Long awaited arrival of the sweet potato slips

What's so exciting about this box of green leafy plants that look nothing like sweet potatoes as printed on the box? These are the 1,000 (yes, that's 3 zero's) sweet potato slips (plants) that we've been waiting weeks for. Why 1,000? Because when Papa Farmer sees that there is a $10 difference between 500 slips and 1,000 slips, then there is no question that sweet potatoes will soon be a staple in our house (and yours too!)  Mmmm, I can just taste the sweet potato burger recipe I found last week!

The Farlow Farm CSA

It's official, we've sent out our first newsletter about our CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. We've been working for about the last month getting our fields planned, prepped, and planted. Now the fun part begins! It's amazing how much growth can happen in just a day or two. There is so much we all learn in the whole process of growing (and eating)! Want to join out mailing list, just send us an email at farlowcsa@aol.com

The company car

Using an Earthway seeder to plant

Blackberries in early May

Trial spring raised bed of lettuce, onions, carrots, and cabbage

First harvested carrot

Checking on the bees

Levering Orchard in Ararat, VA

How have I never heard of this incredible place until today? It will now be a family tradition with my crew for as long as there are cherries to be picked. Incredible views, acres and acres of cherries of 40+ varieties, endless Kodak moments, the list is endless!

Just a wee bit sour!

Oh yeah! That was a good one!

Ever so delicate with each handful.

Just a little bit further.......

Organic pest control

I'm pretty sure on the list of practices approved for organic pest control for potatoes, you will not find anything more effective than the use of a 3 and 6 year old for mashing Colorado potato beetles.

What mom would not be proud to be awaken at 6:30 in the morning to their 3 year old daughter begging to go outside and hunt for "tayda bugs"?

No spray required here, these plants are checked a minimum of 3 times a day!

The best garden planting guide I have found

If we all followed this planting guide .........

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
          Peace of mind
          Peace of heart
          Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
         Squash gossip
         Squash indifference
         Squash grumbling
         Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
           Lettuce be faithful
           Lettuce be kind
           Lettuce be patient
           Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
           Turnip for meetings
           Turnip for service
           Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
           Thyme for each other
           Thyme for family
           Thyme for friends
WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
Note: Author unknown

Birth of a peanut

There is absolutely nothing that compares to the anticipation of growing anything edible. The work that goes into planning, cultivating and preparing the soil, planting day, and then........the sit and wait!!! The first peek of life is visible with a crack.

And even with loamy, sandy soil as we have, those first leaves have to work so hard to push their way through. Longing for their first beams of sunlight, they slowly unfurl.

 

 What seems like hard work is just the beginning. These peanut plants now have to survive through about 130 days worth of a NC summer. One my favorites to grow, peanuts are one of those plants you work so hard to take care of all summer long and get to celebrate with one fun day of harvest! You have never tasted anything so delicious as a fresh roasted peanut dug right from your own garden!

Happy Mother's Day

A tribute to all women who either are moms, have moms, or someday will be mom. Who ever knew that most difficult job in the entire world can be the single most rewarding one. Happy Mother's Day!