May 20, 2008

Asparagus will be done soon - but there is still time to order.  E-mail me at reverencegardens@gmail.com or call 1-847-445-6642 to order.  And there is still time to order an subscription, as well.  The $200 subscription gets you $215 worth of produce over the course of the season and the $100 subscription gets you $105 worth of produce over the season.  Both subscriptions are a great way to get your choice of flavorful fresh local produce all season long! 

The cool weather and the heavy rains we experienced have slowed planting down a bit but progress is being made!  As of today, all of the lettuces, cabbages, beets, carrots, radishes and daikon, onions, bunching onions, peas, arugula, spinach, and potatoes have been planted.  The garlic and shallots are looking good and ground is being tilled for sweet corn, squash and beans.  The tomato, eggplant, sweet and hot pepper, and basil seedlings are looking strong and healthy and getting outdoors every day for a sunbath.

There's been plenty of weeding action, too!  Thistles, lamb's quarters (which are edible), smartweed (it's smarter than me!), and something I've never seen before are growing faster than I can yank them just now but I am making headway.  I've also been seeding pathways with ryegrass and clover in an effort to choke out some weeds and to make walking in the pathways easier when it rains.  A buffer crop of sudangrass is also going in and so is buckwheat - all to fight weeds!  But, I'd rather put this time in up front than pull weeds later....  Some seedlings have been planted through heavy mulch, another weed suppression strategy while others will be underseeded with white clover as soon as the first weedlings have been removed.  I used to enjoy weeding when it was my home garden - but on three acres it can be a bit daunting....  Still, it's good exercise!

I've also been reading Michael Pollan's new book - In Defense of Food.  The subtitle is Eat Food, Less of It, Mostly Plants (like locally grown produce!).  Stay tuned for a book report!