled Cress, Upland Cress and another Cress

I also re-planted the beds that had been used for carrots and a bed that was planted to beets.  These were planted to Hakurei Turnips, Wildfire Lettuce Mix and Spicy Greens Mix. These beds are four by one hundred feet. Earlier one of the turnip beds was planted to Space Spinach, one of the lettuce beds was planted to D'Avignon and Easter Egg Radishes, the greens bed was left because they had gone to seed when I cut them down and were coming up like mad, mostly to arugula.

I will be cleaning out the leek beds tomorrow and readying them and the garlic beds for more fall vegetables. I am trying to condense these plantings closer to the house to discourage deer in early  spring.

The summer squash and cucumbers planted in July and early August are really starting to bear and the radishes planted on August 20 should begin production next week. The final small run of beans is looking pretty good and late planted zinnias have started flowering. Snapdragons are waking from their mid-summer nap and looking to produce well this fall.

So we wander in wonder toward autumn. I have been noticing the emerald reminders of early summer's arial courtship a lot lately. I believe the offspring of the dance of fire flies or the dancers recuperating from all that conubial bliss. It seems to me I see a lot of what looks like fire flies on some of the crops, especially the flowers. Nothing so sad as a single airborne flashing fire fly in the September darkened sky. Reminds me of periods of my life flashing erratically, dimly in darkened bars. "I am here. I am here. Here I am! Here I am! Am I here? Am I here?"

The Moment of Truth

OK folks, drum roll please, Sprout has emerged into the world.

Labor began on Friday at 7:18 p.m., progressed rapidly, labored in the tub, on the toilet, on the floor and in the bed. Started pushing at 2:20 a.m. At 3:33 a.m. baby's head emerged; the doctor said the next push would bring his shoulders out, she turned her head for a moment, one push and he squirted out into and across the warm pool like a minnow. From water to water. Time of birth: 3:34 a.m. He looks a bit yellow in the photo because he still had a fine coat of vernix on him--he has since been wiped clean and looks pink.
Mom labored heroically. Dad anchored, breathed and watched in awe; if it were easy, men would do it. Those present at the birth included Dr. Laurel Walter; Kim James, midwife; Dee Dee Farris-Folkerts and Sarah Kohl, doulas; Victoria Day, energy worker and friend; and Saxon Brown, super-teen and support goddess; M.R. Bear, supervisor; Lester Pootlepuss Cat, cooking consultant; with visits from Django and Spaulding, felines at large.
Baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces; 19 inches and some change long. Placenta was delivered well and will be planted with a tree in celebration of our son's birthday.
He fed once and has slept for the past 12 hours. Mom, baby and Dad are tired but jubilant.
Cats, dogs, parents and baby plan to sleep for the next few days. Name combinations are under consideration, but we're waiting for him to give a clue as to what might suit him. More to come soon with links to pictures.

posted by Guy & Lisa's Baby Blog @ 4:06 PM   

If you want to learn more about our pregnancy and birth and, no doubt, our adventures in parenting, you can go to www.ohmygoditsababy.blogspot.com

I will try to get your food to you this week, but it might be a smallish delivery.

   

May 5 & 6 plantings

May 5th Erica and I planted a bed of Snapdragons and Gladiolas and finished it off with Scarlet Flame & State Fair Zinnia and Picotee Cosmos.

May 6th Jordan and I planted:
19 rows 46' long of Whiteout Whited Sweet Corn (74)
21 rows 46' long of Tablemaster Yellow Sweet Corn (85)
10 rows 46' of Seneca Dancer Bi-color Sweet Corn (92)

April 25th Plantings

Jordan Wax and I planted the following yesterday:

100' Toscano Kale (30 Baby/65 Bunching)
100' Yukina Savoy Tatsoi (21/45)
100' Winterbor Kale (28/60)
200' Red Russian Kale (25/50)
100' Redbor (28/55), Konserva (30/60) & White Russian (30/60) Kales
200' Sylvetta Arugula (25/50)
200' Tatsoi (21/45)
200' Champion Collards (30/60)
100' Runway Arugula (21/40)

Jordan is a talented local musician who acts as a nexus for several local bands including The People's Republic of Klezmerica who played at our wedding here on the farm. He will be helping me on Mondays and Wednesdays and on occassional Fridays.

I will also be helped this season by Saxon Brown who will help with flowers and by Erica Parker who will work on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Of course I will get as much help as possible from my wonderful wife, Lisa Bruce, who works full time and is entering the 8th month of pregnancy.

My father will be planting some stuff on our family farm west of Jefferson City.

2005 Kickoff Plantings

Hello folks-

It's been a long time since I posted and a lot has been going on.

So far in 2005 I have planted the following:

February 26:
412' Tyee Spinach (42 days)
412' Space Spinach (38)

February 27:
206' French Breakfast Radish (28)
412' Altaglobe Radish (30)
309' All Greens Mix (30)
309' Allstar Gourmet Lettuce Mix (28)
1215 cloves of Phillip's Garlic
552 cloves of German Extra-Hardy Garlic

Early March:
Transplanted 54 more Apple trees of various types

March 12:
42' Dwarf Grey Snow Pea
42' Sumo Snow Pea
84' Sugar Snap Pea

March 15:
42' Sugar Sprint Snap Pea (58)
126' Little Marvel Shell Pea (61)
250' D'Avignon French Breakfast Radish (21)
70' Windsor Fava Bean
108' Bright Yellow Swiss Chard (30 baby/57 bunching)
108' Pink Passion Swiss Chard (28/53)
108' Bright Lights Swiss Chard (28/55)
108' Ruby Red Rhubarb Swiss Chard (59)
108' Lucullus Swiss Chard (25/52)
81' Magenta Sunset Swiss Chard (28/55)

March 21:
324' Yukon Gold Potato
324' Rose Finn Apple Fingerling Potato
216' Carola Potato
108' Russian Banana Fingerling Potato

March 27:
100' Red Onion sets
50' White Onion sets
108' All Blue Potato
108' Desiree Potato

March 28:
480 Alisa Craig Exhibition Onion plants
480 Mars Onion plants
480 Superstar Onion plants
480 Copra Onion plants

March 29:
616 King Richard Leek plants
418 Vidalia Onion plants
73 Mars Onion plants
246 Alisa Craig Exhibition Onion plants
233 Superstar Onion plants
186 Copra Onion plants
108' Red Onion sets

March 30:
323 King Richard Leek plants

April 3:
216' Russian Banana Fingerling Potato
500' Scarlet Queen Red Stem (43) & Hakurei Turnip (38)
500' Wildfire Lettuce Mix (28)
500' Spicy Greens Mix (21)
250' Atomic Red & Cosmic Purple Carrot (70)
150' Kinbi Yellow Carrot (75)
400' Nelson Carrot (56)
150' Golden Beet (55)
250' Chioggia Beet (55)

April 4 in flats at Heartlan Family Nursery:
1 flat Sungold Cherry Tomato (57) & Whippersnapper Cherry Tomato (52)
Portos Yellow Bell Pepper (74)
28 No. 226 Eggplant (55)
Imperial Star Artichoke (85)
28 Snowy White Eggplant
Turino Bell Pepper (68)
Elisa Bell Pepper (70)
Vidi Bell Pepper (72)
Valencia Bell Pepper (72)
Rosa Bianca Eggplant (88)
28 Zebra Striped Eggplant
1 flat Cheddar Orange Cauliflower (58) up in two days
1 flat Graffiti Purple Cauliflower (80) up in two days
1 flat Quasar White Cauliflower (65) up in two days
1 flat Fairy Tale Striped Eggplant (65)
Fat 'n' Sassy Bell Pepper (63)
512 Bianca Di Maggio Mini White Onion (80) up in three days
512 Red Piatta Onion (87) up in three days
512 Gold Coin Mini Yellow Onion (80) up in three days
260 Red Long of Tropea Onion (90) up in three days
Apple Green OP Eggplant (70)
Rikor Leeks (75) up in three days

April 5:
48 plants Bronco Cabbage
24 plants Late Flat Dutch Cabbage
30 plants Copenhagen Cabbage
200' Yukon Gold Potato

April 6:
350' Carola Potato
274' All Blue Potato

April 9:
24 plants Cabbage
54 plants Cauliflower
54 plants Broccoli

April 10:
100' Oregon Giant Snow Pea (60)
100' Mammoth Melting Snow Pea (62)
200' Tyee Spinach (42)
300' R71804 Daikon Radish (65)

April 11 in flats at Calvert Hill:
48 Arcadia Broccoli (63)
46 Alcosa Savoy Cabbage (72)
48 Super Red Cabbage (73)
2 flats Rikor Leek (75)
66 Sweet Thai Basil
78 Genovese Basil
28 Costata Romanesca Zucchini (52)
28 Gold Rush Zucchini (48)
28 Butter Scallop Patty Pan Summer Squash(51)
44 Zephyr Squash (54)
48 H-19 Little Leaf Cucumber (57)
28 Benning's Green Tint Patty Pan Summer Squash (55)
28 Eight Ball Zucchini (40)
28 Raven Zucchini (48)
52 Sunburst Patty Pan Summer Squash (52)
23 Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash (58)
36 Amira Middle Eastern Cucumber (52)
25 Telegraph Improved Cucumber (60)
36 Shantung Suhyo Cross Cucumber (60)
36 Holland Cucumber (62)
48 Boothby's Blonde Cucumber (63)
48 Papaya Pear Summer Squash (42)
48 Suyo Long Cucumber (61)
48 Diva Cucumber (58)
48 General Lee Cucumber (52)

April 13:
24 Cabbage
48 Cauliflower
48 Green Comet Broccoli
24 Bubbles Brussel Sprout

April 17:
200' Jade Bush Green Bean (50)
100' Dragon's Tongue Wax Bean (52)
400' Space Spinach (38)
A 4' X 100' bed of Bachelor's Button (three varieties), Zinnia (three varieties), Cosmos (two varieties) and Sunflower (two varieties)

April 19:
900' Desiree Potato
333' All Blue Potato

Garlic, Garlic, Garlic

I finally got a chance to plant garlic after the long market/CSA season and a month selling Christmas trees. I didn't think I was going to be able to plant as it has been so wet, but luckily I got the raised beds made with my Gravely and John Alspaugh loaned me a tree-planting bar. This allowed me to plant in fairly wet soil.

On 11/18/2004  I planted 409 cloves of German Extra-Hardy Garlic using Fertrell fertilizer as I am a little concerned and have had expressions of concern from customers regarding the use of blood meal and bone meal as fertilizer. The danger was mostly to me, but some have concerns about it for the customer also.

On 11/28/2004 I planted another 409 cloves of German Extra-Hardy Garlic.

On 12/30/2004 I planted 506 more cloves of German Extra-Hardy Garlic with Fertrell fertilizer for a total of 1324 cloves of German Extra-Hardy Garlic in 40# of seed garlic. The first 20# had 607 cloves (of which 1 was bad) and 152 heads. So that is 3.9 cloves per head and 30.35 cloves per #. The second 20 pounds had 718 cloves (of which 10 were bad) and 197 heads. So that is 3.65 cloves per head and 35.9 cloves per #.

On 12/30/2004 I also planted 100 cloves of Sunny Acres Softneck Garlic with Fertrell fertilizer.

On 12/31/2004 I planted 139 cloves of Sunny Acres Softneck Garlic with Fertrell fertilizer. I had 248 cloves in 14 heads for an average of 17.0 cloves per head.

On 12/31/2004 I also planted 409 cloves of Silver Rose Softneck Garlic with Fertrell fertilizer. There were 409 cloves in 20 heads for an average of 20.45 cloves per head.

Lastly on 12/31/2004 I planted 524 cloves of another Softneck Garlic that I got from Sunny Acres Farm with Fertrell fertilizer. There were a total of 764 cloves in the 52 heads for an average of 14.69 cloves per head. There were 18 bad cloves.

I am left with 20 pounds of German Extra-Hardy Garlic left to plant and 20 pounds of Phillip's Garlic  left to plant. I have planted 2496 cloves of garlic this season.