Road trip

    We got a lot accomplished Memorial Day weekend, we even got to take a road trip.  We have pretty much planted all rows down in the field at my parents. I need to order more seeds because I have no more zinnias or sunflowers. I’m trying China Asters this year despite all the bad things I keep reading about leaf hoppers and yellow aster disease.  The ornamental and broom corn is looking good, just today Mark under sowed the corn with buckwheat. The pumpkin seedlings have finally made their much anticipated debut. I’m super excited about growing pink pumpkins (yes pink!) and white pumpkins this year. I think the pink pumpkins will be a big hit at the market.  I’ve had mixed success with pumpkins in the past so I’m going baby these guys.
    Using the field at my parents only really became possible with the slightly unexpected purchase of the tractor and tiller. I don’t feel like I have had a chance to plan as I would’ve liked with this new space. The larger space has brought about some challenges. The first being water. Lugging a 100 foot hose around isn’t the ideal water situation, even if the kids want to help. We have been brainstorming about how to instal drip irrigation and get water to the flowers more effectively. Another work in progress is the soil itself..  The quality of the soil varies within each individual bed. We have clay soil with shale and richer darker dirt closer to where the old outhouse use to be.  I grow using organic principals so we are enriching the soil naturally with green manure and cover cropping. While not a quick fix it’s a great way to build up your soil.
    On Memorial Day we headed into the mountains of West Virginia to the scenic railroad in Cass. Cass was a logging town and the trains were built specifically for bringing logs down from the top of rugged mountains. I’m a native to West Virginia and I have a sweet spot for those hills. It was like stepping back in time riding the train up the mountain. The view was amazing from the top.  The kids all had a blast. They even had the patience to sit thru the short education film about the town’s history. We ate at the country store and all the kids got to pick something out from the gift shop. They are all different and it was interesting to see what each one picked out.  It was a fun day and a much needed get away.

Porcelain Doll pumpkin

verbena bonariensis

Gabe helps out with the watering

All the kiddos

walking the tracks

Don't let the sweet smiles fool you!