Hello,

Hope you all are having a great spring and have enjoyed this beautiful weather lately. Looks like it is finally going to hit 90 this week. 

Ryan at our first pick up

 I would like to begin by introducing myself. I am a Georgia native 

and grew up in Macon before attending the University of Georgia in Athens. After graduating in May of 2009 with a Landscape Architecture degree I spent the next few years traveling and working out west in Oregon, Arizona, and California. I have held various jobs in the landscape industry and have gardened with my family since I was a kid. 

After moving back to Georgia last fall I began to search for an opportunity that did more than just put money in my pocket. I wanted a job where I knew I was making a difference in the world and contributing to the sustainability of our environment, society, and economy. Having a strong interest in horticulture, cooking, working outdoors, and sustainable living I fell in love with the idea of learning the ins and outs of sustainable agriculture. I am very thankful to be a part of the Serenbe Farms apprenticeship program for this season. Paige and Justin have been great and I could not ask for better teachers. In just the two months that I have been working here I have learned so much and I know at the end of the season I will have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in my next farming adventure. 

We began the season with a trip down to Savannah to attend the annual Georgia Organics Conference. We had a great time and it was very inspirational to see how many people have joined the organics movement in Georgia. The seminars were very educational, the farm tours were great, and the Farmer's Feast was absolutely delicious.

Field #1 -- baby pepper plants, lots of flowers, covered radishes and turnips, beets, carrots, and herbs! (and look at those straight rows)

Returning to the farm I felt so enlivened and inspired to make the most of my time at Serenbe. As the days get longer and my alarm clock gets earlier the season has finally approached full swing.

The farm is changing rapidly and it seems every time I turn around something has grown a few more inches. We have been staying busy starting transplants, prepping fields, planting, irrigating, weeding, giving tours to school groups, and harvesting more and more each week.

Last week was our second CSA of the season and this past weekend was our first Serenbe Market. We stayed pretty busy harvesting and prepping everything for sale and distribution, prepping more beds, planting, potting up plants for sale, and covering some beds Wednesday evening just in case we got near freezing. Better safe than sorry. :) 

Our tomatoes and peppers are looking great and some have already started producing fruit. We should see our first harvest on the tomatoes in the next month and a half. Our brassicas are super healthy and some are ready to harvest, radishes and turnips are delicious and in full swing, strawberries are looking great and taste super sweet, onions and peas are delicious and ready to harvest, potatoes are growing quickly, zucchini and squash are taking root, and carrots and beets are sizing up nicely. I hope you are all looking forward to seeing some of these veggies on your tables soon. I know we are.

--Ryan