Pests

The crabgrass is winning, in the battle of the west squash patch. Jay and Anthony have weeded and weeded and mowed and trimmed, but the crabgrass continues to overtake the veggies. I guess that's what you get for planting in a (former) pasture.

The mosquitoes are insane. On Saturday morning, when Jay got in his truck at 6 a.m. to load for the Market, he literally turned on his windshield wipers to swipe the live mosquitoes off his truck. We haven't sprayed the yard or garden for them, for fear of hurting the bees and other insects we need for germination. The sprays and lotions we use to cover and protect ourselves provide minimal help, and it is just too too hot to wear jeans and long-sleeves. And so, we pick after the mosquitoes quiet down for the day and we quit when they reappear each night, around 9 p.m.

Bindweed is always a battle here, but at least it's an old foe. We know there isn't much to do but pull, pull, pull. When the surround terraces are white with bindweed blooms and the nasty weeds have years head start on us, the best we can do is keep pulling.

And yet, despite these and other pests, it has been an amazing, outstanding Market month. The past week alone far surpassed our expectations. Thank you to all of you who support our Farmers Market or any market. We appreciate it, more than words can express!

Pests