Snow Peas arriving and Tomatoes on the way

It's been a while since the last post but there has been no lack of work going on the farm. Drip irrigation was installed for the summer, and trellis has been hung, although more needs to be hung. I took a mini vacation to the New England area for the middle of May and have been weeding and planting new greens and such since returning, as well as planting some leftover tomatoes outside. We've been trying to break-up the ground next to the greenhouse for some additional outside space but the ground is not cooperating and it appears that we will have to enlist the help of some additional horsepower.

The spring lettuce crop is winding down and I hope to have some summer lettuce and herb transplants in the next couple of weeks. Since the spinach and arugula continues to be so popular I went and planting some more with the seeder inside the greenhouse. The temperatures have been getting pretty hot in there, over 100 degrees during the heat spell the last week, so not so ideal for those things but we're always willing to experiment with some space. The snow peas, purple beans, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes seem to be doing just fine with the heat however. Still, we'll probably remove the plastic on the endwalls for some chicken wire when the next heat spell comes to get some more air in there.

The first snow peas have been arriving. I ate the first couple of course and they're great. May bring a few quarts as teasers to maket this week - certainly the following week. Some green fruit has set on some of the tomatoes so hopefully we're a matter of weeks away from them in addition! Yum.

Speaking of markets, we've been going to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Saturdays still (although we did miss one week in May when I was away and my father was not prepared with an umbrella for an outdoor stall). We get bumped around every week which can be hard on customers trying to find us. I always hope for the most northern aisle next to some of the other organic produce vendors but we've been in the sandlot and in the dreaded middle aisle as well. Thanks to all of those regulars who seek us out! We've also been trying out Dexter's new Farmers Market on Alpine Street next to the fire station. One of my parents is usually there from 9am-1pm on Saturdays. It is definitely small but everything has to start somewhere and we want to support our hometown and will keep going, on Saturdays anyway, Tuesdays looks like a bust. We are also exploring and likely to do the Zingerman's Westside Farmers Market in the Roadhouse parking lot Thursdays 3pm-7pm beginning June 22.