While inside the greenhouse the plants are still chugging along, a little on the dark side but staying warm enough to continue growing. Even the pineapple is getting bigger and the size of the papayas is not to be believed

A lot of snow coming down out here in Strawberry Park at the greenhouse. I will be shoveling the front vents off soon.

Dec. 3, 2010

We have a new addition to our family here at Elkstone Farm, little Henry was born on Nov. 21 to Kim and Mark. I miss having Kim here on a daily basis but I know she is enjoying her time home with the little guy. Soon enough she will be back in the swing of things here at the farm.

The fence around the farm is mostly complete. Sorry, but you hungry elk and deer will have to go around now instead of cutting through and nibbling on our trees. This is a picture of one of the people only gates, this one is behind the CT.

The drywall on the CT unit is moving along, here is a photo of the upstairs loft.

Our orchard is planted! Hooray! We have successfully put in the ground about 200 apple trees, pear trees, gooseberries, currants, and pea shrubs. Now, they have about a month to root in before starting to go dormant for winter. We have had frosts already, including a hard frost last Monday, Labor Day. The bottom photo is looking west over the orchard, as the final 2 guilds are about to be planted.

So, now I'm starting to look forward to our winter greenhouse planting. Having made it through last winter, I am feeling confident and more in tune with what we want to be doing during the dark, cold months. My plan is to take out any tired summer plants in the next few weeks, and get the cold hardy varieties in the raised beds and growing before real winter hits. That, of course, could be in November, with -40 temps, as we experienced last year! But we'll be ready, and hopefully the plants will be too, and we can continue to supply our followers with fresh, local, organic produce. That's not something one sees often in January in Steamboat Springs.

Hello and happy late summer!

It's been a full year now that our beautiful greenhouse has been planted and growing.

Here are a few photos of the greenhouse in full summer growth. We continue to learn a lot as we watch what works and what doesn't. We're also trying new methods of dealing with pest insects; for most of the past year we've used beneficial insects from M & R Durango ( green lacewings, Orius -thrips predators, leafminer predators, etc) which seemed to work pretty well, but we were curious as to our other options, so we stopped with regular releases of these insects and started a new regimen. Mainly, we still need to focus on improving our soil in the raised beds, although it is much better than a year ago as we've added a lot of peat, composted sheep manure, worm castings and worms, and more topsoil. With better soil, the plants become healthier, and can fend off disease and pests better for themselves, rather than treating the problem after it's arrived. Until then, we're currently spraying Neem Oil, which is a natural pest control made from trees and sprayed on our plants. We've also been applying a microbe spray that Jerome recommended and is supposed to help improve the micro organism count in our soil to help the plants uptake nutrients.

We've also finally started to plant our orchard behind the greenhouse. We laid out the guilds on the hillside, and are tackling it one guild at a time. We start with the center fruit tree (apples or pears) and then plant 3 or 4 Siberian Pea Shrubs ( which fix nitrogen- take it out of the air and pull it down into their roots, where it can then be released into the soil) and 2 or 3 berry shrubs ( currants or gooseberries) around the central tree in a circle. We will have plenty of room in each guild to add more shrubs and/or other understory perennials and annuals, but for now we want to get these established.

Our harvests are going well, and our passionfruit are not just beautiful- they're delicious! There is also a photo of an artichoke which we did not pick but let go to flower... surprisingly lovely thistle!

It's been a busy few weeks at the farm, as is expected in spring! Now it's already summer.

What we've been up to is pretty much getting the farm in order for real outdoor farm production: spreading compost and mulch, cover cropping, weeding, raking new beds, planting seeds and plants... and the never ending watering! We also have been keeping the greenhouse in full swing, producing and selling out of there.

In the greenhouse, we have planted out all of our hot season annuals. These include the usuals, like tomatoes( 4 kinds), peppers (3 kinds), eggplants (3 kinds), basil( 4 kinds), cucumbers, something else that I've likely overlooked... as well as seeding more salad greens, and turnips, radishes, kale, parsley, cilantro, and dill. We've started our outdoor annual crops with just squash and brussels sprouts for this year. The squash didn't do so well last summer/ fall inside, so we'll try a drier environment outside. The Brussels sprouts taste better after they've been touched by frost, so we'll give them that, as hopefully it will be much warmer inside this year. As for more outdoor annual crops, we're holding out for next year to really dig in to those. The annual production beds will be around the pond. We continue to work on improving the soil in the raised beds inside, which is easy when we re-do annual beds, but tougher when trying to work around the perennials. We have citrus fruit, passionfruit, and papayas fruiting, a few figs, and artichokes, and I have transplanted the pineapple and guava plants, as they were not performing up to our standards. No free rent here! But I gave them a second chance, in pots with some nice rich soil where I can keep my eyes on them.

As for outdoors, the final grading around the pond was completed last month, and we seeded that area with rye and clover to keep the weeds out until we're ready to plant there. We covered it with straw to deter birds from eating it, to keep any moisture in the soil, and to keep it from blowing or washing away. It has sprouted in most areas; some rain would help. Deano also has raised the water level in the pond by about a foot.

We also just finished seeding the fenceline. This mile long bare swath seems pretty prominent from across the valley, and I'm sure we all as well as the neighbors are very eager to green it up again. Bring on the rain! It's needed. The fence has not yet arrived on site, but rumor has it that it will this week. Let's hope so.

We need that fence to keep out the wildlife. A pair of elk were spotted the other day, but the moose has been elusive for a few weeks. Plenty of deer tracks, though. We are especially eager to keep them out, as we have plants outdoors now. The cutting-flower garden out front is getting established, and some of these perennials are starting to bloom. The perennial herbs that we started from seed (sage, oregano, lavender, lovage, and thyme) have settled into their new home outside the east door. We've also moved most of our 5 gallon containers of shrubs and trees to this front area for ease of watering. This includes the shrubs left over from last year when we planted the agri-forest, as well as the orchard plants that we potted up this spring in the greenhouse. We also have plenty of strawberry plants in ground outside, and some raspberries too. Some of the berries (currants-black, white, and red) and raspberries are fruiting. So, we need this fence! We will not become a salad bar for wildlife.

We are now harvesting twice a week, and delivering our goods directly. This seems to be a great partnership so far.

Here are some pictures of the different passion fruit that are growing on the trellis.

Plans for the outdoor planting at the farm are progressing. We will likely plant the flower garden in front of the greenhouse in May, with a beautiful array of flowering perennials to bring in pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to cut and sell as bouquets. We will also tuck in annual flowers that we can start from seed, like cosmos and sunflowers, and edible flowers, like calendula and pansies.

This a a passionflower vining up a trellis in the greenhouse.

We will next plant the orchard behind, to the north of, the greenhouse. We have received pears, apples, currants, and gooseberries as bare roots, and potted them up in 5 gallon pots to nurture a bit longer in the greenhouse. They all came in looking great, and have mostly started leafing out already.

Under the trees, we will plant fruiting shrubs, and under and around those, we will plant more annual and perennial flowers and perhaps some vegetables, too. This area was cover-cropped with nitrogen-fixing clover, and rye, last year to help keep weeds down as well as increasing fertility.

The future forest garden, surrounding the pond, will be planted either this fall or next spring, with more fruit trees, underplanted with shrubs and perennials. We also will have space for annual vegetable production here, and plenty of berries: raspberries, currants, gooseberries, strawberries, and we may try some blueberries.

Jeannie and I will cover crop this area around the pond as soon as we can to keep out the weeds, especially thistles, and to increase nutrient content in the soil. Deano has been hard at work smoothing this spot out into some semblance of a garden, rather than a construction zone.

Back in the greenhouse, we're moving into the summer vegetables now, with some tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and beans in the raised beds. Other varieties of these warm season annuals remain as seedlings in pots, like the peppers, eggplants, and of course, more basil and tomatoes.

Spring has sprung, full force! Most of the snow is melted from the agri-forest, there were ducks on the pond and Sandhill Cranes in the meadow, and a coyote (a big one!) has been spotted a couple of times on the farm. We have potted up the bare root pears that arrived last week, and the currants and gooseberries will be potted up this week.

We've been harvesting and selling (hooray!) to Sweet Pea. It seems to be a good situation so far. We have plenty coming in: beets, broccoli, peas, arugula, chard, greens, are all about ready, with plenty more nearing readiness.

The first fig on the "Peters Honey" fig in the Med. bed.

Butch is making sure that Deano is doing everything the right way. He makes a good job supervisor.

Sunflower and California poppy blooming

Here you can see the peas are starting to really take off. I did try one and they are so good!

There are more artichokes putting in an appearance. The warm weather and longer days are a relief after the dark days of winter.

Even though Kim is not here to watch over things the crops continue to grow and boy am I relieved. The ladybugs are still at work doing their best to rid the area of aphids. The Mango is putting on new buds and our papaya tree is holding on to the "large" fruit that has set in spite of a couple of cool days with not much sun.
I have been busy doing a lot of harvesting. Arugula, greens, dill, parsley and chard were all harvested this week and sold to Sweet Pea Market. Doing this harvesting does point out the need for a large table and the walk in cooler to keep things fresh until we can deliver them.
I have pulled up the older bed of encore mix and all greens mix to make room for new crops. There were a few aphids on some of the scarlet runner beans and I went after them with a combination of soapy spray and wiping them off then set out the remainder of the lady's to do their thing. I will see this morning if that did the trick.

Peas, broccoli, Chinese kale, beets, and chives transplants are in the ground, as are newly seeded beds of carrots, onions, and plenty of greens: mache, spinach, more arugula, bok choy, more chard, tatsoi, cilantro, sorrel, and lettuce. We're trying some romaine head lettuce too, which is different from our "cut and come again" approach that we've taken so far with greens. I'm using the back, north wall to trellis peas, and will likely do beans back there too. I also have peas growing up the east trellis in the Med bed. I'm really trying to start new beds every week to keep our succession successful. So, right now I have 3 beds of arugula: one that's almost done, one that's almost ready, and one that's still tiny and a few weeks out.

I have been trying to always be starting new seeds. Along with the plants that I just mentioned, we have seedlings of beans, 2 types of basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and more peas in 4 " pots. In our seedling trays, we have tomatoes starting, and cucumbers, peppers, tomatillos, and leeks; we have spilanthes, lavender, chia, cumin, lovage, garlic chives, Tulsi basil and Thai basil newly seeded in the seed trays; and plenty of flowers, too: calendula, sunflowers, and morning glories.

We also have been releasing lady bugs. They are hard at work eating aphids. Our giant dill is starting to flower, which hopefully will make any beneficial insects that we have in here a little happier.

I'm thinking that we will keep the tomatoes, peppers, cukes, and other tender annuals in the greenhouse this summer. I'm planning on using the herbs to fill in inside as well, but hope to incorporate the hardy perennial herbs into the plan for the outside gardens, too: lavender, thyme, oregano, lovage, and chives could all work outside.

The water tanks along the north wall are filled, and heating up. The average water temperature is about 60*. We are investigating pumps, filters, and plants for them to avoid having a lot of briney, dead water come summer. I think we'll wait to try fish in there until perhaps next year. But, I do plan on trying beekeeping this year!

My last post showed the pomegranate budding out. Since then, we're seeing new buds and leaves on many perennials: both figs, the mango and lychee, and the two grapes are all waking up.

Pomegranate with new buds.

Warmer, longer days have helped along our seedlings. We have been planting out our cold season crops, like broccoli, beets, and carrots, into the raised beds, and of course seeding more greens. I've now also started tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lots of herbs, and flowers, too, so as to be ready when spring truly arrives.

We have lowered the soil pH by .6, and the texture is greatly improved. With the warmer days, I've filled the aquaculture tanks, and have seen the temperature of the water rise by about 4* so far.

It's very encouraging and a bit of a relief to see our perennials waking up, and starting to bud out. It looks like we made it! whew... what a year to try out winter farming. Now, the real work begins: getting ready for the true farming season. I'll make sure we have plenty of seedlings ready to go whenever our outdoor beds are ready for planting.

I finally did it: I removed the annuals that we planted in August. We all wondered how well they would do and how long they would last into winter. Turns out, I will not be planting hot season annuals at the end of summer again! While we did finally see plenty of ripe and delicious tomatoes, it simply took too long. The plants were stressed, which invited disease. My last post featured some questions about timing; I have decided that what we need to do is focus on growing crops that can take the cold during the cold season, rather than fighting it and then worrying about it when the inevitable comes. Go with the flow: that's a permaculture anthem, right?

Now what we'll research is when to seed the winter crops, and when to start the summer crops, and of course the fall and spring crops of fast growing salad mixes. I'm finding out just how slow seeds are to germinate in the short days of winter. The possibility of using a grow light has been raised. This is a viable option, but seems to go against some of our goals. I'm hoping to get the timing down so we have continuous crops; it just may mean seeding our winter crop in August or September, so the plants are big by the time the depths of winter roll in.

Currently, we have seedlings of broccoli, peas, kale, and beets, as well as basil, sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and chives. The cool season annuals will likely be our winter staples, along with plenty of salad greens. The herbs are perennials except for basil, so we can plant them outside and inside, except rosemary which won't take the cold outside.

I direct seeded mini onions, spinach, a lettuce mix, cilantro, mache, and more arugula this week, after spending some quality time with our pile of composted sheep manure. It's more of an igloo of manure now, as the outer foot or so of the pile did not thaw, and so I had to dig into the inner depths to find some that I could bring in. With this addition as well as the topsoil that Deano stockpiled out the west door, the soil in the raised beds seems to be improving. Texture and color are both progressing away from "construction soil" and towards "garden soil".

I am being conscious of rotating our crops, as we did seem to have a small problem with disease. I think rotation and proper watering will be crucial. This will need to be carefully monitored once we turn the irrigation back on.

Our spring seeds are arriving, so I'm trying to hurry up the winter crops. They don't listen well, though. A little sun would help! Luckily we have heat mats and floating cloth covers. We need to get them planted up, out of the 4" pots and into the beds, so we have room to germinate the new seeds on the shelves.

Unfortunately, the other two dwarf bananas are showing signs of cold damage. I cut them back, as I did the other dwarf. I'm hopeful that the banana growth cycle will prove resilient; they are rhizomes, with about an 8 month growth cycle. I think new shoots may appear soon, as it warms up. Growing all summer should give them the time they need to complete cycles. We'll see. Oddly, the large banana seems to be doing just fine, as do our other exotic perennials.

All in all, we've been pretty busy these past weeks. We are really trying to gear up for a busy summer, making sure everything's in place and ready to roll when spring returns. Hopefully, I'll be getting dirty and we'll be selling produce every week.

Beautiful and tasty edible flowers!
This was part of our very first sale, to Giovanni's, for their special New Year's Eve dinner.

The new year finds us here at Elkstone already thinking ahead to the warm and productive months of spring. We have been watching our cool season annuals grow bigger, planting them up into 4" pots, hopefully to be planted into the raised beds of the greenhouse in a few weeks. Meanwhile, we're picking the seeds for our next crop. Most of these we will start indoors, to be transplanted to the raised beds, as well as to some new gardens outside, hopefully. We also will likely be direct- sowing outdoors.

Timing in the greenhouse is emerging as an issue which we are all unfamiliar with. We are learning how long different crops produce in here and what can take the cool temps we've seen; but when to remove them to make room for the next is a question that needs to be examined.

Also, some of the perennials are showing signs of damage from the cold. I don't believe it's a cause for great alarm, but it is an issue that I'll keep in mind the next time -20 weather rolls in. We've discussed measures to help combat the chill, including covering with cloth, and even heat lamps. I will definitely be ordering some large sheets of crop cover to use in here when the next sub-zero blast blows down.

Our deciduous trees (pomegranate, figs, papayas, jujube, mango, guava, lychee) have gone into dormancy, which is good, though it was a bit alarming when leaves started to drop. One of our four bananas I had to cut back; this should be OK as bananas grow from a rhizome, which is presumably surviving well in our warm soil. I hope to see a new shoot emerging in a few weeks.

I am seeing evidence of a fungal wilt, which I have been addressing by minimizing watering; warmer temperatures should help eliminate this as well. I believe that this is a common greenhouse problem that we will see again, but I'm a worrier, and so have been drying the soil, amending it as I can, removing unhealthy plants and throwing the greenery in the trash rather than compost, and adding gypsum. The gypsum will also help improve drainage, lower the pH and equalize some of the nutrients and minerals which we have in abundance (phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, iron, copper, and boron). I think we're lucky to have such rich soil, but in some cases, it may be too rich for some plants or seedlings.

After the last release of beneficial insects, I have not seen many pest insects.

We are in the process of choosing and ordering seeds for the spring/summer crop. I'm curious to see how this next chapter in farm life unfolds!