A few flakes of snow are flying today, but they won't add much to the dense, wet snowpack that still frosts our field.  Weather forecasts predict a string of days next week in the fifties.  The slow pace of melting so far is a good thing for deep soil moisture; it should be an especially good year for the trees. 

Meanwhile, we are anxiously waiting for the fields to dry out so we can begin applying compost and getting the first beds ready for spring crops.  First up will be a series of leafy greens, some of which we will transplant, others direct-seed in the field.  Next will probably be peas and onions.  These crops have to be well established in early spring,  since the hot days of early summer will cause them to bolt - to go to seed.

The germination of seeds is partly regulated by soil temperatures.  Most seeds germinate quickly at soil temperatures around 70 degrees.  To get a jump on the warm season, we start most of our crops in a heated greenhouse, on a bench-top warmer made by running warm water through plastic tubing.  The seeds are planted in plastic cell flats, typically with 72 seedlings per flat.  In about six weeks, they will be transplanted in the field.  As of now, we have germinated 3 rounds of 75 flats each, for a total of 16,200 plants.  Over the course of the season we will produce approximately ten times that many seedlings.

To ensure successful germination, we plant several seeds in each individual cell.  One of the labor-intensive tasks of spring is to cut out the extra seedlings that emerge and leave just one per cell.  This is an easy indoor task with scissors.  Members wishing to get in their four hours of share-duty requirement can help with this task on Saturday mornings during March and April, from 9am to 1pm.  Note that this is NOT an especially good job for small children!  You don't need to call ahead; just show up and we will put you to work!

One change you will see at the farm is the attractive new share distribution room set-up  assembled by Ron Denzel and Dave Devor.  Thanks again to Marsha Pearson, who donated the fixtures from her Wild Bird Store in Willow Grove.