Tag Archives: tomato beds

How we spent our father’s day

Standard

Father’s Day, does it always fall on a Sunday?  Sundays are our Farmer’s Market day, so we watched all of the daddy’s with their children, young and old.  Channel 5 news was there, a local news outlet here in Northwest Arkansas and they interviewed Paul, Oliver and Isaac about Father’s Day and what they were going to do for their Dad.  I have a link posted.  We were the first to this market with tomatoes.  Lest you forget we sell at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks, every Sunday, from 9am-2pm.  Also, I take that back about the first with tomatoes, that accomplishment was shared that day.  Another vendor had tomatoes also, they weren’t quite ready, but it’s important to be first.  The people are tomato hungry right now and I don’t blame them.

Paul and Isaac at the farmer’s market on Father’s Day.

 

Later in the day we sat and prepared garlic to cure.  Here is Shiori doing an amazing job.

 

Car Accident

Standard

Today we were supposed to welcome two WWOOF’ers coming from Little Rock area, originally from Japan, Shiori and her friend Kyohei.  Unfortunately someone hit her car as they were preparing to leave town.  So, we will welcome them on monday instead.  In other news, Farmer’s Market take two tomorrow.  Paul, the kids and I will b e standing out in GORGEOUS weather hustling.  I’m so glad the weather will be nice.  Last week, if you read, rained and only a few people showed up.  Hopefully the crowds manifest themselves tomorrow.  Also, to all of the Mother’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day!  I can’t forget to call mine tomorrow, I’ve been so busy, I didn’t even mail a card…I feel bad Mom.  I LOVE YOU.  It’s because of her that I have a green thumb.  What a true inspiration she has been in my life.  Shiori, Kyohei, we will see you Monday afternoon.  To all of my other WWOOF’ers past, I hope your journeys are going well.  Thanks for the post cards ; )

As of this morning

Standard

As I sit here, drinking my morning cup of coffee, letting my interns get their last ten minutes of sleep, I’m just realizing all of the work we still have to do before we can plant any seeds.  Trying to write it down on paper, to have some sort of game plan, so we’re more efficient out there.  Today, I think Franchy will wear shoes.  He learned a lesson yesterday and I didn’t have to talk to him like his mama…I can come off that way a lot, (right Monica).  But, I just thought I’d drop my readership a line to let you all know there is hard work to be done today, so please come over and show your face, pitch in if you wish!  TTFN.

And so it begins

Standard

Today Paul took Franchy to the farmer’s market to meet with Patrice Gros about the hoop house building that will be commencing here in November.  Patrice, a fellow Frenchman was excited to know about our new French help.  Pleasantries, pleasantries.  When Franchy and Paul arrived back on the farm, Beth and I were in the north rows weeding and attempting to make them larger.  Franchy stepped in and began pitch forking the ground, while Beth shook the soil from the grass roots.  I was a row over returning mulch to the row.  Franchy turns to me, and with his French-English says, “Uh, I need, how do you say, uh…” and he lifts his foot which is covered in blood and dirt.  “A Band-Aid” I say, “Yes!  A Band-Aid, yes.”  He replies.  “What did you do?” I ask him.  He motions that he stuck himself with the pitch fork.  “Okay, go back to my house and show your foot to Paul, and he’ll take care of it.” I tell him.  After he walked away Beth and I giggled.  His first day on the job and he stabs his foot.  I think it’s noble of Franchy to travel with the WWOOF program, however, bless his little French heart, I don’t think he has ever worked on a farm before.  I sat tonight down at the home with Mrs. Barbara, doing some care giving and told all of the old ladies at dinner about this episode.  They all had a good laugh.  Hopefully tomorrow will bring less injuries.

Excuse me, where are my manners

Standard

We have had a wave of exceptional help lately that has been a positive force in this whole circus.  I can say “Thank you” until I’m blue in the face at them, I still don’t think it would do justice to the amount of appreciation that Paul and I have.  Thank you again though, for good measure.

Everybody, meet Rose.

She has been a tremendous help for us these past few weeks.

This particular day we harvested the seeds from my spring cilantro and seeded a new bed with them.

Everybody, meet Beth.

Also a big help.  Beth is interning on the farm.

Everybody, meet our county fair Grand Champion!

Everybody, meet our first place winner!

Now in this picture are more volunteers, Jason and Jen.  I don’t have better pictures of them, sorry Jen and Jason.  They too are a great help.  This is a picture of the work party today.

Community Garden shots and Beyond

Standard

During the dry spell, I also took photos of the state of the Community Garden and our North beds.

Entry, south side.

Path, overgrown, but still there.  These next pictures are examples of what’s going on in the community garden as of two weeks ago, give or take a few days.  These examples show the effects of the heat and the lack of water.

Our neighbor Cliff planted Zinnias amongst his tomatoes, they were beautiful.  Even in this “on the way out” thing they had going on.

These next pictures are of the North beds.

Arkansas Travelers.

Weepy Okra.

Overgrown, dead, raspberries.

Cherry tomatoes.

“Rachel” peppers.

Watermelons, that never got any water.

Example of the heat.  Dead grass.

Cherokee Purples.

Brandywine, heirloom.

.

Work, work and MORE work

Standard

Thankful for the team of volunteers today, we were able to accomplish a lot.  Jason, Jen, Beth and I weeded, mowed, removed, moved, adjusted and pretty much kicked a bunch of chore ass.  Now, our north beds that had tomatoes in them are weeded and cleaned up and cages moved to a nearby spot, ready for next year.  I feel like I have more to say, just not now.  I think I need to get some pictures together for you all.  But, thanks again to some awesome, AWESOME volunteers.  Without them, there would be a lot more work for me to do!  Thank you!