Straw Blanket

Not the best of pictures - Kelli must have quickly snapped this a few weeks back...  but it is me dropping a round bale of straw onto a freshly plowed section of what was lawn and spreading it around.  This is going to become our third garden plot next spring.  It's not exactly the biggest plot either - but it should house all our tomato cages quite nicely.

Couple of reasons why this sprung up over the fall.  First - with the really bad blight we had this year (everyone had it) there's extra value in making sure we rotate the tomatoes to a new plot.  Certainly we could have just gone back to the second garden we have - but an ideal rotation schedule breaks same species plantings by 3-4 years...  hence the third (and maybe next year fourth) plots.

The second reason we chose to plow up the lawn here was because of a topographical issue that the ridiculous amounts of rain last spring made clear to us...  The garden plot that is straight out from the house is a bit of a low spot that catches all the rain from the yard and the house - hence why large parts of that plot were aquatic in nature last spring.  This newest plot is up on a bit of a rise...  so we should be a lot better off for drainage.

The final reason is - increase growing capacity.  Yes - I know - that may seen strange to people who have visited and have seen all the garden-space we currently have...  but there is a method to the madness...  and I'll let you in on a little secret that I tweeted the other day (check the farm tweets on the left or follow chickenthistle for the latest)...  we are considering offering some limited shares in a CSA next year...  we are still doing our homework, looking at all the details, figuring out the plantings...  but it does look like something we may give a go.  Since we both manage full time jobs too,  it's easier than attending farmers markets and since we already have a lot of people who love the chickens and bought some veggies this year - it's more of a logical fit.

As we talk about a lot here, the reward in our activities isn't so much about the money, it's more about the pride of helping people learn to appreciate and enjoy good quality local food.  So as we look to continue to expand those things, you should keep your eyes peeled for announcements here - or if you really want the inside track and first notification, sign up for the newsletter on the left of the page or click on the "Chickens" link at the top of the site and sign up there...

Comments

[Heidi]

I would love to buy some of your CSA shares except it's a long way to ship...

[Andy]

It is a bit of a haul! But thanks for the interest... :)
I'm guessing fresh veggies every week - by the time they got to you would not be so fresh.

[Heidi]

Probably about as fresh as the grocery store!

[Andy]

Maybe fresher - since it wouldn't be from another country :)