The Farmers market returns for 2009. Saturday was our first market of the season. We had a great day. Sales were brisk and the energy was great. Considering all of the wierd weather we've experienced this spring we had a nice selection of produce. Lettuce, Asian greens mix, baby bok choi, radsish's, Japanese turnips, braising greens and kale tops. We also had a wide variety of plant starts available. Plant sales were good which was nice because there is strong competition for starts at the market. We had alot of return customers who have been with us for years. Thank you, we appreciate your business.
Me moved our location from the village green to the street this year on a temporary basis while the newly sown grass is taking hold on the green. We all loved the new location and so did our customers. The energy was like a stree fair; and the street is free! The board has my vote to move and many others feel the same way. We are all more than tired of the county bullying us around with the outlandish rate hikes and cavalier attitude. They should be happy to have us there. I hope we move just to be able to give it back to the short-sided, money hungry parks department.
It's been a rainy week. We were able to get in most of the potatoes before it came down. Still have 15 rows to go. Just waiting for it to dry out a bit. The rains been nice, perfect transplanting weather and thats what we're up to. We put in six beds of brassicas yesterday ( broccoli, cauliflower and kale) Six beds left in brassicaville, there's more broccoli ready to go today. Pea trellis's are up on the earliest peas. we'll continue installing as needed. Lots of potting up going on and still sowing indoors and out. Getting ready to run out of space soon. Strawberries will be here today. A little late I know but given the weather and other events I just hav'nt been able to get the new beds prepped. This rain will set us back a couple more days perhaps. It's hard once market satrts to get everything done as it takes out two days of the week. One for harvest and one to do the market. Oh yeah and everything needs to be mowed. And.... weedy! when the sun comes out they will explode. Get the weed arsenal ready!
So much to do. When and how will it all happen?
Farmer John
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Open House A Huge Success
Thank you to everyone who came out Saturday for the open house/plant sale. We were busy all day from 9 til 5. It was great for folks to get a view of some of the happenings around the farm, have some pizza and grab a flat of starts for the home garden. It's been awhile since we've had a plant sale. I used to do them we first started the farm. Not many people came out as people didn't know who we were or what we were doing. Now after we've been in business for eight years, people definately know us and we have a great reputation for offering high quality and reliable varieties of plant starts in addition to our fresh, local produce. It's a very satisfying feeling to see the success of something you've started from scratch. So a big thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years.
Now its back to the business of getting plants in the ground. The broccoli and cabbage we've been hardening off all week is ready to be transplanted. It's at its prime and looks great. We'll be starting up with the irrigation now too. It's actually quite dry out and the new transplants need a good shot of water to survive. We've got lettuce going in the ground this week too and maybe some onions as well along with chard and anything else that is ready. Things are ramping up in general. It does'nt get too much busier than it is now.
Obviously lots of ground work happening as well. The potato field is just about ready and I need to get to the new strawberry field prepped as well. It's a little later than normal but the weather is later so I'm not too worried. But no time to tarry. Oh, and don't forget to keep up with the potting on. Lots of little plants that want to be big guys:)
Time to get going here.
Have a good day,
Farmer John
Now its back to the business of getting plants in the ground. The broccoli and cabbage we've been hardening off all week is ready to be transplanted. It's at its prime and looks great. We'll be starting up with the irrigation now too. It's actually quite dry out and the new transplants need a good shot of water to survive. We've got lettuce going in the ground this week too and maybe some onions as well along with chard and anything else that is ready. Things are ramping up in general. It does'nt get too much busier than it is now.
Obviously lots of ground work happening as well. The potato field is just about ready and I need to get to the new strawberry field prepped as well. It's a little later than normal but the weather is later so I'm not too worried. But no time to tarry. Oh, and don't forget to keep up with the potting on. Lots of little plants that want to be big guys:)
Time to get going here.
Have a good day,
Farmer John
Monday, April 20, 2009
Potting up
Greenhouse's are bursting and as we pot up from flats to 4" pots we need even more space. Fortunately some things are begining to go out into the field but realistcally it's a still too cold to be putting most things out. Some of the starts we put out last week are definately in shock and don't look too happy. They'll recover but it's really not optimal. So more tables we will build and hopefully the weather will continue to improve.
We have a few orders for starts that we have been delivering and a few flats going out today so that will help. Hopefully we'll move a bunch on Saturday for the plant sale/open house. Gorgeous starts this year. Absolutely stunning but they must now go. We'll start haredening off broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower today. I have nine 150ft beds prepped and waiting. I'll hit em with the flame weeder just prior to transplant to knock out the first flush of weeds. Brassicas grow fast and tall and generally out compete most of the weeds. This is good because I was bad and let some weeds go to seed in this space last year. Bad farming technique for sure. "one year seed... seven year weed" It's true, trust me, been there done that.
April is a wicked month in many ways. Fickle weather, taxes, lousy cash flow and the final push for last minute supplies makes for extrodinarily challenging days Basically we're beyond broke and have been hoping for a few CSA memberships to show up. I know times are tough and I'm not complaining, I've been impressed by how well we've done to date. But... there has been a big lag in sign ups this month. It's normal but we could really use a cash hit right now. If you're out there and reading this and you hav'nt yet signed up but you've been thinking about it. Please do it now. ( I know I sound like the pledge rcruits on NPR ) but this is how we make a living and would like to continue doing so. To do so we need your help by becoming a member.
Market starts the first Saturday in May. We'll be moving this year for the first month due to the fact that the new grass is not yet able to be walked on at the village green. We'll be set up on the steet at Prune Alley. It'll be interesting. Maybe it'll spark some type of permant foundation for moving in the future to escape the excessive charges the county parks dept has levied on the market. I know I'm not alone in my opinion of wanting to tell the county to shove it. Whoa partner better stop there, thats a whole nother story.
Take care,
Farmer John
We have a few orders for starts that we have been delivering and a few flats going out today so that will help. Hopefully we'll move a bunch on Saturday for the plant sale/open house. Gorgeous starts this year. Absolutely stunning but they must now go. We'll start haredening off broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower today. I have nine 150ft beds prepped and waiting. I'll hit em with the flame weeder just prior to transplant to knock out the first flush of weeds. Brassicas grow fast and tall and generally out compete most of the weeds. This is good because I was bad and let some weeds go to seed in this space last year. Bad farming technique for sure. "one year seed... seven year weed" It's true, trust me, been there done that.
April is a wicked month in many ways. Fickle weather, taxes, lousy cash flow and the final push for last minute supplies makes for extrodinarily challenging days Basically we're beyond broke and have been hoping for a few CSA memberships to show up. I know times are tough and I'm not complaining, I've been impressed by how well we've done to date. But... there has been a big lag in sign ups this month. It's normal but we could really use a cash hit right now. If you're out there and reading this and you hav'nt yet signed up but you've been thinking about it. Please do it now. ( I know I sound like the pledge rcruits on NPR ) but this is how we make a living and would like to continue doing so. To do so we need your help by becoming a member.
Market starts the first Saturday in May. We'll be moving this year for the first month due to the fact that the new grass is not yet able to be walked on at the village green. We'll be set up on the steet at Prune Alley. It'll be interesting. Maybe it'll spark some type of permant foundation for moving in the future to escape the excessive charges the county parks dept has levied on the market. I know I'm not alone in my opinion of wanting to tell the county to shove it. Whoa partner better stop there, thats a whole nother story.
Take care,
Farmer John
Friday, April 17, 2009
Plant Sale, Farm Tour & Pizza
Join us on Saturday April 25th for our plant sale and farm tour. We have a huge amount of plants ready to go for your home garden. It's a great time to see the happenings of early spring on the farm. A peak into the back door as it were. Also I'll have the pizza oven fired up and will be selling gourmet wood oven pizzas. Come one come all. Have a pizza, take a tour and grab a flat of starts for an instant garden of bounty. We'd be happy to accept orders for custom grown flats as well.
As a side note, we are in need of plastic trays (Anderson Flats) and 4" pots. would love to recycle if any of you have any.
What else is happening? Alot! Its planting time. I'm working available ground and prepping beds as fast as the conditions will allow. Much of the ground is still too wet to work but we have managed to get in a decent amount transplants and have direct sown crops in our drier areas. We've been making restaurant deliveries since the end of March without a gap however, if the outside crops don't produce soon we'll have a gap. we really need some decent weather and it appears to be on its way.
The new potato field is coming along nicely and should be ready to plant by the end of the month. I'll be dry cropping these and growing them without the protection of a deer fence. we can normally grow potatoes without a fence. It's a risk though. The earlier you put them in the better as their are more attrative things for the little beasts to eat than potatoes (which are technically posinous)
Endless potting up these days. Thousands of starts coming out of trays going into 4" pots. Space is at a premium and the greenhouse's are bulging. As the weather turns these will be going into the fields. Hopefully many of you will be relieving us of flats at the plant sale!
Looking forward to seeing you all for a day of fun.
Keep well,
Farmer John
As a side note, we are in need of plastic trays (Anderson Flats) and 4" pots. would love to recycle if any of you have any.
What else is happening? Alot! Its planting time. I'm working available ground and prepping beds as fast as the conditions will allow. Much of the ground is still too wet to work but we have managed to get in a decent amount transplants and have direct sown crops in our drier areas. We've been making restaurant deliveries since the end of March without a gap however, if the outside crops don't produce soon we'll have a gap. we really need some decent weather and it appears to be on its way.
The new potato field is coming along nicely and should be ready to plant by the end of the month. I'll be dry cropping these and growing them without the protection of a deer fence. we can normally grow potatoes without a fence. It's a risk though. The earlier you put them in the better as their are more attrative things for the little beasts to eat than potatoes (which are technically posinous)
Endless potting up these days. Thousands of starts coming out of trays going into 4" pots. Space is at a premium and the greenhouse's are bulging. As the weather turns these will be going into the fields. Hopefully many of you will be relieving us of flats at the plant sale!
Looking forward to seeing you all for a day of fun.
Keep well,
Farmer John
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Weather Turning!
Yeah baby, it's a little cool right now and will be that way a bit longer but warm WX is on the way! We'll get this show on the road. Lots of plants in the greenhouses ready to go out. We'll have a big push next week to get them ready for transplant. Things are drying out and I'm working fields as the're ready. Space is always an issue but we're on top of it thus far. This past week I was able to direct sow about 19 beds of various items. Now we just need a little decent weather and we'll be off.
Market is coming up fast. I'm thinking if we get good weather we'll have a decent amount of produce. We'll have plant starts too (along with everyone else).
We're trying to get a jump on that one by hosting a farm tour/plant sale at the home farm on Saturday April 25th from 9:00 til 5:00. You'll have the very best selection of anywhere that day. I'll have the pizza oven fired up and will be selling pizza's too! As always you can ask us your gardening questions, we'll be happy to help. It'll be a fun day, hope you can make it.
Still accepting CSA memberships. If you want to support a local farm by becoming a CSA member, this is it. The time is now. April is a brutal month for a farmer. Cash reserves are zero and the bills still coming in with no end in sight. Things will begin to normalize in May but for now we've got a big hurdle to jump to make it through April. Please join us.
Take care friends,
Farmer John
Market is coming up fast. I'm thinking if we get good weather we'll have a decent amount of produce. We'll have plant starts too (along with everyone else).
We're trying to get a jump on that one by hosting a farm tour/plant sale at the home farm on Saturday April 25th from 9:00 til 5:00. You'll have the very best selection of anywhere that day. I'll have the pizza oven fired up and will be selling pizza's too! As always you can ask us your gardening questions, we'll be happy to help. It'll be a fun day, hope you can make it.
Still accepting CSA memberships. If you want to support a local farm by becoming a CSA member, this is it. The time is now. April is a brutal month for a farmer. Cash reserves are zero and the bills still coming in with no end in sight. Things will begin to normalize in May but for now we've got a big hurdle to jump to make it through April. Please join us.
Take care friends,
Farmer John
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Dude, Get the boat
Geez, First day of April was a doozey. First we started out with some rain which then turned to about an inch of snow and the just went back to steady rain all day and most of the night. One of those days when you just try to move forward and not let it get you down. We just went to the green house and potted up all day. Today will be the same but with a little less rain. I'm feeling fortunate that we have a at least a few outdoor beds planted out. Yesterdays rain will keep us out of the fields for a couple of weeks at least.
Despite the lousy weather will be making some deliveries today. Not much. A few greens, some radishes and turnips. Just trying to eek things out without coming up short for later deliveries or the first maket. We''l be clearing out a couple of beds in one of the hoop houses. we'll turn them under, re-shape and re-sow and hope we get a turn around harvest in 30 days for the first market? It's right on the edge. We might miss that timing by a week or so. It depends on the weather. The other option is to let the greens we cut, re-grow and come in for a second cutting. It works but there is a lot of chickweed in the beds. Chickweed actually makes a nice touch to the greens but the problem is it may start to bolt and then it's funky and takes way longer to harvest the greens. I like a clean slate.
I'm short on time today, gotta roll.
Take care out there and keep your powder dry.
Farmer John
Despite the lousy weather will be making some deliveries today. Not much. A few greens, some radishes and turnips. Just trying to eek things out without coming up short for later deliveries or the first maket. We''l be clearing out a couple of beds in one of the hoop houses. we'll turn them under, re-shape and re-sow and hope we get a turn around harvest in 30 days for the first market? It's right on the edge. We might miss that timing by a week or so. It depends on the weather. The other option is to let the greens we cut, re-grow and come in for a second cutting. It works but there is a lot of chickweed in the beds. Chickweed actually makes a nice touch to the greens but the problem is it may start to bolt and then it's funky and takes way longer to harvest the greens. I like a clean slate.
I'm short on time today, gotta roll.
Take care out there and keep your powder dry.
Farmer John
Monday, March 30, 2009
Things Are Growing
Hooray! We're starting to see things turn to normal. Been harvesting a few greens from the hoophouses. Radish's and turnips are close behind. Starts in the greenhouse's are showing new growth daily. Soon (perhaps this week) we'll start potting up out of trays into pots. This is alot of what we do in April. We have bee transplanting the first sowing of lettuce into the fields and soon other greens crops will follow. We try to put as many things out as possible without potting up but some things just do better geeting the extra growth within the confines of the greenhouse. The heat lovers like tomatoes and peppers absolutely require being protected through at lest mid May.
I was able to get a few outdoor beds worked up and sown last week. sure feels good to get some seeds in the ground. I sowed Spinach, salad mix, rads, turnips, beets, peas, fava's and I'll be getting ready for an early sowing of potatoes. The main crop will be going in a litle later. Still breaking ground on the new potato field. I'll have to till it a couple more times to break down the remaing sod and get a fine seedbed. Should be ready by the end of April. Already it feels like we'll be struggling for space. where is it all going? Strawberry starts will be here in a couple of weeks. I'm not even for sure where there going yet. Better figure that one out pronto!
All in all I'd say it's going well. We made our first restaraunt deliveries last week. Hopefully we'll be able to keep going without a gap. Market starts on May 2nd. It looks like we'll have a pretty good showing.
Home Gardners need starts? We have em. Anything you want. You will also be able to buy our starts from ACE Hardware starting soon. Because of the late start this year. There will be a tremendous amount of competition for plant starts at the market from all of the other farmers. We will be having open house's at the farm prior to market opening. Maple Rock has the largest supply of plant starts on the island. All of our starts are of the highest qualities and we sell only varieties that are proven for our climate. If you are looking for something extra special. Call us, it's not too late to accept custom orders.
And Finally, We still have CSA sign ups available. Membership has slowed way down. Are you out there? Call or e mail if you have questions or the easiest way is to go to www.maplerockfarm.com and download the membership form and send it in with your check. We need you. We hope you need us as well. We want to be your farm.
That's all for now. Take care and keep well,
Farmer John
I was able to get a few outdoor beds worked up and sown last week. sure feels good to get some seeds in the ground. I sowed Spinach, salad mix, rads, turnips, beets, peas, fava's and I'll be getting ready for an early sowing of potatoes. The main crop will be going in a litle later. Still breaking ground on the new potato field. I'll have to till it a couple more times to break down the remaing sod and get a fine seedbed. Should be ready by the end of April. Already it feels like we'll be struggling for space. where is it all going? Strawberry starts will be here in a couple of weeks. I'm not even for sure where there going yet. Better figure that one out pronto!
All in all I'd say it's going well. We made our first restaraunt deliveries last week. Hopefully we'll be able to keep going without a gap. Market starts on May 2nd. It looks like we'll have a pretty good showing.
Home Gardners need starts? We have em. Anything you want. You will also be able to buy our starts from ACE Hardware starting soon. Because of the late start this year. There will be a tremendous amount of competition for plant starts at the market from all of the other farmers. We will be having open house's at the farm prior to market opening. Maple Rock has the largest supply of plant starts on the island. All of our starts are of the highest qualities and we sell only varieties that are proven for our climate. If you are looking for something extra special. Call us, it's not too late to accept custom orders.
And Finally, We still have CSA sign ups available. Membership has slowed way down. Are you out there? Call or e mail if you have questions or the easiest way is to go to www.maplerockfarm.com and download the membership form and send it in with your check. We need you. We hope you need us as well. We want to be your farm.
That's all for now. Take care and keep well,
Farmer John
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