Hazy, hot and dry

The summer weather has arrived. The first cutting of hay was mown on Sunday. The dry spell in April has left the hay crop shorter than usual. The grasses and legumes are at the optimal maturity for the best nutrition for the cows. The garden crops are looking for more water. We are irrigating 24 hours a day. The peas are getting trellised, the carrots, lettuce, onions and greens have been hoed.

Slow start to growing season

The spring first was hot and dry, followed by three very cold nights in a row. The recent rain has bulked up the grass for the cows. They are out on pasture day and night, coming in only for milking. Justin spread 40 tons of finished compost on the pasture the cows just grazed. This will give the pasture a good nutrient boost before the heifers graze there this summer. Stephen and the horses spread compost on the garden this morning. Carin worked all morning hoeing baby chard and kale. The pressure tank for the farm well rusted out yesterday morning. Kerry bought a new tank and the system is now up and running.

Cows out on pasture for the season

The cows were turned out to pasture on Sunday before noon. All was going well until the younger animals made a wrong turn and went out into an unfenced pasture. With some help the herd followed their leader back into the right field. We had 28 degrees this morning on the farm. All the plants survived the cold night. Peas, chard, scallions, greens, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, bok choi, cabbage, zucchini and kale is growing in the fields and high tunnels