Merry Heart Farm

Many transplants have been set out and the plants have been sprayed with seaweed fertilizer. I sprayed extra calcium on the squash and cucumbers and the broccoli and other cole crops. They seem to have had a boost too with the drop in temperature, the broccoli plants are a foot tall, but no heads yet. Many plants are setting fruit due to the cooler weather like the zucchini and tomatoes. We have several green cherry tomatoes on the vine and we may have some next week or the week after.   Our field sown seeds have been germinating much better also, we have set out carrots, beets, and spinach and the tiny leaves are looking GOOD!!! These plants will mostly be available in the early Winter share, but we will still try to have some thinnings and baby types at the end of this season.  There are dill and cilantro, and diakon radishes coming your way also.  The first fennel is almost ready and we will have corn next week and sweet potatoes after that. We set out onion bulbs for yellow and white varieties and as we pull up each bed of beans and peas we will be planting more carrots, beets and spinach. One variety I am real happy with is the new cucumber from Johnny'c called "Harmonie".  These are the best cukes we have ever had and they have a great flavor.  Arugula will be back soon, it's a favorite. There are some nice butternut squash growing and I'll let you know how they turn out. I am not sure about the spaghetti squash, but the plants are growing, just no fruit yet. 

It has been real nice to get to know all of you and your families. Please know that we are thrilled to be able to share this farm with you.  One member's daughter has shared with her class about her farmer and Farmer Jen went to a first grade class in Clermont and brought chickens, a bunny and zipper peas.  Iris and Garett both spoke to the class. I read in a magazine called Edibles about local farming and was excited about all that is going on in our state, but one person stated that, " we need to be realistic", and think of local as the whole state not just in our area.  I agree, that we are not prepared to find all of our produce in Florida within 50 miles, but I disagree that we should be encouraged to settle and not attempt to find and support the local farmers in your area. Each dollar you spend, extra mile you drive and time you spend will create the food system that we want. The money that was spent on the magazine was not spent on producing you food and that is the real tragedy. Funds are being flooded into our land to MARKET and to create MARKETS not to support the producers.  The producers are warned about the hazards and regulated, surveyed and asked to be insured against losing everything. I believe we will lose everything if we don't begin to make small changes when we can, with what we can.  Learn all you can and keep a watchful eye and ear about what you support.  Even the Long and Scott Farm in our area is a better place than a road side stand to spend your dollars because they produce SOME of the food that they sell in their market. I encourage you to shop there for the things that I am not able to grow yet. They are not an organic farm, but they do practice many safe biological practices that I agree with. 

See you all Tuesday

Smiles,

Farmer Jen