Agropraxis Farm

The other day I was harvesting for market. It was a unseasonably cool drizzly day. I have worked through the early efficiency issues and have the harvest down. On a new place it takes time to develop the methods of washing, packing and getting ready for market. Finally this week the job got done well before I needed head for market. So I had time to sit and eat lunch rather than gulp on the go. 

I sat on the van tailgate and looked out over the fields as I ate. Waves of drizzle and light rain floated across the field. The birds were about their feeding so it must have been a high activity time for wildlife. I watched as a female Eastern Bluebird perched on the power line that runs over the field. She was directly over the potato rows and seemed to be watching for something. Then she dropped into the potatoes and was their for a few seconds. She popped up and flew across the road. A few moments later she returned to the perch only to repeat the drop in on the potatoes. Could Eastern Bluebirds raise their young on potato beetles? A welcome ally!!!

I heard the turkeys from the woods and the Sandhill Cranes give their unique chuckle. The Meadowlark was on the wood post in the center of the field. It seems to prefer the wood post to the metal t-posts. Maybe the view is best from that spot. Whatever, the fancy yellow with black dress-up is always fine with me when accompanied by such great song.

The harvest was another good one. Pac choy, salad turnips (tennis ball sized and so good!), radishes, a few oakleaf lettuces and arugula. I brought from home the strawberries and serviceberries that would sell out at market. So nice to sit and eat while keeping an eye on the farm.

Farmer Pete