a farm journal

On February 28, 2011, I spent my first day interning at a local, uncertified organic, non-profit CSA farm that also works with local at-risk youth. I can definitively say that growing my own food has been the most empowering experience of my young adult life.

Why I’ve been MIA:

We’re back from Utah, but we’ve been moving since before we went to Utah! Here’s the new garden! The landlord is also a gardener, but he travels for work for two weeks at a time, so most of the square footage is mine to plant! To the right you see raspberries, the raised beds in the back are strawberries and established herbs, and on the picnic table side where the sidewalk curves around, you can see the lavender stand. And, I’ve never seen a grape vine in spring, but I’m pretty sure that’s what’s growing along the back porch!? I’m going to build my salad table next to the picnic table. More photos to come soon. I’m going to start hardening off my babies today, and put them in the ground this weekend :) Our last frost date is May 15.

Camera: Motorola Droid
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/693th
Focal Length: 4mm

Now that’s what I like to see! Kale for baby greens salad in the tray, beets, red Russian kale, and tatsoi in cells, and my rosemary cuttings in the cup.

carrot seed! I got an heirloom variety called Little Finger which grow to about 4 inches- perfect for containers :)

Camera: Motorola Droid
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/40th
Focal Length: 4mm

Although far from the smallest, tomato seeds are teeny. It’s hard to believe six-foot plants will grow from seeds this size! A thin layer of dirt is all they need on top- twice the width of the seed is not much soil. You want to make sure the seed is not too covered so that it can breathe and so the leaves can find their way to the surface.
After they’re planted into slightly moist soil and covered, I use a spray bottle to dampen the soil to create the right germination climate. When watering seeds for germination, I stick my finger down into the cell (in the corner, away from the seed!) to check the bottom of the soil. If the bottom is dry, I soak the cell gently, so that the seed and soil are not disturbed. If the bottom is moist but the top is dry, I give it a spritz with the spray bottle.
I think watering is where most new gardeners have issues getting seeds to germinate. It’s easy to give too little or too much water, especially at a time when the seed needs a humid environment in order to split, but also needs a dry enough environment that it does not drown or rot.

Although far from the smallest, tomato seeds are teeny. It’s hard to believe six-foot plants will grow from seeds this size! A thin layer of dirt is all they need on top- twice the width of the seed is not much soil. You want to make sure the seed is not too covered so that it can breathe and so the leaves can find their way to the surface.

After they’re planted into slightly moist soil and covered, I use a spray bottle to dampen the soil to create the right germination climate. When watering seeds for germination, I stick my finger down into the cell (in the corner, away from the seed!) to check the bottom of the soil. If the bottom is dry, I soak the cell gently, so that the seed and soil are not disturbed. If the bottom is moist but the top is dry, I give it a spritz with the spray bottle.

I think watering is where most new gardeners have issues getting seeds to germinate. It’s easy to give too little or too much water, especially at a time when the seed needs a humid environment in order to split, but also needs a dry enough environment that it does not drown or rot.

Winter squash seeds are big, but flat. I use the pad of my finger to gently create a depression, as opposed to using the tip of my finger to make a deep hole. Then gently cover the seeds with soil about 2x the width of the seed.

tomatoes!

IN PHOTO!
1) strip the bottom needles, cut off the bottom of the stem (leaving a heel)
2) stick in water and wait a week or two
3) roots!

IN PHOTO!

1) strip the bottom needles, cut off the bottom of the stem (leaving a heel)

2) stick in water and wait a week or two

3) roots!

OH MY GODS IT’S FREAKING TOMATO COTYLEDON. I see it! It’s unfolding out of the soil, practically right before my eyes! Unfortunately, not really before my eyes, but I swear this popped up no more than 30 minutes before I took the photo. I was working on the other trays, and when I looked back, there it was. And one of my 100-day guys, too, glad he’s early! Then there’s some future sexy candy-stripe Chioggias, teeny tiny thyme, and one of my winter squash is peeking, too! One of my lemon cukes is about to come up, and my tray of kale for baby greens is poppin’, but my phone couldn’t get a good shot under the bright lights.
This is the first time I’ve ever started things from seed all by myself! Now to avoid killing them….

OH MY GODS IT’S FREAKING TOMATO COTYLEDON. I see it! It’s unfolding out of the soil, practically right before my eyes! Unfortunately, not really before my eyes, but I swear this popped up no more than 30 minutes before I took the photo. I was working on the other trays, and when I looked back, there it was. And one of my 100-day guys, too, glad he’s early! Then there’s some future sexy candy-stripe Chioggias, teeny tiny thyme, and one of my winter squash is peeking, too! One of my lemon cukes is about to come up, and my tray of kale for baby greens is poppin’, but my phone couldn’t get a good shot under the bright lights.

This is the first time I’ve ever started things from seed all by myself! Now to avoid killing them….

half my tatsoi germinated at 3 days :D

onions