All of early April, we were eager to get on the fields to prep for peas, kale, collards and cabbages.  We were eager to see the initially slow growth of fall-sown cover crops, sodden brown clumps uncovered in the snowmelt, suddenly become lush, revitalized by a surge in day length and warmth. We were eager for those not-quite-seasonal-but-to-be-expected days where we find ourselves in short sleeves, startled by our own paleness.  But winter really did not want to let go this year.  Even when the snow finally did melt, we had chilly days and cold nights.  Instead, we wore thermals through April, winter hats at the ready, stifled under layers that we shed throughout the greenhouses, only to be shocked that it really is cold out crossing back through their thresholds without those strewn-about jackets.  The cover crop grew back slower than ever, spottier than we expected with a fair amount of rye returning, but much less of the purple hairy vetch that we rely on for early nitrogen.  When we decided that the soil was finally close enough to being dry enough to get the tractors on, we seeded those peas and planted those collards, kale and cabbages.  We slept a little better those nights, finally having broken ground.  But we knew it was a bit of an illusion, a trick we were playing on ourselves.  The soil was cold, too cold for the plants to take up much nutrients and do anything aside from wait it out. So although we started to get ourselves slightly back on planting schedule after being delayed a good two weeks from the start, nothing did much growing throughout April and early May. 

But it did finally warm up.  And dry out.  Out of nowhere, it was July dry and hot.  This May turned out to be one of the warmest and driest Mays we've seen in years.  We shifted gears and got out the irrigation in all its many forms-the awesome new Water Reel (essentially a giant sprinkler that slowly reels itself in); small rainbow sprinklers in our short fields; our new micro-sprinklers at the Lyman estate; drip tape at Gateways; we even got out our old aluminum irrigation pipes that the Water Reel replaced.  It was a small glimpse of what July and August could look like and frankly we were a little caught off guard by it.  We did lose some of our tender lettuce, kale and bok choy transplants to the heat wave and our direct seeded radishes, turnips and parsnips have been set back by the dry spell.  But I feel downright grateful to have reliable irrigation at all our fields, where our biggest challenge is being able to stay on top of moving those incredibly useful systems around. 

This week, we shift gears again, this time into harvest mode.  From now on, mornings will be spent picking, washing, packing and storing.  Already, our big fall brassica planting of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, Brussels sprouts, kale and collards are seeded in the greenhouse; heat loving tomatoes, peppers and eggplants have been potted up, transplanted out; all the spring milestones have come and gone, in a spring that didn't ever quite feel like it happened.  But here we are, ready to step into the summer, ready for the early greens on our plates and in our bellies, anticipating the bounty of a New England farm.  Not dissimilar from last year, the share is starting out a bit small this first week.  You'll see a selection of bunched greens, gorgeous lettuces, tender spinach and bright rhubarb on the stand, to get us going.  But with all that great sunshine and the drenching rain we finally got at the beginning of the month we've got our eye on what's to come- peas, scallions, beets, radishes, and turnips are all just a few days away from being delicious and ready for your plates. 

Enjoy the harvest!

-Erinn, for the farm staff