We're Getting the Hang of This!

 Big Farma = Big Harvest

Welcome back to another blog post! For the past two weeks, we have been harvesting nonstop. Here is Naomi showing off our goods. We have an abundance of cucumbers, zucchini, zephyr squash, scallions, pak choi, kale, arugula, basil, and flowers. Our peppers and okra are beginning to come in. Our arugula was also harvested. There has been such an amazing amount of vegetables to harvest, and we are excited to make our delicious smoothies, pesto, and other dishes! Everything is thriving in our garden; we have attracted many pollinators and beneficial insects with our flowers.

Today was very exciting! We transplanted our chamomile, lemon balm, and lemongrass into our beds. We have been waiting for weeks, and they have grown so big and strong. Chamomile and lemon balm are used for tea, while lemongrass can be used for southern asian cuisine, such as stews and soups. We planted them into our leafy greens bed next to the lettuce, spinach, and arugula. We are so excited to watch them grow!

Our first watermelon has emerged! We are so happy and cannot wait to see how big it grows. It was planted with so much love, and we excitedly wait each week for them to get bigger. This was grown in the no-till bed, and it is thriving! We laid hay down below the vine so that the fruit would not rot, and there would be weed control, and it is doing so well. The extra nutrients from the leftover sunnhemp are being taken up by the plant and contributing to its growth!

So many cucumbers! The past few weeks, our suyo long cucumbers have been taking off!  This variety is excellent for pickles, stir-fry, and salads, providing an extra crunch to anything it's added to. Our cucumbers are planted in our trellised beds next to our tomatoes and marigolds. These were transplanted under a weed barrier, so our cucumbers have been able to climb the trellises without having to worry about weeds taking over! There are also a few planted in our bare bed with our corn and squash, which are also doing very well!

Our tomatoes are coming in hot! Tomatoes are a warm-season crop, so we are happy that they are coming in before things start to cool down. We planted our tomatoes alongside marigolds, which are coming in nicely as well. Marigolds attract predatory insects that deter pests from feeding on the marigolds and nearby plants. 

This past week, we harvested our first okra. We are growing two varieties of okra on our farm, and both have begun to give us pods. Okra is a versatile plant that can be used in stews, pickles, or on its own with sauce. Even the flowers on okra plants are edible! Our plants are attracting ants and ladybugs that feed on the nectar of the flowers or the pests present on the plant.