lil’ sprouts

our lettuce we have been eating off of all winter..thank you plastic you came from so far away...

the parsley patch is finally bouncing back..yes!!

we heart leeks! (yes these were seeded last feb.!)

the greenhouse is up!

my weeding project..get to work mama!!

We’ve been slackin on the visual side of the farm blog here..only because we have lost track of the cord that downloads the pics to the computer..so..for some updates. The greenhouse is up…the skin was put on yesterday and it already smells like a greenhouse…ahhh. Mama (me) finally got out and weeded the overwintering salad bed (there’s plenty more to do). Weeding is meditative in it’s own way, while freeing the plants up..you are freeing your mind up as well. Taking time to think of the day, current events, or nothing at all (ideally) is why I do love to weed so much…it’s probably one of the jobs that I have done the most of in my life. Yep, you might say I am a professional weeder..I’m proud of that!  The first tomato seedlings are up, the artichokes are sprouting, and the four flats of lettuce has all popped! The season has begun..it feels good, and with the help of our new friend the soil blocker..it looks like life with be a little bit easier this year (this is good) since we are expanding.  We are still enjoying onions, the last of the garlic, winter squash, leeks (gallore), spinach, salad mix, cilantro, parsley, radishes, a few kohlrabi, and the last of the chinese cabbage, carrots and beets from the fall plantings. Oh, how it helps get us through the winter and feed the boy well. Take a look at him scarfing the salad greens! We were blessed with another beautiful day here and grateful to have our good friend Marissa and Uncle Jess to help with the greenhouse…more to come!

rain dance

I haven’t been back in southern oregon that long–going on three years.  But these three years have been a blessing.  Walking the same trails and paths, looking at the same trees and patches of earth.  And when we depend on a patch of earth to grow food we start to notice what is happening around us.  so today i felt grateful that life blessed this patch of earth with a little well-needed moisture and i didn’t even have to do a rain dance.  i was up on a ladder connecting rafters and ridgepoles of the green house when i was graced with a quick snow storm.  the geometry of the steel framing contrasting with the horizontally flying white flecks of god-given moisture just gave me a sense of wonder.  I felt lucky to have another day with my son and his cousin.  Sitting with two children in the sun, they taught me more than any professor, government body, or guru could:  find the warmth, giggle, and roll down the hill.  So may we all follow the children and keep things simple.