Thursday, April 27, 2017

What about all the Vegetables?


We started our seeds this year in two beautiful light boxes designed and built by the innovative farmer with whom I share my life.  The boxes are outfitted with full spectrum lights and the doors may be closed to get seeds to sprout, or left slightly ajar for air flow.  We also have used the top surface for plants to get natural light in the south facing windows. 



Now that the days are warming, 
the seedlings spend a few hours on the deck each day, "hardening off,"
 in preparation for being planted in the soil,
a process which we will begin in May.


In the meantime, a few crops are already producing in the garden.
We have not yet picked rhubarb, but I can almost smell the first old-fashioned "crumble" coming from the oven as the stalks grow with impressive speed and vigor.


I have nibbled a couple of stalks of asparagus, and will be making Lemon Asparagus Pickles, and asparagus soup, and tossing raw asparagus in salads, any day now. In fact, for a few quick weeks, it will seem like our menu is "All Asparagus, All the Time."  And just as we get tired of that, the strawberries will begin to ripen, and the garlic scapes to appear.



Speaking of garlic, the five rows that we planted last fall are thriving.  They are approaching a foot tall, as I write this, and are green and strong.  A late frost may yellow up the tips of the leaves, as it has in past years, but it should not damage the bulbs which, even now, are developing beneath the straw mulch and the rich soil.


Not only is the garden waking with the fragrant onset of spring,
so too are the honey bees.  
There is a wild swarm that took up residence in a vacated hive last year 
that we had stacked behind the pole barn.  


They are an easy-going crew of workers that mostly ignore the people on the farm.

Not much is blooming yet, so I am glad 
that the dandelions began to bloom about the same time the hive awoke.



Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

10 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

you have lots of seedlings, I like the box idea, Made Rhubarb pie a few nights ago, I was impatient

Nan said...

Your post is like reading something from Gladys Taber! Such a wonderful life you are living. I think you must be about four weeks ahead of us based on the rhubarb.

Marcie said...

Steve, We do have a lot of seedlings, and more seeds that will get planted directly into the garden soil. It is a big job trying to grow most of your own food! lol. But, we love this lifestyle, so I'm not complaining!

Nan, What a nice comparison! I love that. :D

Cat Lover said...

Hi Marcie, everything looks so wonderful! I wait eagerly for the first rhubarb to come. This is the first year in our home so I am not sure yet whether we will be having a veggie garden here.
Enjoy the weekend!
Robin

Laurie said...

Oh my goodness, I hope you share photos of your garden once you get things planted.

christinalfrutiger said...

Wow! That's alot of veggies! Do you feed a large family or just all the neighbors? :) Don't forget to drop a line when you have time!

JFM said...

Marcie, how wonderful and lovely your light boxes are...I am amazed at all of your lovely seedlings and plants!!!
Have a great growing season!!!

Big Hugs~

Lowcarb team member said...

Such lovely seedlings and plants.
Rhubarb ... I do enjoy it!

All the best Jan

Magic Love Crow said...

Gorgeous post!! I love seeing your farm!! That is a lot of food!! I'm happy to see the bees around you!! Big Hugs!

Marcie said...

Just realizing I missed some comments. Had a busy weekend and a busy tomorrow, with my first book signing and speaking engagement for the spring lineup. Will catch up on posts and visit blogs on Wednesday and Thursday! Hope all is well with all of you!