RUF back on Track in 2012

After a long break of almost 10 months RUF is back in the swing of things. Talk about getting the old wheel turning again ... Luc and I began emailing back in February arranging to get together and tackle 'dem damned weeds' ... the constant rain would not let up! We finally got a break at the beginning of March and headed for the garden to tackle the weeds.

At the end of April we received our order of 10 yards of manure ... between us ... me shoveling and Luc trundling many many wheelbarrow loads into the rows we added valuable nutrients to the garden.

As we garden using organic methods we prefer to tend the micro organisms in the soil ... they in turn break down the organic matter and make it accessible for the veggies to absorb.

The way I look at is ... what we feed our veggies we then feed ourselves.

Chemical fertilizers kill of the organisms in the soil.

Luc then rototilled and we shaped the beds and seeded some crops and started others indoors in trays. 

We finally put four summer CSA shares up for sale beginning of May. They were bought up by our regular clients for another year.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture ... the customer buys one share paying for all 10 boxes up front. This frees the farmer to grow food without worry about marketing the produce.

 Hoop houses and holes for tomatoes and peppers.

Unlike in the tropics where they belong ... in this rainy Pacific Northwest climate, tomatoes must be coddled under plastic shelters ... to protect them from fungal diseases and to build up the heat.

Rows shaped ... bean poles up ...

As always the great experiment is to be able to see what we can grow in the very cool and wet early months.

Luc decided that the squash would enjoy the bounty of the compost bin.

 The beets coming up and the carrots covered, protected from rust fly and their progeny ... rust fly maggots that tunnel through the carrots.

Again ... another organic practice is to use preventative methods rather than pesticides ... The white fabric, Remay, allows light and water through but prevents insects from eating or laying eggs on the veggies.


 
This year, we have set ourselves the challenge of not allowing the usual weeds ... chick weed, dandelion, lambs quarters etc. from smothering the veggies we are trying to grow and nurture. The amount of weed is phenomenal! Perhaps, if we limit the amount of weed that is able to flower in the garden we can reduce the amount of weed seed in the soil .... So far we are ahead of the curve ... but who know if we can stay in control if the sun starts shining!

Luc's babies ... tomato plants started from seed and tended in his kitchen.Planted deeply to encourage extensive root systems.

Herbs ... this year chives, bunching onions, thyme, mint, celery, cilantro, dill, basil.





We planted Asian greens that appreciate wet and cool conditions ... gai lan, pac choi and mizuna as do spinach, lettuce, radish. This has allowed us to offer, to date, two Early Season boxes, above and beyond the 10 Summer Season Boxes to come ... eventually ... which have been well received.

Our first Early Season Box ... two weeks ago ... Rhubarb a sure sign of the spring garden.

 The flowers, indulged by the abundance of rain and manure were lavish  ...  too much of one thing is good for nothing ... the weight of the flowers landed them all on the ground! I had to cut them all back ... a new flush is already on the way.

The first bouquet of the season was stunning none the less.

Today, two weeks later we are offering another Early Season box ... with additions of kale, mizuna and radishes. The parade has begun ...