Weeds, What Weeds?

The end of the red onion bed, pre-weeding, with long-handled stirrup hoe.

The spring moisture has been magnificent for our plantings, but it has also been good for the weeds. It seems like there are about a hundred-million out there right now. In our organic system we do not use herbicides for management, we also choose not to use plastic mulching. Our primary methods of management include tilling/hoeing, mulching (straw), hand-weeding, cover cropping.

Check out this fascinating info about weeds, from Johnny's Seeds:

"Here are some sobering statistics to ponder, as we enter weeding season on our farms and in our gardens: A Minnesota study found that a square foot of soil, 6" deep, contained between 100 to 3000 viable weed seeds. Many seeds remain viable for decades; jimsonweed has a 90% germination rate after 40 years in the soil, and field bindweed seeds are viable for more than 50 years. All those seeds are just sitting there, in what is known as the "weed seed bank," awaiting favorable conditions that allow them to germinate."

The conditions have been favorable.

We have been hard at work working to stay on top of the weeding. The wet soil, while a blessing for establishing crops, as been a challenge. Last week after 1.82" of rain on Monday, I would hoe only the North half of the garden. With 1.9" to follow on the weekend, some spots on the South end have remained to wet to hoe. When the soil saturated the hoe does not push through it.

My favorite and most used weeding tool - the stirrup hoe. We have a stirrup on our wheel hoe, which is 10", and on our long-handled hoe, which is 5".

The super awesome wheel hoe.

Long-handled stirrup hoe.

They both can work with a back and forth motion and do a ton of work efficiently.

Today I hoed until the rain began, then I threw on my rain suit and hoed some more until I was rained out and feel like I made some good progress! Now I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that the rain stays light and that those weeds don't re-root. One nice thing about the rain is the dandelions come our easier!

Here's a look at my weeding attack on our red onion bed. First, I hit the outside, and any inner spaces that are large enough, with the wheel hoe.

Red onion bed, pre-weeding.

 Then I run the long-handled stirrup hoe through the bed, wherever I can. Pulling back the irrigation lines, when necessary (the hoe will slice right through it).

Then hand-weed and look how pretty! The sunflowers are easier to see now :)

Tooling Around

There is no doubt now that spring is ready to burst through with full force! Here's a few photos from around the farm and a glimpse at a couple of our new tools we have been able to upgrade to with our expansion this year.

A precision seeder was high on the list of essential tools this year. While hand seeding will definitely still be used, this seeder will make planting things like carrots and beets easier and more efficient. The rake is for prepping beds--the longer handle and wider rake head will also add to efficiency.

This green beast is our favorite new tool! Our brand new walking tractor, with rototiller attachment. With this we move into the realm of being mechanized--having our tillage at our fingertips, versus reaching out to schedule it is another move towards efficiency. This is a great step forward for us. Thank you to our members for helping us make this investment. A walking tractor is different than a tiller in that it can take different attachments. This will also allow us to take care of our soil better, by tilling some areas and not others, by widening our cover crop options so we may work in more organic matter.

All the tomatoes were planted this week! As well as the early broccoli crop, parsley and next come the peppers! The cabbage is germinated and coming along and the celery was the first thing to get potted up to larger blocks.

John made short work of organizing the garden stakes this spring--doesn't look like much but that was super handy to have put in place!

The field really doesn't look like much at all right now, but it's great to see where it starts and then how it transforms through the season.

We're eager for green outside here! So the chives are always a spring treat.

The green inside increases each day in our seed starting station. Like the little cabbages below.

The alliums (onions, shallots, garlic) have stored exceedingly well. While the onions have reached the end of their storage time, the shallots are still keeping very, very well. Some things are dwindling in the pantry now, and others are still abundant--helping us to determine what amounts to can/dry/storethis season. 

Only a couple months away until we start the CSA deliveries! We can't wait!

Orchard Photo Update 3.5.13

John began pruning at the orchard last weekend. Finishing all the larger trees and moving on to some of the smaller ones. Thanks Larry for your help! You can see piles of trimmed branches in the back ground. Hanging from the ladder you can see John's loppers that he just loves (thanks Mom!).

In total there are 60 apple trees at the orchard. John got a good start on the first pruning in a decade last winter--the early warm weather cut the pruning season short--and he aims to get all the way through the whole orchard this March. There is also one lone pear tree, which won't produce on it's own, sadly.

Larry and John built this fabulous tripod orchard ladder from upcycled oak. Cost--minimal hardware & free wood. Brand new this would be $180--way to go boys!

We are planning for lots of delicious apples this year! Hope you are too :)