We have lots of vegetable plants at the market including cucumbers, squash, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, escarole, Swiss chard, cabbage, and broccoli. There are about 25 varieties of tomatoes and over 20 are heirlooms. Heirlooms are Cherokee purple, Brandywine, striped German, mortgage lifter ( radiator Charlie’s), pineapple, Rutgers, June pink, Eva purple ball, Italian tree, yellow pear, red pear, black cherry, red cherry, Tommy toe, large red cherry, jubilee yellow, German, marglobe, Arkansas traveler, and homestead.

I guess it is natural selling plants includes free gardening advice on how to grow them. So here is an important tip. Do not use chlorinated water to water your garden. If you are on city or county water it has chlorine in it. Most vegetable plants are sensitive to chlorine and it will stunt and eventually kill the plants. The best is to use rain or well water. If you must use city water draw it out in an open bucket at least 24 hours before applying to the garden so the chlorine can evaporate.

We still have kale from the garden and a few heads of romaine lettuce from the greenhouse.

Eggs are in good supply and so is Jersey beef. It will be a few more weeks before we have chicken.

After being out for a while we now have organic shiitake mushrooms from our partner farm in Low Gap, NC. These are the highest quality we have ever seen so we are glad to have them for you. Unlike the pale, puny shiitakes usually offered for sale in stores these are a beautiful brown and can grow to 6 or 8 inches wide. The robust regimen comes from traditional oak logs inoculated with certified organic spore at just the right time for the log to contain abundant nutrients. These valuable nutrients are transferred to the mushrooms as they grow so they are packed with nutrition and delicious flavor! We are talking the quality shiitakes sought after by top chefs and fine food connoisseurs. We are indeed fortunate to offer this gourmet item at such a reasonable price. We have them fresh, dehydrated, and in powder form to add flavor to your soups, stews, etc.

Here is a ‘heads up’ for you. On April 24 from 10:00 until 2:00 we will have a shiitake dish sampling at the market along with much more information for you. Our partners, Vilma and Patrick McDougal, will be on hand to help answer any questions you may have about shiitakes.

We are now open everyday at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market ( farmers area #2, booth 74) except Monday. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 until 4:00; Saturday 8:00 until 4:00; and Sunday 10:00 until 4:00.

We hope to greet you at the market.

Of course we will have our usual beef, chicken, and eggs. We will bring plants as well. It is time to set broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower which we will have. Also, we will offer four kinds of lettuce, Swiss chard, and escarole plants which may be set out as well.

Due to a 50% increase in market rent and additional fees we expect our marketing expense to be almost double from last year. We are trying to keep from raising prices but it may be unavoidable. As with any business, we have to evaluate our expenses to set prices that return a profit or we will soon be out of business. We are trying to increase variety, thus volume, which should help. But it may be necessary to make some price increases.

If you like spring greens now is the time to get them. We hope to see you at the market this week.

So far we have planted green peas, sugar snaps, beets, musclin mix, potatoes, arugula, cabbage, and broccoli. And that is just a start. Hopefully we can get more done next week.

The pastures are already turning green so the cows will soon be munching on fresh grass instead of hay. In fact, their hay consumption has already dropped considerably, partly because of warmer weather.

Our mockingbird is singing every day now so he must be pretty sure spring is right around the corner. All the birds are singing almost all day in celebration. And the spring toads have kept up their chorus for several days. Maybe spring will be early.

I’m sure you can sense our excitement about spring on the farm. Everything amazingly comes to life. Crops to be planted mean a harvest is coming soon. It is a fresh new season full of possibilities and promise. We get busy doing what we do…and enjoy doing. There is nothing more enjoyable to a farmer than planting seeds and seeing them grow and produce a crop. There is something special about being dog tired from work but happy and contented from interacting with the soil, plants, and animals. Working with the natural pace and cycle of things makes one feel connected to the life around him and to the Creator Who gives life to all.

I guess that is why I dislike conventional farming which is about overpowering and controlling nature and as much about destroying life as nurturing it.

We plan to be at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 until 3:00. We have grass-fed Jersey beef, pastured chicken, and free range eggs. There will be some collards, upland cress, and hopefully turnip, kale, and mustard greens that are big enough to harvest. We will have cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants.

We will look for you at the market.

With warmer and dryer weather forecast for next week we are going to get real busy very soon. It is time to plant some of the early season vegetables as soon as the ground is dry enough. We have already been busy in the greenhouse planting tomato seeds. So far we have seeded about fourteen varieties, mostly heirlooms.

Our first chicks of the season are arriving tomorrow so that will add another daily chore to our list. And there are still some winter chores to get finished. Looks like we are going to have to hire some help to get everything done.

One thing about it, there is no time to get bored. We enjoy what we are doing so it is rewarding. Example, it was sure nice to see plants growing in the greenhouse with snow just inches away this week. And it is always exciting to see the earth awake from the winter rest to sprout new life everywhere. And we like to grow good healthy food for you to enjoy!

One thing we have decided though, as soon as a few warmer days come I am going fishing!

Hope to see you at the market!