The First Signs of Spring...

...arrive in the mailbox.

A New Beginning...

New Idea Growing

Yesterday we had the students each plant their own corn seed out in the newest plot we turned over last spring. We got nothing really out of that space last season so we are hoping for a better season this year. The idea with the students' corn plants is that when they come back next school season as seventh graders, and we have a new "crop" of sixth graders, we can have a harvest party after school one day in September to share and enjoy the corn and whatever else we may get to grow, and hopefully inspire some interest in the Farm School. Keep your fingers crossed.

The plot was divided into a grid and each student was assigned one numbered square foot for their corn plant so they can remember where their plant is and track its progress. We are trying out a modified version of the Square Foot Gardening method developed by Mel Bartholomiew. Thanks to Heather Candels for the book.













Planting

Pushing The Pedals On The Season Cycle

Hello again. Has it really been almost five months since the last post? Yes, and there are mixed reasons why, but the season cycle has turned and the first sign of spring, besides a bit more sunlight each day, is here: the maple sap is running. Monday was the first gathering of the Middlebrook Farm School's partnership with Ambler Farm and we had a good baker's dozen of excited, and enthusiastic participants. See the photos below and just so you know there will be a gathering at Ambler Farm on Saturday at 3:00 to collect the sap there. Check back for details.

Final Harvests

Summer is almost officially over (I saw the first wooly bear caterpillar today and the brown bands outnumbered the black so it should be a less harsh winter...if you go by these kinds of signs and symbols. Keep an eye on the acorns.) and with that the final harvests are coming in. It has been a tough season due to a very cold and wet spring that reduced about 100 seedlings to slug grub at the carriage house farm, but things have been marginally better at the Farm School. Today's harvest was a good one and here are some photos.

Final carrot harvest













Broccoli













Kale













Swiss chard (which is is the soup pot right now)



















Last potatoes (russets, Yukon Golds, and reds)



















The whole lot.

It's hot. That about says it all. But the farm holds on and the first tomatoes were picked. Thankfully they are blight free. Potatoes keep popping up like small treasures and so do cucumbers. The carrots have been a nice success as well. The broccoli plants are almost four feet tall and more florets show up every day. There is even a volunteer tomato plant in the corner by the Swiss chard. School gets back in session very soon and so it is a very exciting time. While cleaning up the old garden a few future students even came through while touring the school to get their bearings. The new garden is somewhat ahead of us, but we'll bring the Weed Dragon and Farmer Tom with Wayne's tiller and we will get that plot back in shape in no time.

Monday on the farm

First broccoli floret.













Monday's harvest.













Swiss chard.



















Kale













More kale.



















Honey Bear winter squash.



















More Honey Bear.



















Collards almost big enough to hide Charles Baker "Dill" Harris.

Finally...

...it feels a little bit like summer, and the produce continues to roll in.

First garlic (and only garlic) and thanks to Mrs. Festa for bringing those bulb seeds back from the Garlic Festival in Massachusetts.













More yellow squash and the first cucumbers.













More beans, peas, and potatoes. Feel free to take as many beans as you want.













We also had some surprise visitors stop by. Nieces Emma (pictured) and Piper, came around with their father and grandparents to help out for a bit. Here Emma is helping wash carrots that just came out of the ground. Photo is from a cell phone.

Making Progress Losing Ground

Life here at the Farm School is finally waking up a little bit after all the rain and cool weather we have been having. Unfortunately the grass and other undesirables are a bit overwhelming and that is where the losing ground part comes from. But the sun was booming today and there was a nice harvest of potatoes (red, russet, and Yukon Gold), true baby carrots, and green beans. There are plenty of sweet peas on the vine and more green beans so if you are down near the gardens feel free to pop in and pick as many peas and beans as you can manage.



















Garlic



















Cumcumber



















Broccoli


























First butternut squas













First acorn squash













First summer yellow squash













Baby carrots and green beans













The first tomatoes













































And finally the first potatoes

The Herd

Although these cool little guys are not on our farm, I do get to see them in their pasture over on the Ridgebury Hills area of Ridgefield. There are six of them and they showed up around April.