Missing Willow Farm

When we applied to become an Animal Welfare Approved farm, one of the requirements was to document a farm emergency plan.  It seemed a bit much for a couple who considers themselves resourceful and who spent 10 years in the fire service but it was required so we did it.  As it turns out, when we came in from chores this morning we discovered we’d lost power.  It probably has something to do with the two inches of rain we’ve had in the past few hours.  At any rate, the house has a generator and the barn doesn’t and that’s where our brooder is.  So we ran out and put them in a box, grabbed an extra chicken light (you all have an extra one, right?) and brought them in the house.  Yes, that’s a toilet in the photo.  They were cozy in our spare bathroom with the door closed to keep the cat out!

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After giving us lots of enjoyment on our deck out by the jacuzzi, I think we’ll feed it to the goats this month.  We’ve certainly gotten our money’s worth, considering it has amused us since November!

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Friends came over for lunch and a farm tour (who can resist lambs and kids??) the other day.  Since my husband works from our living room, I entertained in the greenhouse.  I made roast beef and boursin cheese sandwiches with buttercrunch lettuce right from our greenhouse bed, lemon pasta salad and avocado with blood orange vinegarette.  My friend Kathleen brought a bottle of her homemade wine.  My friend Lora brought chunky brownies with a ganache frosting that should be it’s own food group.  She provided this photo.  Don’t we know how to party in the middle of the week?

This season has been crazy.  We had ten degree weather early December and it was in the 70’s last week.  After two solid weeks of unseasonably warm weather, our daffodils have decided it’s time to show themselves.  I’m not complaining, I’m just kind of wanting to dye eggs for some reason.

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If more than one plant comes up in a single tray compartment, I take my tiny sewing scissors and cut two of the three.  If you try to pull the other two out, you run the risk of damaging the roots of the plant you want to keep.

When your plants have three sets of leaves, it’s time to transplant them.  It took five weeks from the day I planted the seeds for the plants to get to transplant height.

We’re still two months from our last frost date so these plants are going into one cup sized peat pots.  I write right on the pots with a sharpie.  These are brandywine tomatoes (BW).  I’m also experimenting this year with wooden swizzle stick plant markers.  I’m writing on those and sealing my writing with clear nail polish.  We’ll see how it goes.

Before you try to remove them from their compartment cells, water thoroughly.  This will hold the roots in the potting medium and make the plant easy to remove.  I use a fork to remove the plant from the cell and place it into the peat pot.  Never touch the stem of a plant, just the dirt and leaves if you must.  For tomatoes, it’s important to plant them as deep as possible.  The stems will grow more roots and improve the stability of your plants.  I fill the pot with a 50/50 mixture of seed starting mix and potting soil with a few Soil Moist crystals thrown in to help maintain moisture.  They’re hard to find and expensive but we use them.  I’ve found them both online and in a very upscale garden center (not near here!).

It’s very satisfying to grow your own food.  Go ahead and give this a try, you know you want to!

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