Now We’re Cooking with Gas, May Newsletter
All it takes is one 80-degree day in April to make growers officially end their “office season” and head outdoors to be begin a race against the weather and time. When we go from calm to grow, grow, grow, that’s when things start to heat up. Pretty soon not only will you be cooking with gas, but with beets, onions, cabbage, leeks, honey, and rhubarb just to name a few. So, here is what’s going on inside and outside the barn these days.
Cows are cranky!
Cows are switching from their winter diet (grain meal) to their summer diet (4 acres of fresh pasture grass). Which is sort of like humans going from carbs to all leafy greens, a switch that can make you little cranky for a few days. Plus, the cows now have new neighbors… pigs.
Pigs are in and they are super cute!
Six, 4-week-old pigs have taken their place in the pig pen. After 2 successful attempts to escape, they are finally living securely next to the cows. The pigs love to play tag and nibble on our boots, but soon enough that cuteness will wear off and they will be 300 pounds, making their game of tag more like tackle football.
Chicks and Chickens,
35 new chicks have been added to the flock. They are not yet living in the hen house but will in about 3 weeks. If you are getting an egg share, check out our egg information on our website.
Bees are buzzing!
For the six years we have had bees, this is the first of which I have not been stung! The bees are so active during the spring, they love being near the nursery plants getting water from the soil.
The garden, here’s what’s growing.
Onions, all 600 planted this Saturday. Varieties include Blush, Red Zeppelin, Yellow Spanish, Walla Walla, and Highlander.
We literally have a cabbage patch, with over 140 cabbages in four different varieties. Start looking for recipes in all things cabbage!
Potatoes were also put in this weekend. Varieties include, Russet, Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac, Northern Red and Pink Fingerlings.
Rhubarb is starting to become harvestable but not in mass quantities, it needs a few more weeks.
Salad Greens are planted and are some of the first to be harvested. In the beginning of June, you may want to finish up the heads of lettuce in your refrigerator, mother nature tends to favor greens.
The herb bed has some old favorite from last year like, sage, onion chives, and mint. But some newcomers are also in the ground like cat nip, borage, summer savory, and marjoram.
Rebels, keep an eye out for in the next two weeks for pick up and neighborhood drop off information. The shares should start the first week in June and some half-shares starting in the second week of June. All this information will be coming out in the next few weeks.
Enjoy your spring and stay rebellious!
Rebel Pickle