4th week of March 2009
Meadowlarks and mockingbirds have returned to serenade us while we work outdoors - a sure sign that winter is past. Last week brought several glorious days that we spent doing various farm tasks like pruning grapes, trimming raspberries, cleaning up flower beds and planting some early beds of salad greens, radishes and flowers (larkspur, calendula and cosmos). It felt so invigorating to do physical labor again in the fresh air that the blisters and some muscles are well worth it. The ground is still plenty cold and I'm waiting a bit till I plant my main crop of peas but I do have a double row of Sugar Anns under four barrels for an early treat. In the greenhouse my circle of Dwarf Gray Sugar peas are 4" high and will be eventually used for pea shoots in salad along with their lovely purple edible flowers. I am busy transplanting lettuces into 6 packs to root before going outdoors and am noticing that I need to get busy doing the same for my broccoli and cabbage flats. I also planted my flat of main crop tomatoes and was mostly successful in limiting myself to only 15 varieties this year. I'm sure a few more will creep in when I start swapping plants with friends and discover a few more kinds that I just have to try ...
On sunny days I need to keep a close eye on greenhouse temperature as it can easily soar over 100 and my only ventilation system is propping the door open. The warm temps are causing the mature arugula and mache to start going to seed already. Arugula blossoms are another tasty salad addition along with all the self seeded johnny jump-ups that are popping open. I always keep a few daffodils and tulips tucked in the greenhouse for extra early blooms. Here are the first daffodils that opened on St Patrick's Day and we've been getting a few more every day. These flowers are meant to be picked and our daughter has made sure that they get passed out as spring reminders to our friends and neighbors.
Last week I read Life and Energy in Agriculture by Arden Andersen and was both excited and saddened by what I learned. I was sad about the commentary on how poorly we've treated American farmland and how lack of minerals in food is causing illness basically due to malnutrition. I was reminded that the word "organic" only is an indicator of what isn't in foods (i.e. pesticides and chemicals) but doesn't address the true nutritional content of food which is so dependent on mineral balance in the soil. A quick way to get a picture of plant health is by using a refractometer to measure Brix levels (plant sugars.) When sugar content is high enough, then insects and disease do not occur because nature intends for them to "clean up" the weaker plants. 
The book had lists of Brix qualities for different veggies and fruits and even lists of what minerals are lacking in plants when you see certain insects or diseases present - very fascinating information! We are hoping to purchase a refractometer this year to do some testing on our produce and will be more diligent in observing and taking notes on insects and plant health. Soil balancing is a long but worthwhile process and one that continually puts us in awe of the complex system God created.
Here is the latest breaking news from the pasture, our Jersey cow Belle had a heifer calf tonight. This is the first full-blooded heifer we've had from our mini-herd of three Jerseys in three years (after 6 bulls and a cross.) Here she is at one hour old. Stay posted for her name in next week's garden journal.
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