So...

Friends of Farmers,

It is winter here in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Yet a certain farm consumer has been leaving hate comments regarding the lack of blog posting. SO! I thought that I'd oblige and post today since there have actually been brief farm-related activities. Mulching the strawberries so they don't die? Nope. Moving the last of the tomato cages indoors and taking down the fence? Not that either.

I'm taking a short break to make green tomato chutney from a recipe a preschool teacher where I'm collecting data gave me. Pretty sure it's from the Moosewood Cookbook. Check this, though. Not only does it use the green tomatoes that haven't ripened yet, but it also uses that damn coriander, AND the cayenne pepper that worked so well as rabbit deterrent. Seriously, folks. The coriander. Is in the pan. Flavoring something delicious. I may not hate it as much as I originally thought...


[Farmer update: I just finished eating it, and it is the best damn thing I've had in a long time!!]

Farm Vitals
Yesterday's high: 33F
Yesterday's low: 20F
Warnings: Telepathically encouraging the Farmer to spread the damn mulch.
Mood of the farm: What farm?
Reason to consider a new career: I'm pretty sure farming involves more sleep than my current gig. Or at least better sleep...

The Farm Is Huge, People.

It's official. The Farm has reached giant-size, and it's only the middle of July. In addition, I managed to crowd the thing all up like the novice farmer that I am, and so not only is it huge, but it's hard to walk around without stepping on any of the many tendrils trying to attach themselves to anything nearby.

Here's the whole crazy mess, including the tomatoes as tall as my Belief in Boston:






































I did several hours of weeding on Wednesday, but there's still a lot more to do...

The lettuce is still going strong, thanks to the cayenne pepper. Whether the pepper keeps the rabbits away or it makes thieves think there's something wrong with the lettuce, I have no idea. But whatever it is, it seems to be working, because this is what the lettuce looked like after I harvested a massive amount for H's taco salad-stravaganza.














And now your latest installment of MiniVeggies.
MiniCuke:















MiniWatermelon:















MiniTomatoes (which are less Mini than when I left!):






























Farm Vitals
Yesterday's high: 83F
Yesterday's low: 69F
Warnings: Break from Humidity Alert
Mood of the farm: Fearing actions of the Farmer
Reason to consider a new career: With the most crowded Farm of all time, I am considering "Fall Plantings." No really.

Flowers on the Farm. And Bees, Too.

[You know you're becoming a farmer when you start every blog post with the word "Well" that sounds like you just leaned back in your chair on the porch, stretched your arms out, cracked your knuckles, then rested your hands behind your head, and settled in for a good tale. Oh, did I mention you'd also look like a 40 year old man in overalls, chewing on a bit of straw? Farming is a life-changer...]

Well, life on the farm has had its ups and downs lately, due primarily to wildlife. Though I'm happy to say for the moment that the cayenne pepper seems to be working. On the rabbits, and also on the yellow-striped cucumber beetles. With a respite from so much nibbling, the lettuce is growing back, and nearly everything has flowers or blooms. The tomato plants (which ended up totaling 9 (9!!)) each have more than a dozen flowers on them now, so I think we're going to be swimming in tomatoes. Maybe I'll start my own farmers(s') market stand if times get desperate.

After following some of the farm blogs of the internets, I was beginning to fear there would be many flowers and nothing to pollinate them since the only things flying around my farm were mosquitoes. Luckily, and as usual, my idea of timing was a little earlier than mother nature's. When the blossoms swelled until they were about to burst, but just before they opened, the pollinators heard/sniffed the bat signal. Several kinds of bees and many wasps have been checking out the garden, which is good news for plants, farmers, and consumers (I know it takes a shift to think of wasps as good news--see what I mean about the changes involved with being a farmer??), but terrible news for Rosa, who I saw this morning getting her epi-pen refilled at the pharmacy.

I have big plans for a portion of the farm that needs the revise-and-resubmit treatment, but this post is long already... More tomorrow.

Here are the beans for a bit of color to your morning.























Farm Vitals
Yesterday's high: 76F
Yesterday's low: 51F
Warnings: Fireworks alert
Mood of the farm: buzzing with patriotism
Reason to consider a new career: bee fears and other various ridiculousnesses