The soil in the greenhouse is pretty soft having been turned multiple times since December. We till the weeds and plant remnants into the soil to enrich the dirt that already has organic fertilizer worked in. Josh's previous boss at the blueberry farm used to tell him to get the dirt to look like cake batter. Four passes with the tiller had the soil looking almost edible and ready for an egg and oil. The high tunnel allows for perfect soil conditions. The thunder storm that hit tonight turns garden soil soupy only to be followed by hard packed cracks during drought periods. Not so in the high tunnel. Irrigation lines give the perfect amount of moisture at all times. Thus you get cake batter for dirt every time you turn over the soil for crop rotation.
Camp opens in less than two weeks and I found myself happily tilling dirt. There would never have been time to engage in chores like that before Joe III took over the helm with Bar-T. I would have been pouring over bus routs and last minute staff changes. I am happy to assist him whenever I'm needed, but an hour later I made a trip to Southern States for 6 foot stakes to be pounded into our cucumber patch. I'm just in such a different and calmer place now than I was just a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I will be heavily engaged with my campers this summer and every summer I am able to walk hereon but I just do not mind turning the majority of the responsibilities to Joe, and my great directors.
Josh and I are finding that unique produce pays dividends and the farmers markets. You can get orange carrots and red tomatoes at Wegman's. But indigo tomatoes and purple carrots are just what the customers are looking for at farmers markets. Mushrooms, ground cherries, and wasabi arrugula are the order of the day and you really have to offer something different at these markets in order to stand out.
Now the just be consistent with a steady supply of unique from week to week.
I'm a former counselor at the Ranch and would love to support this endeavor. What farmers markets do you sell your produce at or do you give tours to the public? Keep up the good work. I've enjoyed reading all these posts.
ReplyDeleteWe are in downtown Frederick Sunday's, Walkersville on Thursday, yesterday we were at a YMCA farmers market but I am not sure where that was. You can come for a tour anytime, but when camp is in session you will have to check in at the office. We hope to down to Montgomery county in the future but not until we have a handle on the supply. We also are going to run seminars for adults in the fall.
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