A Veiw from the Seat

On the 17th after a few days without real precip, we got started. We filled all the fallow ground we had at the farm with potatoes, early peas, lettuce transplants, cilantro, carrots and beets then a planting of what we refer to as Asian misc; arugala, tatsoi, hon tsai tai, radishes, and boc choy. We finished under tractor light expecting rain the next day, we were not disappointed. We got almost an inch two days later. Here, the crew has finished planting potatoes and they are walking back as the tractor prepares to cover the spuds with a set of furrowers.


Then we set in plowing and disking and in short order covered the rest of the ground here at the "home place". We have about nine acres cultivated at the house. We have three other locations leased. We will cultivate a total of about 45 acres this year.




On the 20th we started planting the Kahout Rd. This field totals about 12 acres and is a beautiful secluded site which is ,for better or worse, loaded with wildlife; elk, deer, the occasional bear, and myriad raptors and other birds.
This picture was taken early Monday morning. I am showing off our list of transplants to go in. We set 11,000 plants that day; mostly broccoli, cabbage and kale.

Here is the view from the seat of the transplant tractor. Looking between Liana and Jesus you can see Heidi back there "kicking"; making sure the plants are going in at the proper depth and setting well. To the left is Patrick "Home Sweet" Homa staying ahead of the crew on the tiller. We kept him busy that day.

This is what I am focused on all day. I strive for the straightest rows possible and follow my tire tracks five feet across at a time as we make our way over the acreage, moving at between 2 and .5 miles per hour. Things get a little boring in the seat on days like this, but the finished product is nothing short of miraculous.

When the smoke cleared at about 5pm on the afternoon of the 21st we had finished with the most critical transplant and had set out over 30,000 plants. Patrick and I went back this morning and seeded some early snap beans, and as I write this he is out finishing transplanting artichokes with Liana. Jesus and Francisco are in the greenhouse potting up lettuce and tomatoes. Tomorrow we will start plowing again and the cycle will repeat itself until mid September.

As my friend Nil says: "It's a great life, if you don't weaken."