Sun and heat - finally!

We have had two weeks of absolutely glorious weather! How nice to finally feel the sun after our cold wet Spring. The veggies (and weeds) are loving it, everything is looking fabulous. Although, there has been one mishap; all the turnip died, almost overnight it seems! I knew that something was nibbling at the leaves (flea beatles perhaps?) and they have been struggling with the dry weather a bit, but all of a sudden they all just gave up. I think it was a combination of lack of water and being stressed by what ever attacked them.

On the positive side the carrots and beets are ready and looking great. There is something extremely satisfying to me about pulling root vegetables, you're never quite sure how big/long each one will be so each one is somewhat of a surprise as it emerges from the earth - what can I say, I'm a simple girl with simple pleasures!! :o)

I have completed week #7 of my main season CSA delivery and I am very happy with how it has gone so far, no short falls or disasters! Also, the farmer's market is turning out to be more fun than I thought it would. I was kind of dreading it - I'm really most comfortable being by myself in the field and letting somebody else sell - but I'm enjoying seeing my regular customers each week and talking about food with others.

A couple of days ago I picked all my garlic. It looks fabulous! Huge beautiful bulbs! I was going to just sling them over a piece of rope under our porch (the perfect airy, shady spot to cure garlic) but Paul built me a drying rack instead, looks very European and cool - check it out below.
I will be using most of this garlic as my seed for next years harvest. I purchased this years batch and it was quite expensive so I would like to build up a much larger volume of garlic without the expense.

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first wet farmer's market!

I have just got home from a wet, windy, chilly farmer's market. Regardless, a fair number of customers turned up - good for them! The Gibsons Farmer's Market needs support, from both the vendors and the customers; it is kind of a symbiotic relationship - they both need each other! My business is all about 'local' and 'community' so I'm committed to supporting this market even though I know it is likely more lucrative to attend other markets.

This past week I had some beautiful cauliflowers and some broccoli for my CSA customers, and this coming week I'm excited because there will be new Russian fingerling potatoes ready. I had some last night - very tasty! The fennel bulb is still producing and thickening, so it is good to know that they don't all come at once and that I can stagger harvesting them. By the way roasted fennel bulb is absolutely delicious, I had some last night!

I'm learning which items I did not plant enough of; I'm already thinking ahead to next year and what I will plant substantially more of and what I will plant less of. More cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages, arugula, peas, fennel bulb, leeks. Less lettuce and mizuna!!! Although I'm overrun with them this year you just never know how they will grow year to year so perhaps I will just keep growing as much as I can. Also, I am planning on having double the customers for next year.

I'm very excited about my canteloupe. They are my little babies that I am nursing along. There are five growing right now and there should be more as they are still flowering. Keep your fingers crossed that they keep thriving and there just may be locally grown, organic cantaloupe in a few months!!

Check out this beautiful picture I couldn't resist taking of freshly picked beet greens and viola flowers - gorgeous - I love my work!