As the Salad Spins...
Farmer Dennis here. I wanted to take this opportunity to bring everyone up to speed on a few points. 

First off I've gotten a lot of comments/inquiries about the hoop house. Rightfully so as we were on fire a few months back to get the thing up, Then.... nothing. Nothing that is, if you don't count the sign in the raspberry row warning you not to trip over hoop house parts. There are a few reasons for the delay. When we first planned for this structure the previous town building inspector had assured us that we didn't need any permits as it isn't a fixed structure with a foundation. About one week prior to the date we were to have raised the thing, we were informed by the new building inspector that we would indeed need both a permit and inspection.

Long story short, after a delay and an unannounced inspection of the farm, we had the necessary permits in hand and could proceed. Well.... maybe not.

There is a phenomenal amount of work to do on the farm and there is always the danger that a job undone will stay that way as more pressing tasks pile up. With the two weeks of solid rain in the spring, the starts in the green house backed up (we had no room to seed any more) as we could not get equipment out into the field to either plant the transplants or work up new beds for planting. The hoop house was put on the back burner until we were caught up with the field work. While this is frustrating, our bottom line responsibility is to fill up that share room with lovely veggies for you all.

I'm pleased to announce that we now have permits in hand AND time to commence work on the hoop house. You'll see work beginning on this starting this next week. I have a dedicated crew to help (who I'll have to coax out of early retirement) and will probably be asking for help as needed on upcoming share duty days. Due to the nature of the task, too large a crew will only complicate things as we'll tend to bounce off each other, so I'll be asking for help specifically as I need it. Feel free to contact me at dennisreil@yahoo.com if you really wish to help and I'll try to coordinate/accommodate as many requests as I can.

My second topic is the subject of flowers here at the farm. Again we had a late start on them due to the rain I mentioned previously. When it comes to comparing vegetables to flowers here at the farm, vegetables for the share room take priority hands down. That meant as we were seeding feverishly to catch up with the backlog caused by the planting delay, flowers were at the bottom of the list.

I can safely say that we have lots of flowers for the picking now.  We don't wish to be draconian and enforce a stem-count (as they do in many CSA's I've worked at) but do ask that you limit your self to a modest bouquet so there'll be plenty for everyone.

Right now, we have 600 row feet of flowers on the right before the blueberries. Most of the varieties there respond very well to picking as long as you don't savage the plant. The yarrow further down the field is pretty much done though an intrepid gleaner will find a few blooms. BTW, we plant the yarrow to attract beneficial insects so its still doing it's real job. The blooms are just an added bonus.

We have a second flower field that is coming on but is not yet ready. It's located in the old strawberry field in the short beds to the left, right before the pump house. There's three additional rows of flowers and a large sunflower patch too.

Lastly on the subject of flowers, the flower garden in front of the share house is not open for picking (except for share room flowers, that is). I'm guessing that goes as well for the edible classroom garden, which is sporting some lovely sunflowers but you'll have to take that up with Raina. I know it's hot and the u-pick flowers seem so far away.... Sensing some sarcasm here? Considering what we farmers weather, a walk to the flower beds doesn't seem too unreasonable. If you have physical disabilities that prevent such picking, let staff know. Give us feed back if you see us when you're out picking. Another set of eyes never hurts. Happy Picking.

Farmer Dennis
PS How about that squash, huh?