Not quite full moon, lilacs, kentucky coffee bean tree, woodshed, and oak tree in background

Everyone is trying very hard to get all the crops in.  We are behind in our planting, and the whole team can feel it.  The lawn and garden edges are overgrown, the roads need to be fixed, the washing machine needs to be fixed, the house needs to be cleaned… Priority # 1 though, is getting those little seedlings in the ground!  This morning David asked us if we thought we should get the P2 field worked up and planted.  It has been so damp and hard to deal with, and the dump trailer we need to bring gravel to fix roads is stuck, axle deep, on the edge of it.  With recent fine, sunny weather, there’s hope this field can be brought into production.  Justin Affeld pipes up “Lets get that bread.”  Apparently, that means “Let’s do it!”

It must be the full moon.  Here on the edge of the Bay of Fundy, tides and moons seem to affect us more than usual.  Last night a few people went out to harvest vegetables for the Full Circle Festival.  It is a music festival that happens at Summer Solstice in nearby Avondale, and it started on this farm in 2009.  I remember the music, the river bank mud sliding, the bonfires, dancing, crazy energy, and fabulous food.

Crops also respond to day length and length of darkness.  Many will start going to seed, or start producing fruit when day length peaks on June 21.  Soon, we will have the bulk of our long-season crops in the ground and at least one round of weed control completed.  After that, we get to focus on harvesting and marketing, relax a little more, and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of our labours, along with all of our members and customers.

All the best,  Jen, David and the AA crew.

Large romaine lettuce is busting out this week

The lay-dies produce very special eggs with deep orange yolks (available for purchase at the Warehouse Market).  They are moved to a new pasture every 7-10 days and are responsible for keeping the weeds off all the compost heaps.  Thanks to Fill Yer Boots farm for their constant care and innovation.

Fresh dill is really special

These two dogs, Aster and Sweet Turnip, are so in love.  Little Sweet Turnip is not intimidated by Aster’s size even though her paw is the same size as his head

Fresh cilantro

Beet greens

Remnant of the rye cover crop growing on the edge of the field

Sunflower shoots.  Try them!  This new seed lot is extra tasty

Chef Justin is in charge of 2 fields and 5 hoop houses.  Here he is outstanding in the front field, carrots on left and herbs on right.

Justin Currie is building a new extra deluxe harvest cart with 2 levels.  He said he was going to add 4 seats on the top just to be a tease cause he knows I worry about stuff like that

Michelle is in charge of shoots, the big greenhouse, and entertainment.  Prune, trellis, prune, sing, harvest, sing, prune, trellis

7am farm meeting.  The crew is ready to meet the challenge of getting all of our crops planted.