Thanks to The Delaware Center for Horticulture

This weekend, the DCH had their first Crop Mob, for the season, at the farm.  They had a great turn out, even though it was a pretty chilly Saturday morning, and were a huge help in getting the land ready to plant. We really appreciate it! Here are a few images that show a little of what they did.  If you have a group and would like to come and work the farm for the morning to learn more about farming and enjoy a lunch on HG, please let us know. 

Great turn out!

Tara talking over things with our staff.

Enthusiastic participants!

Sharing the love!

Folks checking in and getting their assignments.

Pulling up the tarps so H.G. can till the ground and begin planting. 

Marv giving instructions in the greenhouse

The Greenhouse Crew

Working on the MYSTERY FIELD. What field is the man on the right working on?.....  Post your answer below KIDS or click on our Kid's Corner page and give us your answer there - WIN A PRIZE!

Getting the Raspberry bushes ready.

A little lunch to end the morning.

 Thanks again to all the volunteers!  We really enjoy having you coming and appreciate all your hard work!

Again, if you have a group of 20-30 who would be interested in helping work the farm for a free lunch and the experience of learning about farming, please contact us at siwveggies@gmail.com

We Need Some Peonies People!

Thanks to all who forwarded info about workers for the summer.  We're really excited about the new staff coming on board to help us out.  BUT, we need a few more!  Interested in a 3-5 week job for quick and good money for summer fun?  We are hiring NOW for May through June workers!  

In just a few weeks 

this very forlorn looking field...

 
will be these amazing PEONIES!!!!!! 

And we need hard working people to help harvest the crop!
 

If you're interested, or know someone who is, please have them contact Debbe by email at: siwveggies@gmail.com

Do we use our seeds from last year's plants?

Each year seeds from last years plants are given a germination test to see if they are good for this year.  In the case of the lettuce pictured to the left, the seeds are planted and if 40% of the seeds sprout then those seeds are used for planting.  Interestingly, in the case of corn, H.G. will not use the seeds unless 90% of them sprout! 

Mmmmmm, can't you just taste that sweet delicious corn?

Here is this week's growth for our tomatoes...Growing up beautifully!

FREE GARDENING ADVICE from H.G.: #2 - Planting Your Tomatoes and How We Plant Ours

Plant all your tomatoes in April unprotected. Then they will probably get killed by frost and you can buy tomatoes from SIW. This will leave room in your garden for flowers!!!!

OR...

Plant 2 to 4 plants (never more than 4) every 24 days starting May 1st (covered on coldest nights) or May 15th uncovered. This will give you tomatoes from early July until frost. *Problem: If you do multiple plantings, you will be required to keep weeding your garden ALL summer vs giving up on it after you have overdosed on tomatoes in July. The later has it's advantages: You can go to the beach in August and not worry about your garden anymore AND SIW will supply all your tomato needs until frost! Hmmmm....a conundrum!"
 

In case you're curious, we will have 9,000 tomato plants this year.  Each row of a tray (there are 10 rows in a tray) holds 200 seeds!!!!  With the grand total of 2000 seeds per tray!  The greenhouse will be bursting out all over very soon!

Remember, if you want to watch the progression of this crop, come on over to our "crop progression" page. 

If you have any questions, please post your comments below and H.G. will get back to you ASAP!

HAPPY SPRING! - Two ways to plant seeds

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For all of you who who are anxious to get started in the garden and love the nitty gritty of planting, there are two different ways to begin seedlings: "Direct Seeding" or what Marv calls "Threading." 

Direct Seeding is one seed at a time in each little container of the tray as Marv is doing here with these ZINNIA seeds.

Can't wait to see those beautiful flowers popping up!

Then there is "Threading" which is when you fill up a row in the tray with hundreds (200 to be specific) seeds...

and then scoop out several from a row. Take them apart one at a time.  The roots will look like THREADS.  

Then you poke a hole...
















and "spot them" into the hole and....

  

Voilà that seedling is happily in his home!

Hope you have a great first day of SPRING!

We LOVE Kale!

Our Kale is up and we LOVE it!

If you haven't ever enjoyed kale, there are so many wonderful ways to eat it.  Try it roasted! Message your cut up Kale with a olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper mix - this causes the Kale to break down.  Roast it for a few minutes in the oven  - add dried fruits and nuts.  Delicious and so good for you!  Or, take a look at some more recipes.

Winter and Lettuce

With the first day of spring coming this week, some of you may be curious about how the weather has effected the farm.  This is what H.G. has to say about that....

"As far as veggies go a cold winter is good because it is hard on pests. Especially without snow as an insulator. If the power goes out when things are growing in the greenhouse and it is cold, well that is a real bummer!!! Seedlings are muerto (DEAD) at 32 degrees. Pretty much all vegetables are even if they are full grown. Few exceptions such as LETTUCE!  Ice is ok in cold weather, but it is not a vegetable."

Here's the beginning of our lettuce crop...

If you need some help with different ways to protect and enjoy your lettuce, here are some helpful hints on our Pinterest site.

First Peppers, Tomato Races...and Jamie's Jermination Jamboree!

Our first peppers are doing great thanks to Jamie's Jermination Jamboree (the technical name for our new germination chamber). 

As H.G. mentioned last week, it's good to keep your seedlings in a germination chamber.  We keep ours in the ice house on the farm this time of year because the greenhouse goes down to 55 at night and our "Germination Chamber" is at 70 degrees.  Not to mention we set them on a heated mat at 85 degrees for 48 hours.  After these first 48 hours, into the greenhouse they go!

Tomatoes -- off to the races!

If you're interested in this kind of thing and want to watch our tomatoes grow follow along on our tomato crop progression page!  Good for school assignments for all you kids out there who need a science project idea or extra credit!