Spring Forward and GROW With US

You just never know. Sometimes it feels like spring is here, and then the  next day, you need a jacket before you go outside.

Nature is unpredictable. Farming is, too. It is part of the attraction and concern that farmers have each year. Will it rain enough?  Will it rain too much? Will this be another record setting summer of high temperatures? Will the blueberries bloom this year or just blossom and fade away?

This year, we are farming in the historic community of  Ashton, Maryland, near Sandy Spring, Md, the location of the Underground Railroad in  Montgomery County, Md. The land has not been farmed for over 25 years, but has had lots of organic inputs from the goats and sheep that pastured on the land during this time . We did a test run last year, late in the summer season and grew some jute leaf, hibiscus, amaranth, butternut squash, cucumbers, squash,  and herbs.

Over the fall, we added lots of organic material to the soil to ready it for the growing season. Adding organic material to the soil helps with soil drainage,  and water absorption. So this year, we are excited to go all in and grow a variety of crops- tomatoes, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, bok choy, cabbage, green beans, bell peppers, hot peppers, corn, cantaloupe, melons,butternut squash, cucumbers, squash, amaranth, jute leaf, gboma, watercress, strawberries, broccoli and cauliflower. 

And herbs, let's not forget the herbs to add flavor to all of those vegetables. So, this year, expect some cilantro, thyme, rosemary, parsley, Cuban oregano,  and basil in your CSA shares.