Springtime activity at the farm

I am so happy because every day there are new signs of spring at the farm.  Yesterday, that fresh smell of cut grass was wafting in the air because the grounds’ crew spent a good part of the day removing the thatch from the lawn.  Thatch is an accumulation of grass stems, roots, clippings, and other debris that settles on the ground.  This layer can prevent air, water, light, and nutrients from reaching the soil surface, inhibiting healthy new grass growth.  It can also encourage a proliferation of unwanted lawn pests.  Thatch can be removed with a vigorous raking, but when you have a large lawn, as I do, it’s quite helpful to use a power thatcher. 

This is Wilmer pushing my Billy Goat thatcher.  It has a raking system that kicks up the thatch.  You can really see the difference on the lawn he’s already passed over.

This is Fernando and Gyurme raking the loosened thatch onto a tarp.

Look how much debris has been removed from the lawn.

The thatch was loaded onto a truck and was added to our big compost heap.

PEA PLANTING

Personally, I think the beginning of April is a bit late to be planting the first crop of peas - I like them in the ground on March 15th.  However, for various reasons, planting was delayed this year, so I guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the first harvest.

This is our intern, George, who is cutting the birch supports for the peas.  These branches were brought down from my property in Maine. Next autumn, they will make nice kindling for the fireplaces.

The branches are pushed into the soil on both sides of the raised bed.  Their small branches intertwine providing support for the entire row of peas.

Once the birch branches are in place, Jodi digs a shallow furrow for the peas.

Here she is dropping the peas into the furrow about 1.5” – inches apart and 1”- deep.

The peas came from Johnny’s Select Seeds. www.johnnyseeds.com
Jody planted Oregon Giant snow peas, Case Lode shelling peas, Eclipse shelling peas, and Super Sugar Snap snap peas.

GARLIC UPDATE

You may remember reading my blog last November when Erika showed us all how to plant garlic.  I thought you’d like to see that the garlic is, indeed, growing quite nicely.

Here is the very same Georgian Crystal that was placed in the ground last autumn.

From the looks of things, we’ll have quite a sizable garlic harvest this year!

Comments

[Emily A]

I always love your photos, Martha - they really engage with your subject matter and bring to life your topic du jour. Thanks for the peek at your grounds and gardens!

Emily

[Gillian]

Enjoyed seeing the pictures of how you're using birch branches to support your peas; hope you post more pictures when they're up. I'm also planting my peas (sugar snap) later than I'd hoped, here in the Pacific Northwest.

[Renée Couture]

C'est encourageant de voir ces photos. Cela veut dire qu'un jour, je pourrais faire ces travaux. J'ai ecore 4 pieds de neige sur mon potager et 5 pieds sur mes vivaces. En tout les cas, ils étaient bien protéger par la neige.
Merci Martha.

Renée

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the garden update. Your yard is looking wonderful and ready for new growth with the thatch removed. Like you, I prefer to plant peas around March 15. I like your system of using the birch branches to support the vines. Your garlic is prolific. Mine is growing fast, and I can almost taste it roasted or in dishes.
Kathy

[karie]

What kind of p-touch tape do you use on your garden markers? i just got a bunch and thought about using a sharpie but could use my p touch if it last...
Love all the pictures... wish we could get in the garden in Minnesota, we still have snow on the ground.

[Susie]

Your posts are so interesting and informative, especially with the photos as a guide! Thank you. Please keep us updated on the progress of the garden.

[Karen in MI]

Isn't it nice the snow is gone where you are? Our snow is finally melting yet we still have some big "banks" here in Upper Michigan. The only thing we can plant are seeds in starter pots! Your pictures have me inspired ~ so many "good things"! Also, still lovin' that last photo from yesterday with Ramon and Billy...so sweet! Karen

[Heidi - Botanical PaperWorks]

These images are SO lovely to see. Up here in our part of Canada, the snow is quickly melting and the earth is appearing. I have basil growing on my kitchen windowsill, getting ready to plant outside at the end of May. We have a very short growing season - end of May to end of August, so you have to be primed and ready to go to maximize the gardening output. There I am thinking about it in production terms, but in a way, that's what it's all about. We grow our tomatoes & other veggies to freeze and use through the winter. It's doing our little part to grow and eat locally.

[JBrennan]

Martha:

It's great to see photos of how your grounds crew is working so diligently to maintain the farm. Now certainly is the time to do these chores while the weather is cool.

I really like the look of your pea beds with the birch twigs as support. I think I'll try that with morning glorys this year.

I've learned so many useful and aesthetically pleasing methods of growing vegetables, etc. from you over the years. For example, I tell everyone to lash three 7 foot bamboo poles together to form teepees for growing tomato plants. They not only provide excellent support, but an unexpected architectural element in the vegetable garden. Thanks again for that suggestion from many years ago on MSL.

Please continue posting more photos of the garden's progression. Keep up the good work!

Joseph Brennan

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, OH WOW! I can almost smell the signs of spring from your fantastic photos! I am so anxious to start my spring planting but the weather isn't cooperating quite yet in the Puget Sound area. It's still in the 30's at night. Your plantings of peas certainly bring back memories. My Dad was a fieldman for a seed company that grew peas and beans for seed. Needless to say, we always had fresh peas and spent many hours roguing peas in the fields or shelling the rogued peas. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[ShopLittleGifts]

I love spring, it's definitely my favorite season of the year. It's so interesting to see that the peas need so much support in order to grow. Oh and my garlics are shooting up as well!

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Okay, now I'm ready to get some dirt under my fingernails. I love the pictures of your garden and the beautiful dark rich soil. I have a couple of containers that I grow tomatoes and peppers in and this year we are thinking of adding another container for some cucumbers and summer squash. I am ready for the crazy weather to stablize so I can get busy and put some seedlings in the ground.
Linda Gail

[Maryjo Marcavage]

Why don't you have written recipes on marthastewart. com. I loved the marshmallow cupcake and pop cupcakes but though there would be a place to actually get the recipe and not watch the show again. Am I missing this place on your site?

[gay white]

Martha, in the San Francisco climate zone 14 (Walnut Creek) I planted garlic in October. It's got 12 inch green shoots & will be ready in 2 months. It's the HOTTEST garlic I ever grew. I read this week that somebody brought back some garlic from Italy to plant. Wish I'd thought of that!

[KnitXcorE]

i planted my tom thumb peas last week... I already have tiny sprouts!!!! i'm so excited to see them grow :-)

[hipmomofboyz]

o.k. I am jealous, your garden looks so awesome. That would never work for me, because I am blessed with 2 black thumbs, meaning that I can kill even a fake plant

[Brenda Kula]

My gardens are looking wonderful down here in East Texas also. Tyler (where I live)is actually the rose capitol and we just celebrated our annual Azalea Festival. I have little gardens scattered throughout the yard with brick, gravel and flagstone pathways, and am loving getting out there and decorating for spring. Your site is invigorating.
Brenda

[Sherey]

Lovely photos of Spring chores starting to happen...all this needs to be done to ensure a healthy and beautiful lawn and garden. I think we are all pretty much lagging behind in the planting department this year. Still so chilly here in Vancouver but i hope to start planting early next week.

Thanks for sharing all this good information!

[Kathy :)]

Hello Martha,

Any chance you could tell us again how to plant the garlic, I have always wanted to try ??

Thanks,
Kathy :)

ps Your yard looks lovely.

[joy]

first time reading your blog martha, loved the fact we're doing the same here in michigan..you must admitt, cant do this in florida..wonderful to read, homey and personal..

[Renee Fitzgerald]

Beautiful, clean, organized, efficient... I love it!

[Husmusen]

Oh it looks lovely. Thanks for sharings some spring feelings! In Sweden it's still snowing.