It has been a long winter.......

With school kicking into high gear, 2 new sets of standards for 5 grades, 2 brand new curriculum series for 2 subjects at 5 grade levels, posting to my website has been a challenge and honestly haven't had time. If I did have time, I usually filled it with something else that had to be done! Well this is what we have been doing this winter. Due to school and a very late spring, everything got pushed back last fall and we didn't get crops in the ground as soon as I would have liked. Therefore I paid the price. I don't have as much produce this winter. That was a double edged sword. Less produce meant, I was unable to do our online market, less winter income. However, I am thankful that we don't have much produce available because we have had a little more family time and I haven't had to run myself ragged to get everything done. Also with the winter we have had so far, I probably would have been more upset with loosing crops. So in the end it all worked out! We have had enough produce to supply the winter market we attend in Manhattan. We got enough planted to make a nice big display and I feel as if I am the largest locally grown produce vendor in the winter there. If I had all 6 high tunnels in production right now, I know I would say I was. Well I try to take a picture at each market before anyone shows up to buy. Sometimes they are good, sometimes I am an in a big hurry! Here is what our winter market offering have looked like this winter. November 2nd November 23rd December 7th December 21st The day following this market, I got sick and eventually was diagnosed with walking pneumonia, needless to say it was a very uneventful Christmas break! January 4th February 7th We still have 3 more winter markets. I am hoping to plant a few things to try and attend the last two. We will be out of town for the next market in February. Winter markets have been very good for us, it is just a challenge to get everything harvested and processed when there is snow on the ground or freezing temps. It is a challenge that I am use to. I just wish I was able to afford to build a nice indoor packing facility!

It has been a long winter.......

Recovering from losing my first plastic...

First of all, if you ever need supplies for your garden or seeds, check out Morgan County Seeds in Missouri. They have wonderful prices, and best of all they understand people when they are in need and do their best to help you out.

On Thursday, February 24th, Linda called and said she had bad news. The building is still there, but the plastic is a total loss. On that day, the wind was blowing a steady 35-40 all day. We are use to that wind, the buildings have taken much worse, but today wasn't going to happen. I am not sure the order of events that let to the failure of the plastic, but it happened. Every time I do a presentation, I am ask if I have lost a building or plastic and I always say "No, not yet!" I knew my day was coming. It comes for everyone at some time. So today was my turn. Either the plastic ripped to the seam and then just split down the side or the ropes broke and then the plastic split at the seam. Either way, it was toast.

On Thursday night, I ordered the plastic and made a request to rush it out the door for shipment on Friday, if possible. I was hoping to get it by mid to late the following week. To my surprise, it was sitting at home on Monday the 27th! Wasting no time, the girls and I decided to risk the light breeze and try to put it on that evening. Since this is about the 11th or 12th time I have put on plastic on a building, I am starting to feel confident in my ability and tonight was very easy.

I have learned what you need to do, where you need to attach it, what you need to worry about. It took us less than an hour to put the plastic on, secure it on all four sides and then go in for supper. I came back out later to finish up stretching it as tight as possible and adding the side strings. All in all,it took about 2 hours to do with 4 kids under the age of 10 and one adult. They listened well and it helps this isn't their first "Plastic Rodeo" either. They knew the drill, they knew they had to hurry and they don't ask questions. Just do as you are told and everyone will be happy!

The before and after shots.

BEFORE


AFTER ( sorry it was taken at night)


We were lucky that the weather wasn't too cold as we have carrots just starting to germinate. We have tried to keep them under row cover, I think it has worked because I was seeing a lot of green under there tonight.

I hope I don't have to do that again anytime soon!

Recovering from losing my first plastic...