Some springtime notes from the field…

Gardening Tip

In this crazy spring it has been difficult to not just go out and plant everything! As last weekend showed us, it is still early and the possibility of a frost or even a freeze is likely for at least 30 more days. With proper cover, such as floating row covers, you can get a head start on seeding some crops like peas, lettuce, mustards, and arugula. Crops that get buried like onions and potatoes will also be okay in normal cool May temperatures but do keep them covered as their tender greens are susceptible below 32 degrees. You can transplant members of the cole family (broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and kale) outside now but they’ll need a little extra protection. If you are one of the eager ones, try this trick: Cut out the bottom of a gallon milk jug and place over your new transplant, burying the bottom of the jug in to the soil an inch or so deep. Remember to remove the jugs when you water the plants, or water each one through the whole on top of the jug.

Field Notes

We are out the fields earlier than ever before! Peas are 6 inches tall and we have a variety of spring greens, onions, and early potatoes in the ground. We’ll have radishes, salad mix, and arugula ready for sale in the farmstand this Saturday, and spinach and lettuce will be on the way in the coming weeks. The cut flower garden is 90% planted —earlier than ever before! Let us collectively hope the weather favors our fields.

In the Field of Education

The Thetford Elementary School gardens are gearing up for plants and students! The students have planted their seeds with Cat. They’ll care for the seedlings in their classrooms until garden planting day in June.

We have hosted girl scouts, college students, and elementary school students for educational farm tours already this year and we have several schools lined up for tours in May and June. Our farm tours are super fun and you learn a lot about farming vegetables organically, making healthy choices, and sometimes you can even get your hands dirty.

from Cat Buxton, Education Coordinator