It is good to be in the garden

It turned out to be a lovely weekend.  The forecast rain didn’t materialize and wind dried out the fields somewhat. Bed A (long season stuff like chard) was partially rototilled. Even more rhubarb was divided and transplanted. The front rhubarb patch is essentially one gigantic root mass. Next year we are going to have so much rhubarb. 

Mr. O got to play in the grass, chew on some weeds and get baby sat by the dog.

Planting wise, we’re on schedule.  Second round of lettuce and spinach as well as the first plantings of chard, beets and mustard greens made it in the ground today. Still much to do on the to-do list before the end of April including more rototilling, more field seeding, starting beans, seeding onions and installing lots of row cover.

Dog got into the swamp, twice, so it must be spring.  :)

Easter

Easter weekend is always THE real beginning for SBG’s season.  The four-day weekends, the warm weather and rapidly diminishing days left before last front spurs muc work.  3 years ago the greenhouse saga began.  (The final pane was installed this weekend).

Easter 2009 really only brought 1 nice day (Friday), so we made the most of it. We separated some rhubarb, created some new rows of blackberries and in the process used the new BCS rototiller for the first time.  It did a very, very nice job of churning up the sod to make planting areas.  Rhubarb hadn’t been divided in a long time so some of the root balls were gigantic.  Work on the blackberries and rhubarb should increase our production in future years.

Mr O. had a great time out in the sunshine, playing in the grass and roaming in the backpack.  Farming with baby should be OK.

rhubarb in the rain

It’s been a rainy week or two which frustrates planting and weeding efforts, but makes the fields lush and green – so we can’t complain! Already, we have 5 plantings of lettuce done, plus spinach, mustards, peas, radishes, green onions and more. I feel like we’re ahead of the game, except that the lettuce is still very small. Hopefully we’ll make it to the next market – May 30. Here’s hoping we get some warm rain…

In other news, we took advantage of last weekend to drive to the Annapolis Valley for a new farmer gathering. We planted like mad for a few hours in the morning, then managed to arrive after lunch at the site. It was an interesting event – somewhat foiled by the weather – but we saw a few friends and met some new people. Lots of homesteaders/community gardeners, and a few new farmers too. Caught the introduction, a pig roast and a salad mix presentation. But the rain and cold weather made me glad we weren’t camping that night and staying for day 2, and hot chocolate at the Just Us Cafe was especially welcome on the drive home. Jamey’s folks came down the next day and helped us paint/finish greenhouse construction.

Re: baby, I’m still in the second trimester and feel fairly energetic… except bigger. Really big, and I’ve got three months to go. I know I have to pace myself, and Jamey’s been great at picking up the garden-related slack. I’m hoping I can keep growing and harvesting for market until August, at least. We’ve also been going to lamaze classes and reading, and starting to gather baby clothes and gear. It still seems a little surreal, but then I feel a few kicks and it hits home that we will soon have a baby in our lives – 110 days to go.

I’ve been savouring our first asparagus and rhubarb. We have this incredible planting of 3 foot long rhubarb, with huge stalks – monster plants. It’s part of a legacy of fruit left behind by Dr. Warman, a prof who owned our property for 13 years, and planted grapes, apples, pears, currants and much more. The Kittlesons will have our rhubarb at market this week for us – look for Benjamin!

-R