Gaaarrlic!

There was a time when news of our garlic harvest was broadcast with a drumrolland elicited applause.A sign of the times, perhaps, this year’s harvest – while still important – was sandwiched between pressing field work and more pressing still seedling transplanting. Not to worry, though: our garlic was indeed harvested over the weekend and…

Busy July

This week’s newsletter went out on Tuesday instead of Monday.A slight, but non-trivial, delay that can be explained by both a heavy first weekend at the markets and a forecast of imminent (and abundant) rainfall.  First, we were reacquainted with the markets and our farm stands this weekend.The weather was beautiful, and the crowds surprisingly relaxed, a…

Summertime!

Following a few false starts, summer has finally arrived –its presence was timid at first, but has become brash and unapologetic over the past weekend. It was about time : solanaceas and cucurbits are not philosolic for philosolia’s sake. Indeed there exists a long list of vegetables that need a double dose of heat – tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and…

Groundwork

This week is a seasonal tipping point where we have to work twice as hardto ensure completion of the most important structuring activities before our market farm stands open July 1st. While the term structuring may sound a bit pretentious, they really are fundamental to the long-term success of our seasonal production. These include completing the setting-up of our…

The Why of Rye

From the long list of tasks performed over the past week,I would like to highlight the mowing of two fields of rye.Rye is my go-to last-recourse cover crop, i.e. what I use when nothing else can/will do. The toughest of the tough, rye keeps on growing when all other green manures stop. That’s why I…

Stormy Weather

Another week, another mega storm.We may sow vegetables, but it seemed like we were reaping the wrath of the gods on Tuesday. No major losses, but when we heard the metallic sound of hail on the tin roof of our warehouse, it immediately brought to mind a similar storm at the end of May, the…

April Showers

It’s mid-April already, and we’re dealing with the fall-out of a wet spring. Soaked fields, muddy roads and overcast skies. It seems that’s what it is for now, we’re still searching for a certain Justin’s ’sunnier ways’…Not that all this matters much, as our season prep continues, and the arrival of the first members of…

Firing Up

Just as Spring was springing, I opened our seedling greenhouse. It is always with the same excitement, the same sequence of events, that I reconnect the pump of our artesian well, fire up the furnaces, and check that everything is in working order…It is only once the water is running and the heat is flowing…

Season Launch

Even as Environment Canada is in winter storm warning mode for the umpteenth time in this middle of February, we think it is high time to shake the snow off our boots and launch our 2022 season! We are pleased to announce we are ready to take your registrations for our CSA baskets via this…

Farm Cleaning Time

It’s (farm) cleaning time.We’ve been talking about it for weeks now, but the dithering has to end, it’s time to get down to brass tacks…As our honeymoon with the vestiges of summer comes to an end, we run the risk of getting stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place – namely, diluvial fall…