Signs of Spring
While I wait for my coconut coir to arrive so I can start my seeds, I’ve begun to notice a distinct turn toward spring.
I miss having crocuses.
Skunks are out an about making their presence known. And last night I dodged a road full of peepers. For me, Spring Peepers are it. I know the worst is over when they’re out.
The rain has been heavy for two days, steadily beating away at the snow. I never thought I’d find so much novelty in seeing the ground for the first time in three months.
I’ve heard reports of crocuses, but nothing has appeared in my yard. In fact, I don’t even know if I have crocuses on this new property. If not, they’ll be there next year.
What are your favorite signs of spring?
Cooking With Acorns
I wish I’d stumbled across this post a year ago. Back when we lived in a house surrounded by black oaks.
ca. 2008. One of three generous oaks in our yard.
Every fall we battled the acorns. Two of the seven autumns we lived in the house were actually mast years—back to back. If you’ve never had a mast year for acorns—or anything—you’ll have to trust I’m not being hyperbolic when I describe the deluge of acorns as a carpet. There’s no other accurate way to describe it.
For weeks the acorns rained on us, rocketing through the canopy and pinging off cars and roofs. We all ran for cover. At night we lay in bed and drifted to sleep to the sound of acorns echoing through the neighborhood on early fall nights.
When it was over, we fought against impending winter to shovel and haul them all away. Buckets. Ninety-five-gallon rubbish-barrels full. It was unreal. I spent years picking the oak saplings out of the gardens.
If only I had thought to collect and mill this abundant resource.
Have you ever turned acorns into food? What other “pest” have you made into food?
Spring Events
Winter may still be here, but I’m excited about the planting season events happening at all three of Baker Creek’s locations.
I’m lucky enough to be near Comstock Ferre, and I’m definitely marking June 5 on my calendar for the 200th year anniversary. Hope to see you there!
Winter CSA
We’re splitting an eight-week winter CSA share from Urban Oaks Organic Farm with our good friends. We discovered the small farm tucked among the tightly wound residential streets of New Britain, and it’s truly an oasis in the city. When I arrived on pickup day, I couldn’t believe I was seeing greenhouses and growing fields between multifamily houses and shops. They’ve been there for 12 years; how could I have missed them?
I’m really glad to have this opportunity. Knowing who is growing my food and that I’m contributing to a cycle of sustainability and local community is really important. If you haven’t heard of CSA’s—community supported agriculture—it’s essentially the purchase of a share of a farm’s harvest. You pay up-front, buy direct from the farm, and usually receive a weekly selection of food. Local Harvest is a great resource for learning more about CSA’s and finding ones near you.
After so many dark weeks, what a joy to peer into the bag and find vibrant winter and salad greens, bright oranges, carrots, beets, fresh herbs, potatoes, onions, and more.
I’ve purchased two CSA shares for 2011: this winter one and a 20-week summer CSA that begins in June. I’m hoping that between these two, plus what I grow, I won’t buy any more produce until next fall. Of course this is a major challenge, especially with a small child who likes bananas, plus special occassions always come up.
Have you purchased a CSA before, or have you been thinking about one? Do you buy a CSA to supplement what you grow?
Excited to see what's in the bag.
Pears! Yessssss!
Nothing But Snow
There isn’t much gardening happening; I haven’t even begun to start seeds. (or buy them!)
We received another helping of snow last night, and this morning dawned beautiful over a white confectionery wonderland.
The Dirty Life
I don’t know about you, but nothing is more inspiring than a well-told story. Currently I’m being inspired by Kristin Kimball’s The Dirty Life.
I’m about halfway through the book and I’m smitten. Absorbed in the experience of her experience.
Kimball’s story follows the path many of us dream about: Woman renounces the fast-paced, packaged goods urban life for the grit of farming and love. Banking everything on a harebrained dream. Leaving the life she knows for a world of nothing but raising amazing food. Wouldn’t we all want to quit our day jobs and just dig in the dirt?
And then you travel with her through the depths of winter, the back-breaking work, the tears, the strains, and the primal transformations. The work never ends. The farm always takes priority.
But like any of us who give everything for something we love, the pain and the sacrifice are small prices to pay for the glorious reward.
Kimball and her husband Mark’s passion for building a sustainable food culture is the core of the book. From the beginning moments of their relationship, it was a love borne by beautiful, fresh foods. As you read, you’ll feel a welling desire to fill your home with squashes and brilliant root vegetables. You’ll be desperate to pull them from the earth and bite through their skins while you’re still kneeling in the dirt. Nothing else will make sense but building a warm, wholesome environment of fresh offerings. It’s romanticism at its best.
I think we’re all in danger of romanticizing farm life. Kimball’s brilliant imagery of the real work is an important dose of reality. You need to become entrenched in building the farm with her, so you’ll swear you’ll never leave your heated home for a rat-infested farm house. You’ll never pick up animal husbandry and all the blood, poo, and goo that comes with it. You’ll never break your body in the ways a farm demands you do.
You will, however, realize that every bit of hard work you put into your patch of earth—stolen hours in the last winks of daylight, mornings you wake up with shredded muscles and throbbing blisters—are part of the amazing work you do to cultivate a beautiful thing.
Which books have inspired your gardening life?
Compost Nerd
It’s a winter wonderland out there, but installing a new compost bin sure warms my heart.
Starting a pile in the winter probably isn’t ideal since there’s little brown matter to be found. But with some shredded newspaper and other household paper, hopefully I can give the pile a decent start.
Have you ever tried to start a compost pile in the winter? Do you have any tips to share?
Inspiration
One of my favorite places for urban and small-space farming inspiration is over at Little Homestead in the City. The Dervaes family has transformed every inch of their urban Pasadena, California tenth of an acre into a micro farm that produces a stunning amount of food. Like three-tons annually, stunning. And beyond the farm, they’ve become outreach educators.
Check out this video recently produced by Lisa Rau for a glimpse into life on the farm.
Check out more at their blog, and spend some time browsing through their photos, facts, stats, online store, and more.
Little Homestead in the City represents the ultimate in self-sustainability and using your land to its fullest potential. I know I’ll never make it to this level, but always fun to check in for tips and inspiration.
Who are some of your most inspiring farmers or gardeners?
Gifts for Gardeners
I can’t believe the holidays are already upon us! Here in the Northeast, it’s brutally cold, and I’ve barely gone outside to explore my new Suburban Farm. With all the business of moving, it’s been hard to keep up with my holiday shopping.
As a gardener, I keep a few lists, mostly on Amazon (hooray for the Universal Wish List!) and Etsy, of some things that would be great to receive or purchase for myself on a whim. Here are my favorite things, which I think would make great gifts for any gardener on your list.
Do you have any gardener gifts to share?
Garden Tools Shirt
Image courtesy of beryllynn's Etsy shop
This super-cute shirt displays all your tools of the trade, and is printed using “non-toxic, eco-friendly, water-based dishcharge ink.”
Wood Dibble
Image courtesy of WoodElements' Etsy shop
I bought one of these in 2009, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful, quality heirloom piece that I use all the time for planting my seeds. I keep it on display in my kitchen and it’s always a topic of conversation. (What IS that?)
Mason Bee Box
Image courtesy of andrewsreclaimed Etsy shop
You may be aware of the decimation of the North American honey bee population. And just this week, reports are coming out that the problem may be a pesticide. Mason bees are also beneficial pollinators, especially for orchard trees. Attract them to your garden with this lovely box. I bet it would be fun to watch them make their mud tubes.
Ollas
Image courtesy of Peddler's Wagon
If you know me, then you know I’m into ollas. If you don’t want to make them, here are some lovely bottles.
Soil Block Maker
Image courtesy of Peddler's Wagon
Now this I’ve been wanting to try. No more cell trays. Make your own seed starting blocks.
Books
Image courtesy of Amazon
This is an amazing book. Life changing, even. The book chronicles the Kingsolver family’s one-year experiment to live off their own land. Along the way the author feeds her readers information about the history and current affairs of agriculture in the United States. You may not have a gigantic mountain plot to farm, but you’ll be inspired to dig a little deeper into your own land.
What are your favorite gardening books?
Fruit and Vegetable Parchment Bracelets
Image courtesy of Uncommon Goods
I’ve talked about these before, and I think they’re so cool. Real dried fruit and veggies, made into wearable art.
Window Farm Kit
Image courtesy of NPR
I first heard about this on NPR, and now that I have a little more space in my new sun room, I’d love to try setting this up for year-round farming.
Final Harvest + Big News
Well, that’s it. The fall frost has hit and I’ve pulled the last harvest from the soil.
Purple dragon carrots.
More than three-and-a-half pounds of carrots and nearly two pounds of Swiss chard.
Bright lights Swiss chard
Here’s the final tally:
- Peas: .1 lb.
- Arugula: .2 lb.
- Cherry Tomatoes: 30.475 lbs.
- Plum Tomatoes: 4.445 lbs.
- Large Tomatoes: 6.585
- Cucumber: 5.45 lbs.
- Purple Beans: 1.85 lbs.
- Green beans: .3 lb.
- Swiss Chard: 2.615 lbs.
- Carrots: 3.88 lbs.
Grand total: 55.9 pounds
Now, for some big news: The Suburban Farm is moving. We’ve bought a new house and will be leaving this garden behind. Normally I would be upset; I’ve invested so much sweat and emotion in all of my gardens. It’s hard to leave them behind. However, our new house comes with multiple garden plots. While that makes the transition to a new place easier, I’ll always fondly look back at the original Suburban Farm.
We’ll be moving in one month, which means there won’t be any wheat updates, nor any other winter gardening projects. I can say this much about the wheat: it ain’t great. It needs more sun. A reminder that spaces that get decent sun during the warm months may not get enough during the winter.
Goodbye, current Suburban Farm. I’m looking forward to making you flourish in your new home.
The Suburban Farm in the fall
The Suburban Farm in summer
