Farm

We went to the farm and had a good look around. It needs some cleanup, but it will be a nice space when we get it ready. The orchard has gotten huge and overgrown, but with some serious pruning, it will make a nice shady spot to sit and drink beer.

Yesterday I transplanted all the tomatoes, mostly to 4-inch pots but some of the smaller ones got put back in paper pots, but one to a pot. The tomatoes and tomatillos are now in the cold frame, which is plenty large for anything I'll be doing. I need to transplant more of the peppers to one to a pot.

I still need to get the onions and garlics in the ground. My supplies came from Gardeners Supply and I really like the recycled tire mats. Plus Rick is having fun with the fake bamboo tinker toys. And of course, the cold frame is already in use.

We harvested peas and chard from the garden, along with lots of fresh oregano and thyme, and mustard greens from Rick C's garden. I sauteed that all up, poured scrambled eggs over it, topped it with cheese, and put it under the broiler. Absolutely delicious.

The lettuce I put in the ground is getting much bigger. I expect to see it forming heads soon.

late March

By now spring is in full swing. The Moon of Flowering Trees is giving way to the Moon of New Leaves. Lilac is in full bloom, as is freesia. Blue-eyed grass, wild onions, and oxalis are rampant in yards.

I transplanted the lettuce into the first of the beds, and planted some of the onion sets. The peas are huge; blooming profusely and just beginning to produce peas. The tomatillos, tomatoes, and peppers were planted on Feb. 18 and the tomatillos have all been tranplanted to one per paper pot. They have excellent root structure. I am about to start transplanting tomatoes into 4-inch pots to go in the cold frame. I transplanted some of the anaheims, which sprouted very prolifically. The anchos were not as prolific, but I have a few at least, as well as a variety of specialty ones.

We planted asparagus crowns at Rick C.'s house on Tues. It will take 2-3 years to get much harvest but we're hopeful.

We decided to try to farm the land behind Buddy's house (henceforth to be called "the farm"). It needs some clean up but there is lots of room. I picked a huge bunch of lilacs.

Mugs ordered

We ordered the custom mugs from Cafepress. Batch did a Gilhooley and Rick did the oakhead design.

More sprouts

The first of the peppers have begun to sprout. I was worried that I would not have enough tomatillos but I have about 45 or so, and ... that should do! Rick C has an interesting plan for how to train them up poles then back down over a cone of wire. This should keep them up and dry and well ventilated, plus it will make them easy to harvest.

Peas are starting to set up. Lettuces are ready to eat. Romaines are recovering from transplant and growing.

It's raining again, which is great, but I hope it stops for Titus and Jane's wedding in two weeks.

In bloom around Chico now:
Almost finished: quince, daffodils
Full bloom: almonds, cherry, purple plum, magnolia, tulips, crocus, daphne