Barbra Flores

Wow today was sure windy.  It seemed anything that wasn't tied down blew everywhere.  The wind is especially bad for flowers as it dries them out so bad.  We have a hard time keeping them watered even with two people watering from sun up to sun down.  That gives you an idea of how many flowers we have.  Well another windy for tomorrow.  We had gusts up to 40 mph today and they're forcasting the same for tomorrow. 

So many things to do and not enough time.  Since it rained over two inches last week we postponed the open house until this weekend.  Now I've got to get busy and get everything set up.  Well see if things stay put in the wind.

Well off to bed.

Andrea

Well since we've gotten all this rain we've decided to postpone the Open House until next weekend.  We'll have mud slides everywhere which I'm sure the kids would enjoy, but the parents not so much. 

The rain is good for everything we've gotten planted.  The cabbage love the rain and it should help the spinach and peas get off to a good start. 

The rain also saves us from watering all the plants that are outside, now if we could just figure out a way to get the rain to penatrate the plastic (no hail wanted), but still keep the heat inside we'd have a new item to market!

Andrea

Well it has been busy here.  With this warm weather we've moving many flowers outside since it gets to hot in the greenhouse for them.  we've finished planting cabbage and another round of spinach.  the peas have been replanted.  Our peppers are almost all transplanted into 6 packs and our last shipment of baby flowers arrived today.  We'll be busy for days planting those.  Also I got to get everything ready for the open house this weekend.  Petting zoo to set up and all the kids activities have to be gotten ready.

I've included a map below so you can find us.  And a picture of some of our begonias.

Our peas were planted last week and starting to come up.  My father was discing today and disced them all up without even realizing they were there.  So much for an early pea crop.  Gonna replant tomorrow and see if these make it.

We had two new additions yesterday.  Baby goats.  Their mother doesn't have much milk so we are bottle feeding them to supplement.  The other 5 baby goats we have are being weaned and are starting to eat grass and hay.  They are so cute whenever you lean up against their pen they nibble on your fingers and clothes. 

Tomorrow we begin getting ready for the open house.  So many things to set up, but first the layout must be decided.  Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have a wonderful dream about it and by the morning I'll know exactly how to set it up.

Well off to bed so I can start dreaming.

Andrea

Well opening weekend went well.  We managed to avoid a frost which is good.  My feet want to fall off, but I'm sure by morning they'll be managable and able to start the week off. 

We've got a big one ahead of us.  We're having our Open House this coming weekend, April 24-25 and I have to get ready.  Need to set up the petting zoo and many more kids activities.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and it will be sunny all week and weekend. 

Well off to bed my feet and voice need a rest.

Andrea

Today was my first of many full days on the farm.  Well let me explain.  I'm a CPA and from January to April 15th I do taxes as a day job.  That means each evening when I'm finished doing taxes I head to the farm and spend hours there getting stuff done.  Thank goodness for my mother, Barbra, who's there to run the show before I get off work.  She does a wonderful job getting our plants started and and the farm off the ground each year.  Now my time is here and I can help her with most of it.  Saturdays are still hard as we are spread thin.  We go to different farmers' markets.  I go to the City Market in Kansas City, my father goes to Topeka and mom stays at the farm in Manhattan as well as getting the Flint Hills Farmers' Market up and going each week.  By the end of each Saturday most of us have trouble walking.  I know for me tomorrow will sure be that way as my feet are sore just from today. 

What we did today?  We did alot of spring cleaning.  Filled in the mud holes from the rain last night.  Got everything loaded for markets tomorrow.  Planted more of our mixed pots, watered and then watered some more.  Stuff left todo:  Too much to list or even think about....

Here's a few more pictures of some of our flowers.  One is of our pansies.  They are pretty and frost proof.  The other is some of our geraniums which as you can see fills the greenhouse.  That means we have over 3000 square feet of just geraniums.  Wow....  Enjoy the pictures and feel free to come enjoy them in person as the picture does not do them justice.

Well off to bed.  2am comes quickly and this is when I have to get up so I can make it to market and get set up before customers get there.

Andrea

Barbra's Farm is having thier opening weekend this weekend.  April 17th and April 18th.  Come out and check out our flowers and veggie plants.  It's really a wonderful time to come and see everything.  We have greenhouses full of stuff and it's even overflowing outside. 

Need some ideas of what to plant?  Feel free to come out and just look around.  It can be a very relaxing experience.

Not sure where we're at?  Turn south on 5th street from Fort Riley Blvd in Manhattan.  Go 2 blocks and turn left on Pottowattomie.  Turn right on Temple Lane and follow it until the end, about 1/2 a mile.  You can't miss us.  It's less than 5 minutes from the mall.

Barbra's Farm is having an open house the following weekend on April 24th and 25th.  We'll have a petting zoo and lots of activities for kids.  Anyone is welcome.  Come enjoy the day.  Admission is free.  Here are a few new additions that we'll be showing off at the open house.

I've also included a little map showing where we are.  If you need any help please feel free to call.  We're located at the flower which is at the end of Temple Lane.

Looking forward to seeing you,
Andrea
785-341-7794

I have finally figured out how to upload a picture.  My camera takes pictures that are to large, but I was able to get this one small enough.  It's a picture of our flowers from last year.  This was one of our petenuia tables. 

We've been busy today getting more stuff transplanted.  The major project today was geraniumns into 4 inch pots.  We've had a fair amount of people coming out and getting stuff.  I've had several people interested in the CSA come down to take a look.  WE are open to the public, but please keep in mind not all our tables our set up so there may be a little more walking than normal.  People enjoy walking through the greenhouses so much this time of year and seeing flowers beginning the growth cycle.

Well back out into the wind and more transplanting.

Andrea

It sure is getting cold here.  It's hard to believe that a few days ago we cranked the AC and now the heat is back on.  Only in Kansas.... We've been busy today putting most of the plants we had outside back in the greenhouse for the night.  The weather man forecasted 33, but I think mid 20's is more likely.

It cleared off here late this afternoon and the sun started shining after a cloudy and rainy day.  By clearing off it will get colder tonight.  Most people don't know that a cloudy night is warmer than a clear night with the same circumstances.  The clouds actually hold the heat under them thereby making it warmer at ground level.  Also another tidbit of information.  Wind is better than no wind.  When it breezy the plants can actually take a colder temperature before they get damaged.  It's quite amazing because you and I would prefer no breeze on a cool evening.  Rain also helps plants survive a freeze.  When we plant crops in the field and they are forecasting a frost/freeze, one thing we do is to set up our irrigation and water them for the coldest part of the night.  The coldest part is usually right before dawn unless warm weather is moving in.  I've seen many mornings that when I leave for market at 3am it's nice outside, but my the time the rest of the farm wakes up around 6am there is frost on the vehicles.  Weather is truely a unique thing.

Well I'm keeping my fingers crossed for warmer night than I think we'll have.  Only morning will tell.

Andrea

The weather has been wonderful this week.  We were able to finish planting the corn and the first planting of corn.  Peas are on the list for today and onions will be tomorrow. 

We'll plant corn about every two weeks to make sure we have plenty ready all summer long.  Corn is a vegetable that does not have a long time to pick.  The harvest window for corn on each field is about two weeks.  After that it becomes to mature (hard) and most people don't like it.  By planting every two weeks we have new fields maturing all the time. 

Well off plant the peas.

The weather has been great this week.  We've gotten a lot done.  The field has been tilled and is ready for sweet corn seed to be planted.

  The potato cutter machine is out and ready to cut.  This is used to cut our seed potatoes into pieces which are then planted into the ground.  Most people just cut by hand when they plant thier garden, but could you imagine us cutting 6000 pounds of potatoes by hand....  I think my hands would fall off....

We've moved more flowers outside and cleanup is about to begin.  I'm busy coming up with ideas for our Spring Open House.  I'm planning on the weekend of April 24th.  I think we'll have a petting zoo for kids of all ages, a corn pit, bouncy house, and other kids activities.  One CSA member suggested letting kids plant a flower in an old shoe.  Now if I can get enough shoes....  If you can think of anything you'd like to see please send me a note at barbrasfarm@hotmail.com or leave a comment.

The flowers are doing good and we've even had a few early birds come down and get some.  I can't wait for the season to start and everyone starts coming out.

Well back to work.

For anyone looking at the CSA I've listed them with a 10% discount for anyone who purchases before March 31. 

Our CSA is a great value and the quarter share is just over $10 a week.  This has enough vegetables to feed a family of two easily.  The amount of produce you get each week is well over $10 compared to the prices you pay at the grocery store and to make it even better everything is freshed picked and you know where it's coming from.  You also help support your local farmer and keep the money in your local area.

Another great thing about our CSA is we do a fill your basket process.  This way you can fill your basket with what  you want and you can get as much as you woant.  This way you don't have to worry about getting things you don't need or don't know how to cook.  We also give you large items such as watermelon and cantaloupe on the side of your basket.  This allows you to fill your basket and get these items also.  What a deal!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. 

Thank you for looking.

Andrea

Well the skies are glooming today and the rain has started.  Yesterday was a beautiful day and it started to dry out.  Hopefully it won't rain much today.

Our dilema now....  Our greenhouses are full and the new one isn't ready yet.  Do we begin putting stuff outside and hope that our greenhouse gets finished before we get a cold snap?  I really need to get started planting mixed pots and those need a heated greenhouse since some of the plants in those can't take a frost.  It's just over six weeks until Mother's Day and that's about how long they take to get ready.   I'll let you know what we decide.

Well off to do my morning inspection.

Well it's been raining all day so needless to say we didn't get anything done in the fields.  We'll be lucky if we can get in by the weekend.  It's supposed to be nice tomorrow with more rain on the way.  We have sandy loam soil so it does dry out faster, but sometimes not fast enough.

The area for the greenhouse has been cleared and gotten ready.  As soon as it's dry enough we'll be able to begin digging holes for the frame. 

With all this warm weather the spring plants are starting to come out from thier winter sleep.  It seems like their is one day each Spring that I finally notice the green grass.  Somehow it seems to appear overnight.  Hopefully we don't get a late freeze and set everything back.  In this area we can have a frost into May so it's a possiblity. 

That's all for now.

Well the snow has all melted and we're trying to get in the field.  It's time to start planting.  We need to disc and plow the fields before planting can begin.  Hopefully we'll get corn in the ground this week and potatoes and onions are soon to follow. 

We've been busy this week getting the area ready for our new greenhouse.  Lumber was picked up yesterday and we've priced out concrete. 

I wanted to let everyone know that we still have some CSA shares available.  We have many new members this year and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.  We do work with military so if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  If you're afraid you'll get stationed somewhere else during the year or if a spouse is deploying and you need to adjust your share size this can be done.  WE try and work with everyone and keep everyone satisfied.

I wanted to let everyone know the pansies made it just fine.  The snow helped protect them like a magic blanket.  Hopefully we're done with cold weather......