Moonstruck Farms

After a long awaited wait the new greenhouse is producing bountifully and I am still not done rebuilding rows and planting!!  Tomorrow we will be bringing French Breakfast Radishes, gorgeous long scallions, Moonstruck Salad Mix, Leaf Lettuce mix (for those who just want lettuce in for their salad or for their sandwiches), Mustard Mix, Braising Greens (combination of collards, Beeden Kale, Winterbor Kale, various mustards, beet greens), Mizuna Mustard (green and purple), cilantro, parsley, chives, dill, bok choy, sprouting broccoli and spicy mustard greens!!

As I was weeding the spinach I noticed I had left a little too much space between the lines of scallions and groupings of spinach....perfect...I had a tray of Savoy cabbage that needed to go in.  Today  was a challenge planting because I had a new intern on board...a very young intern...Molly joined us yesterday.  She is half Border Collie and Catahoula, both superior working dogs.  She has joined us to be by my side during the day herding goats and sheep eventually, learning to be by my side without walking through the lettuce and providing a variety of other joys hopefully...though right now she is adding a few challenges, but in truth she is fantastic already. She has it in her genes to be a great dog, and she was groomed for me by a very dear friend since she was just a few weeks old.  Look for her at market tomorrow...she will be the little 9 week old Merle colored puppy right at my feet :) as she has been for the last 36 hours.

The last few days are a total blur...started Wednesday with a little planting, some bok choy, tatsoi, more spinach and of course a sprinkling of radishes and green onions.  A market gardener plants in a completely different pattern than most conventional farmers.  With the use of high tunnels or greenhouses we maximize each square foot in order to provide a variety of produce to our markets.  We repeat plantings on a continuous basis especially of the "cut and come again" crops...some of which can only be cut three or four times before needing replanting.  Of course at the same time we are practicing crop rotation to keep our soil healthy and reamending with compost and other natural amendments on a regular basis.  Of course for a beginner like me it is a constant learning experience.  The new tunnel due to its larger amount of ground space is wonderfully humid, coupling this with the night time temps hitting 40 the spinach, lettuce and arugula are taking off like crazy!!  What a pleasure to see everything ready to cut at 30 days!! We would even have spinach if the critters had not enjoyed every bite, but the new plantings are taking off like wild fire!! I have so much more area to plant still too!!  The old greenhouse is being slowly taken out of production and reamended to give it a fresh new start.  Green beans are continuing to do well and I can't wait to plant more.  Snow peas are going in this weekend, but with some "armor" around them.  The last two batches are still getting eaten...email me at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net if you have any ideas on how to secure these delicate yummy plants until they are of reasonable size...then they are not so yummy!! Red torpedo onions arrived Thursday and are going in this weekend too....can't wait to couple these with my spinach...a little spinach, a sprinkle of my fresh bacon I just picked up from the butcher today, the Torpedo red onion and a homemade French dressing...my favorite salad!!  We bought a whole pig from the Bashaws and finish price was just around $3.50/pound...great considering bacon alone can run $3.99/pound, and I love having the ham hocks for soup, the fat for lard making, fresh lunchmeat without all the additives (we always have our hams sliced into lunchmeat).  Thursday was a big day...my husband who has been training for over seven years received his black belt in Shotokan Karate..I am shocked he did not wear his gi and belt to work...he was so thrilled and it was so well earned.  Friday started with the Wrightwood market and news that it will be going to every week on Fridays Outside, and maybe even a change to afternoons....traditionally a Farmers Market is held in the afternoon so that the farmers can harvest and go straight to market...so much better!! Bashaws are working on some numbers to try and provide a 12 week share of poultry, beef and pork to help those out with limited freezer room...email me if you would like to be included in the email trail.  Website should be up and running within a month if all goes well...automatic Sold Out information, ease of online ordering, inventory controlled by each farmer, and reports for me!!  How nice will that be!!! Finished the day by picking up our pork....oh yeah, I always OD the first couple days it comes in...sausage for breakfast, Italian sausage for spaghetti sauce tomorrow, and pork chops out for Sunday dinner.  I had to pull the last turkey (32 pounds) out of the freezer to make room for everything....good thing the rain is coming...perfect for the onions, shallots and garlic outside, and for a turkey cooking day!!  Moonstruck signing out!!

As you all know most farmers work really long days full of hard work.  It is definitely a labor of love, but even with a labor of love you have plenty of bad days, but there is always at least one thing that lightens the mood of each day and makes you laugh if you are lucky.  The day's joy yesterday was seeing the green beans germinating in five days.  Another day was finding out that the certifier for my "Certified Producer" certificate was confused and I can sell cut flowers so they are going on the next certificate.  Today was harvest day at the Bashaws, and there have been some learning curves there to say the least with the growth of the business, but as the harvesting proceeded we all fell into a nice comfortable rhythm, and the smiles followed.  The harvesting day was finishing and I was spraying down the room with the hose with a spray end, and even though it was a very warm day my hands had become colder than I was aware of and the sprayer spun in my hand and as I grasped for it the sprayer ended up pointed at my head and in grabbing it yes I squeezed the sprayer!!  Yes, I really was in need of a shower, but I did not have this in mind...I had planned on a hot one at home!!  I roared with laughter and went and finished cleaning up.  Tomorow is the first harvest day in the new greenhouse!!  How awesome is that!! Moonstruck signing out!

Not sure where the last week went, but it went.  Started the week out with NRCS coming out to certify the high tunnel (greenhouse) and signed the paper for the cost of share.  I completed all our costs, which will give NRCS a better idea of the true costs of building the high tunnel.  Our study begins immediately to provide them with the information on the benefits of the high tunnel here in the High Desert.  Thursday in the middle of harvest my Greenhouse #1 door handle locked me out!!  I jiggled the handle frantically trying to jiggle it loose and the handle broke off!!  Next thing I know I am squeezing my not so tiny body into an existing hole in the greenhouse wall, making it a little bit bigger, but able to get in and finish the harvest for the day's delivery!! Irrigation line in the greenhouse blew, fence became undermined by the rabbits, some fencing fell down, butterfly bushes need to be cut down since they are falling out of the ground since all the snow from the greenhouse fell on them and most of this due to the lovely 8 inches of snow we received, but I am not complaining...just completed the repairs and my husband helped me catch up by helping with the repairs and tilling about 70% of what needed to be tilled.  Managed to transplant Beedens kale, Lacinato and Barese Swiss chard for the salad mix interplanting spinach and more radishes along the way.  Arugula and spinach (now that the rabbits are not in there) are coming in beautifully along with the Royal Oakleaf lettuce.  Along the way while we were tilling 300 shallot starts showed up, nice gift from nature and free of charge!! Red torpedo onion starts should arrive next week....a nice market garden variety that should come in quickly like Spring onions and be ready in about 60 days.  Asparagus, strawberry and rhubarb "initial" beds are started and doing well, but this will take years to develop into a large permanent bed. With so much to do and a budget that is already stretched I will leave the asparagus, strawberry and rhubarb expansion to Mother Nature and just expand the beds each year.  Chervil, Summer Savory, Winter Savory, German Thyme, Marjoram and Basil are all started inside and hopefully will help complete a beautiful herb garden.  Medicinals including Calendula and Nasturiums for a nice addition to the salad mix are in the wings waiting to go in as soon as the weather warms a little more.  Today the weather was challenging, but seeing the newly tilled rows completed, and the fence all repaired gave me a great sense of peace, and as I kneeled putting the free of charge shallot starts from Mother Nature into the ground I could see the setting sun just out of the corner my eyes, the sounds of nature around me and the chill of the coming storm in the air, and right then I said to myself "this is why I do this, to feel one with nature, and have the chance to show respect for and enjoy all the gifts that we have been granted, and share it with others, how good it feels".  More rows to be completed tomorrow...Moonstruck Signing out!

Woke up early this morning, well several times really, 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 6 a.m....each time hearing the wind blowing and sometimes getting up just to confirm what I was hearing...yes...the wind was blowing nice and dry snow....none was sticking to the greenhouses.  It was a beautiful site to see knowing that I did not have to go knock off a bunch of snow weight that might damage the greenhouses.  The old one we do not tend to worry about too much...with its double layer of polyethylene it creates a lot more strength, but I never let it pile more than 3 feet or so on the sides just to make sure.  The new one is an experiment, no inflation and it is 100 feet long so I really don't trust it yet so last week as you know we knocked off the snow that was sitting in the arches...another downfall to no inflation...the snow can sink as the inflation helps create a smoother surface.  Nonetheless the wind and dryness of the snow made it just a beautiful site.  I went out early to feed and check on things, and it was Warm....unbelieveable the solar effect of the snow and the little bit of sun peaking out.  I surveyed the sides of the greenhouses and especially the South end of the new one afraid that it might have really piled up, but the winds were swirling everywhere and did a nice job.  As I was walking back I basted in the "Silence".  Unbelieveable how quiet the world can become after a snow...it is just like Nature's way of saying...okay, now everybody take a break and listen to the silence.  I spent the rest of the day building a row or two and laundry!!  Just in case the power went out...can't live without a clean pair of overalls!!  Checked on the goats one last time, and they once again looked at me and said "Please make the white stuff go away....it is cold and wet, and you know we don't like wet".  Little Dipper at one point actually managed to jump from the inside of one Igloo to the inside of another with only stepping onto the snow with one or two hooves...she was determined to touch that yucky white stuff as little as possible.  Yes...on the list is a barn, but of course it will be built greenhouse style.  Nice tall hoop building (to make sure Honey does not get to play Queen of the Hill) with room for bale storage and nice breeding stalls.  They have UV rated tarps that let in just the right amount of light and add an insulation factor to make our goats that much more comfortable...and maybe some sheep one day!!  Moonstruck Signing out!

Busy day at market, ran home to do a few chores and then a wind power company came out...yes...we are signed up for wind!!  Say a few prayers that everything goes smoothly and we should be set up by next Fall.  The possibilities....no electric bill plus the capability to add electric to the greenhouses...heating...heated water...grow lights!!  Finally the wind will have a pro side...not just a con side!! It comes with a solar inverter too...so we can add solar later!! Ran out to get kids some things and home to rest....maybe not rest...snow is hitting in the middle of the night!  Stay up and see how much we get or sleep and chance it and not on the greenhouse!!!  Moonstruck siging off!!

Thanks again for those loyal customers who are braving the cold....the wind went right through you!!  But it was not too cold for kids to come for a pony ride...I don't think it is ever too cold for a pony ride!!  Giddupponies.com was there...new to our area...need a petting zoo or party function give them a call and support them...they are a great group of people. Pork orders are still coming in...but you will not get a choice of custom cuts from the butcher unless you let me know now!  We have a few sides left from Bashaw Premium Meats.  Whole chickens are sold out for a few weeks...thanks again for all your support.  Greens are slowly coming in more and more here at Moonstruck....need those night time temps to hit 40 and everything will take off and still have plenty of room to plant!  Putting in the new irrigation is taking some time, but it will pay off in the long run.  I currently have to water a few times a day when germinating and the new system will eliminate that...yahoo!!  Came home from market starving and wanted something good to eat, but quick....hmmm....plenty of eggs around....dreaming of farm fresh bacon since pork was just harvested....Crustless Quiche Lorraine fit the bill....I put the recipe on the website at www.moonstruckfarmscsa.webs.com.  They upgraded and I am able to work on the site again....availability will be posted for now on and I have found someone who knows how to edit my shareware...great new site coming up!! Thanks for your patience.  Moonstruck signing off.

Well after all the winds and the snow this weekend I am ready for a little rest...but nonetheless things are always hopping around here and there is more snow on the way...time to figure out a better way to pull the snow off.  Some market gardeners are using a smooth nylon rope with one person on each side and pull away the snow...have to try this one!  NRCS/USDA comes out on Tuesday to certify so it better be standing!!  In the meantime I went to check on things and almost every last radish had a bite out of it and a grouping of kale I had just transplanted had all the tops eaten off...critter!  I put my electric trap out and got him...criminal apprehended and sentenced to death!!  Sorry for those with a heart for all of God's creatures, but these guys are relentless and if I extinguish them I usually get a rest for a few months until another one finds a weak spot in my security.  This is the worse time of year because there is not a lot to eat out and everybody is coming out hungry from a winter's rest!!  Yes even with snow on the way everything is saying SPRING!  The chives are a few inches tall already.  The onions are filling out nicely.  The trees have buds.  The lilacs are ready to bloom and the lettuce planted OUTSIDE is even germinating...proof that ground temps are up!!  Boy, it sure did not feel like it today walking in 40 degree weather with windchill, but then I went in the greenhouse and watered and the back end turned into a fog bank from all the steam coming off the beds...yahoo!!  I love it....as soon as the night time temps creep up a bit everything will take off!!  Off to a good night's sleep...Moonstruck Signing out!!

Today was the first time that the Greenhouse #2 was closed up completely and it was about 40 degrees outside, but not inside.  I have not set up a temperature/humidity gauge yet, but I was soaked to the bone and covered in dirt....and a very happy girl to get a few more rows built and planted!!  New irrigation goes in tomorrow with the help of my husband and there is one bed built with beams still in there that is going to be moved out for a permanent strawberry bed outside.  It will be easy to cover with a mini hoop house!!  Herbs are coming up inside including basil, German thyme, Chervil and Lemongrass!  Peppers, tomatoes, okra and Golden squash are started.  The new greenhouse with its large amount of volume will create more heat increasing ground temperatures for earlier planting, but not sure how much frost protection...will it be the same as the double layer...soon to be answered!!   Beets, radishes and green onions are being squeezed in between all the large kale, collards and Swiss Chard plants.  Chives are popping up, which is a sure sign that Spring is on its way!  Moonstruck signing off...thanks for all the new contacts lately...looking forward to seeing you all at the farm!

Okay the winds were a real test on the overall structure, but now we get to find out what the snow load is on the single layer of polyethylene...came home from church and dinner and found 4 inches or so already built up and decided not to take any chances and went to work.  It would not have been that bad, but the manufacturers claimed to have built in an anticondesant meaning no drips from the roof on the inside...not true.  It does not drip in large drips, but it does spray especially as you are hitting the top with a flat broom to get the snow falling, and it was icy snow so it was not moving very easily.  Other growers are using the nylon rope method of pulling it across the top, and I think we will try that next time and maybe next time I won't be so exhausted, and won't have to be jumping up and down to reach the top and then be rained with the condensation each time!! I was soaked by the time I came inside and I was inside the greenhouse!  Well the exhausting days are part of farm life too...one part I willingly accept.  Thanks to all who came through with their pork orders so that everything is ready for next week's processing...a few more left...drop me a line at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net.  I need to know by the 22nd!!  Moonstruck signing off.

Well last night I could have sworn I was turning into Dorothy!!  We had microbursts at "I don't want to know mph" and I swore I saw a water spout and definitely heard one!!  It started as soon as night fall happened, and continued until about midnight.  The greenhouse is standing, and the wiggle wire all held!!!  Though I am pretty sure it is leaning a little to the North now!! One poor chicken decided to hide when we closed up last night so she spent the night outdoors!!  She is still soaked to the bone, but fine.  I love those Buff Orpingtons they are great winter birds....don't like it when the temperatures get above 90 or so, but they are so hardy through the worse of weather...as she found out unfortunately last night!!  It is freezing outside...my ears still hurt from checking on things and feeding so I am going to start some more trays inside until the "freeze" lifts out of the air and the greenhouses warms up a bit.  Hopefully tonight will be a little quieter...sleep would be nice...Moonstruck signing off! 

I knew the storm was coming, but it was snow I was worried about...not wind!!  The new greenhouse received its first true test and the back end failed....pulled the anchors right out of the ground and with 80 mph gusts there was nothing I could do by myself so I had to call the husband home for an early lunch break and all he said was "are you sure you want to be a farmer?".  I just smiled and he proceeded to re-anchor the entire end of the greenhouse with him and me holding the end down with all we had.  At some points he had me lean against the plastic to get it out of the way of the sledge hammer, and it bounced me off quite successfully more than once!  So far so good...it is holding...of course I do say a prayer every time I head out to check it.  The good news is the new Wiggle wire that we were worried about is holding great!!  Very cool invention somebody thought of out there...thank you whoever you are!  After securing the greenhouse I went ahead and went back inside to finish Spring cleaning the office, garage and basement.  The basement is going to have a "Cool Room" added for storage so stuff had to go, and the office, well lets just say I needed to be able to see the top of my desk!  The garage has shelving installed for all that was in the greenhouse, and the greenhouses are maximized for growing.  Added almost 8 sf to #1 greenhouse at each row equally another 24 sf!! That is a lot of carrots!  The carrots are successfully germinating along with some beautiful cherry belle radishes and lots of purple radishes went in!  Off I go to finish the taxes and then I am free to play outside all I want....okay Spring and Summer I am ready!! Moonstruck signing off!!

Giddyup Ponies came to market today and brought a full petting zoo..there were baby Nigerian Dwarf Goats (I picked out a little buck...just what I was looking for!!), baby Pot Belly, baby sheep, duck, chicken cockatiel, rabbit and a CAMEL!!  It as so much fun!! Everyone come and support us next week and play with a tiny baby goat or pot belly pig!! If you are looking for event entertainment you can find them at giddyupponies.com.  Thank you to all the new faces who came to check us out today.  I am signing off...after starting more trays of kale, lettuce, first Rutger tomatoes of the season, peppers, mustards, Chinese cabbage and Lemon Grass for the bedroom (yes a little tropical look in my big decorator pots, perfect for a tropical plant), harvesting and market..good night!!  Find us at Tri Community Market tomorrow!!

Started the day picking up the last of the whole chickens...wow.. Whole chickens will probably sell out this month!  Spent an hour or so creating a new seed storing system including seeding supplies so all in one place...put aside tomatoes, squash, savory, chervil, broccoli raab, Michli chinese cabbage, Savoy cabbage and Fordhook Swiss to be started in trays...and another batch of a variety of lettuces to be planted outside along with more beets and radishes.  Completed the outside planting along with a tray of lettuce that was ready to go out..completed some foliar feeding and watering the new germinating rows.  i called a local supplier about new supplies for irrigation in the new greenhouse that will eliminate the need to hand water newly planted rows.  Wow...what a day...and many more to come...so sweet to see things coming together!