These last few storms we’ve had have brought the yearly total rainfall to a little above half of what we normally get here. The rain can make harvesting and planting tricky at times, but we are happy to have it. And as a friend pointed out the other day, having the rain strung out into spring this way, instead of falling during a short period where it often just ends up running off to the sea, is more beneficial for the surrounding native vegetation. Judging from the brilliant green growth on the live-oaks around us and the deep green hillsides, I would say he is right.
It is beneficial for the farm too. For the last month we have been able to work well with the rainfall. The onions, salad, cabbage and herbs that we have planted here at our home site have required little irrigation. And in the new field of lettuces, fennel and cauliflower that we planted several weeks ago we haven’t even needed to set up irrigation pipe at all yet.Because of the sandy, well drained soil there, most of our new plantings have gone into our Lewis Road site. Inside the hoop-houses we’ve planted red and gold beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach and lacinato kale. When these crops are harvested beginning in a few weeks, they will make way for the tomato, basil, eggplant and pepper plants that are coming along nicely in our greenhouse. We planted out our first round of summer squash two weeks ago and they are looking good. We cover these early transplants with a “floating” fabric row-cover to protect them from possible frost damage and to give them a boost temperature-wise.Meanwhile, many of the vegetables that we planted in the fall and winter are going to be ready for harvest soon. In the coming weeks you will be seeing in your boxes:
- new plantings of bunched greens—collards, kales, chards, arugula, and mei quin choi
- Spring red and yellow onions
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Fava beans
- Strawberries
- Tokyo market turnips
- Radishes
- Blueberries
The swallows are swooping around everywhere, the red-winged blackbirds are showing off their mating plumage, and ducks are flying in pairs over the farm. Signs of spring renewal are everywhere and the crops are no exception. It’s going to be a good spring. Thank you for being part of our CSA farm family this year!
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