One thing I have learned over the years is that farming is a marathon, not a sprint. Early on, my tendency was to always be looking forward to the completion of the next thing-- when the seeds are started, when the fields are planted, when it's time to harvest, always striving for some future point in time where I would feel like I've accomplished something and I can finally breathe easy or take a break.
Well, in reality there is no beginning or end, just a cyclical continuation of time where the same activities come and go from year to year, each time an opportunity to take a new approach and build off of the last time that thing came around. I start almost all of my seeds using soil blocks instead of the typical plastic cells. The first thing I bought when I got to the farm was a soil block maker-- a hand held tool that I use to stamp out cubes of soil with an indent in the top where you place the seed. There is no plastic separation between the blocks-- just a small gap with some air flow that prevents the roots from getting bound up. The soil blocks make for happy and healthy plant starts that don't need to be popped out of a tray at planting time. When my bulk order of potting mix finally arrived, I couldn't wait to get soil blocking. The soil block maker is like an old friend that you maybe don't see for months or years at a time, but when you do finally get together again it's like no time has passed. This trusty tool feels like a best friend this time of year. Usually with Dexter supervising, I will make 10 or so trays of soil blocks at a time, starting whichever herb, flower, and vegetable seeds are next in the queue. This spring, everything is off to a slow start. Normally I would have lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, peas and other crops planted outside right now, but that just isn't the case this season. I am feeling pretty ok with that. In mother nature, nothing is rushed yet everything is accomplished. Each day provides an opportunity to check in with the cozy annuals in the greenhouse and the resilient perennials slowly coming to life outside, and to listen and observe. We already have had some nice spring rains, and I am feeling optimistic to see some of the soil health practices I have put in place over the last few years starting to pay off. The fields should be forgiving when it comes time to plant, but until then I will take my cues from the universe to ease into this growing season with optimism and gratitude for a gradual start. -Sarah
1 Comment
Becky
4/25/2022 04:07:34 pm
This was wonderful to read.
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Farmer Sarah
Musings from the Farm Archives
January 2024
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