March begins at Shady Maple Farm

As some people are curious who does this blog, I am Lorrie Meier-Sutherland, primary photographer, author of this blog and manager of our family farm. I am lucky to see my relatives and friends on a pretty regular basis out at the farm. My sister, Lisa, along with two of my nieces Angie (with her two cherubs) and Anna (with her three, very soon to be four!) get together weekly beginning at the end of January to plant seeds and discuss activities at the farm. They will be in the photos quite often, me, not so much!

I hope you enjoy viewing our farm through my camera lens. 

Spring daffodils out by the greenhouses.

An onion seed on my great nephew Ethan's hand.

The seeds come up with the new plant and eventually fall off.

Onions start out looking like this, then straighten themselves out. Oh Mother Nature!

We are adding to our herb supply this year. The sage looks happy, like its leaves are reaching up like arms.

These rhubarb seeds will grow and produce for the boxes in the next year or so. 

Anna on the left and Angie on the right planting seeds into 50 cell flats. Angie looks like she can't quite see her little seeds in that packet.

Our task table for the day. That list is of the tomato varieties for this year. (Since then we have added 3 more varieties.)

The girls have been picking daffodils and are now looking at critters.

This bumble bee was trying hard to get OUT of the greenhouse. During the sunny days the end doors are open.

As I was planting seeds this little guy's movement caught my eye. He popped up and then right back down through the hole in the flat. Creeped me out...

A Christmas cactus from a couple years ago is blooming on its own schedule. So pretty.

According to Florencio, this prickly pear fruit is ready to eat.

Our new crop of Italian parsley is up. 

Basil has popped through, seemingly like overnight.

Garlic chives, a new twist on chives for the farm.

Tiny lobelia seeds have grown into lush clumps.

Brussels Sprouts are stretching to the sun.

We do love our colored vegetables. Red and green celery.

Electric Neon Swiss Chard. Another new variety this year.

Snapdragons are up. Tiny seeds that seem like a miracle to grow so tall and pretty by summer.

This basil smells so gooooood.

The two types of kale in this flat are both somewhat curly.

The red celery is starting to show some RED!

On the left is the green, pointy tipped cauliflower variety. On the right is an orange cauliflower. I see colorful dishes ahead.

This flat of spinach didn't germinate very well. :(

The first peppers have popped through. I peeked under the domes and the Jalapenos came up first. I look forward to making lots of Cowboy Candy this summer. It is a sweet and spicy bit of deliciousness to put on a cracker, sandwich, or in your eggs. So good.


See you next time.
Lorrie