This week we continued the trend of producing abundant CSA baskets! With arrivals such as garlic, kohlrabi, and bunching onions seasonal eating has never been so delicious! Amongst harvesting continued vigilance for common pest and weeds were high priority. Next week we hope to continue weeding and mulching beds, flipping beds to transplant more greens, and mentally preparing for the anticipated tomato/ pepper/ and squash harvests. Big thank you for the continued support from our volunteers and CSA customers! This weeks pro-tip for increasing foods longevity. If any greens are looking a little wilting just fully submerge them in cool water out of sun for 30 mins to bring them back to life! CSA Goodies First tomato fruits and romaine lettuce bunching onions and garlic sweet Brussels sprouts and garlic scapes

The opening week of CSA's were a smashing success. The solstice's abundance is evident! Between weeding, irrigating, and bug scouting on Tuesday and Friday CSA baskets were full with fresh salad, garlic scapes, swiss chard, red clovers, radish, kale, and brassica flowers. This weeks baskets! Next week we hope to continue to tackle the weed pressure and keep harvesting beautiful food baskets. CSA Goodies Red Sails lettuce and Easter Egg Radish Garlic Scapes and Swiss Chard New Arrivals on the Farm First tomato fruit and Hot Wax peppers First summer squash and ground cherry Blueberries and mulberries

Seedlings still available while quantities last! Peppers, tomatoes, and a few ground cherries This Week on the Farm The weeds are here! This means daily weeding and mulching is a must. This also makes direct seeding challenging as many unwanted plants grow faster than the desired crop. Regardless with the warmer weather and the weeds comes quick crop growth! Eggplants and Brussel sprouts were both checked for pests and pruned for dead leaves. All the babies are growing up! Brussel Sprouts (left) and Potato update (below) Many shades of Swiss Chard Winter Squash and Corn were transplanted into the field this week CSA Goodies Radish and Lettuce heads Hot Wax Peppers and Kohlrabi Looking Into Next Week Continue to keep on top of weeding. Begin daily pest scouting. Prepare a bed for direct seeding and seed more salad greens. We also had a magical visitor on the farm this week

Check out the store for seedlings available for purchase * This week the field really filled up. Hot crops such as tomatoes, ground cherries, eggplants, peppers, summer squash, and cucumbers were transplanted into the field. What's Blooming on the Farm Chives and Raspberries (above) Tomato (below) This Week On the Farm With the help of our amazing volunteers most of the hot crops were planted into the field. After planting our focus switches to staying on top of weed pressure and watering. For the upcoming week the goal is to transplant winter squash into the field and potentially seed a new salad bed. The chickens also had a good week as a new coop was delivered for them! Before and After in the Summer Squash Bed Cucumbers and Peppers in their new home (below) CSA Goodies Currants and baby Apples (below) First Radish and baby Dragons Tongue Beans (below) Beautiful Salad Green Bunching Onions and the First Potatoes

Update from Elva: Hi Everyone! I hope everyone is keeping well despite everything. I'll start with the CSA.  Usually it would start 1st week of June...  This year due to the weather, vegetable growth is about 2 weeks behind.  Let me give you an idea of what I've been dealing with as a farmer - a late spring, with frosts and snow late into the season.  I had to move my over 1000 heat-loving seedlings from the house to the greenhouse, and back to the house when the cold weather hit.  They are all okay and now in the process of being planted, but oh my.... Usually when I would have my seedlings all hardened off and ready to go for sale, I was just taking them out to the (unheated) greenhouse, and had to harden them off in a hurry... After that, last week we had extreme heat for 3 days in which temperatures "felt like 40" and all the cold-loving plants (peas, kale, salad + more) were very unhappy and some bolted, and trying to keep newly direct seeded beds watered to ensure germination was difficult, and I probably lost some beds to the extreme hot and dry weather. AND THEN!  we had "feels like 5" degrees outside overnight a couple nights ago so the heat-lovers that were in the process of being planted out were not happy, but thank goodness that only lasted 1 night and there wasn't a frost. 2ndly with the pandemic, it's been difficult to get appropriate supplies when I need them. For example, usually I would cover new beds with floating row cover to protect from jumping beetle damage but all suppliers are out of stock - I found out they were out of stock because the manufacturer has switched from farming supplies over to making masks.  It's understandable why that is necessary but also just means holes in your brassicas!  Or I could switch to thin Mesh barriers, but that means spending 6x the amount, and its just not cost-effective for me.2ndly with the pandemic, it's been difficult to get appropriate supplies when I need them. For example, usually I would cover new beds with floating row cover to protect from jumping beetle damage but all suppliers are out of stock - I found out they were out of stock because the manufacturer has switched from farming supplies over to making masks.  It's understandable why that is necessary but also just means holes in your brassicas!  Or I could switch to thin Mesh barriers, but that means spending 6x the amount, and its just not cost-effective for me. All of these issues mean more problem-solving and more innovation, but I can let you know that the appearance of some of the greens might not be perfect !  I am doing my best. Also due to the pandemic, I likely will have to use plastic bags for salads rather than reusable bags.  I'm sorry :(  I always try to be mindful of my plastic use around the farm, but for the foreseeable future I also have to do my part to reduce contact.  I will be bunching things or using paper pints whenever possible.  Okay, now the fun stuff! Lots of stuff is in the ground and is looking good.  Lots of greens, radishes, lemon balm, kale, green garlic and various flowering brassicas for your first basket.  The first basket is tentatively June 9th and June 12th.  I think there will be enough stuff for that week, if not I WILL LET YOU KNOW THIS WEEKEND.  I appreciate your patience and your support.  A reminder that the first few baskets will be smaller than the majority of the other baskets. NEWS: Baby Chicks!  ~ They are all grown up, and their personalities are really developing.  They still have to be kept separate from the older birds for their own safety, so they get their own coop. Rescue Birds:  1st batch of Rescue birds that I picked up last year are doing well.  They all have their VERY STRONG personalities and walk around like they own the place.  A note for those picking up their baskets: the chickens know that humans are the source of their treats, and they also know that the treats are kept in my car, so they will likely come right up to you and your car.  Sometimes they peck my car while I'm in it *eyeroll* Please make sure they are out of the way before backing up your vehicle.  The chickens are like precious pets to me. New Rescue Birds:  I picked up a new batch of rescue birds a couple weeks ago from a industrial egg production farm.  They are settling in well and their feathers are growing back in. Blog:  I encourage you to check out the Rhizome Farms blog on the website.  I'll be reposting the emails I send to you there, but also, new employee Felix will be posting every week about what's happening at the farm.  They have a knack for taking really beautiful photos and creating poetry, so it will be spiffy!  They have already put a post up there, so go have a look! Greenhouse:  The never-ending project.... but at least its frame is up and looking good!  My friend put together 99% of it, bless him.  It's really quite a massive structure (20 ft by 100 ft).  Marvel at it if you are coming to the farm to do pick-ups :) New Employee:  Welcome Felix!  Felix is the newest and only employee I've ever had and they are STUPENDOUS.  THANK-YOU FELIX for your hard work and positive attitude! Seedlings:  Although I had to cancel my regular seedling sale this year, I ended up having some extra.  Check my website to see what's available.  (not completely updated yet!). There are very limited quantities of some of the items.  You cannot order through the website, you will have to email me your order.  Have a look at what's available and then send me a list and I will do my best to accommodate.  Everything is $4 each or 3 for $10 unless otherwise indicated. Payments: The remainder of your payments if paying in full is due now.  If you are paying monthly, I'll contact you shortly with the details. See below for some photos.

Welcome to Rhizome's weekly blog. This is a space to share new blooms, exciting news, updates, next week's goals, and CSA goodies. What's blooming on the farm The first pepper to bloom was Hot Wax, followed by Jalapeno, and Paprika Horseradish flower below Tomatillo and Blueberry flowers Strawberry and Apple This week on the farm With this week's heat, hot crops such as peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and eggplants were screaming to be planted into the field. The majority of this week was filled with prepping beds for next week's large transplant Next Week Continue to transplant the hot crops into their beds and mulching the rest of the kale beds CSA Goodies Elephant Garlic and Basil Bok Choy Purple peas and Gooseberries Pickling Cucumber and Curly Kale Red Robin Tomatoes and Red Russian Kale

Can't wait to start sharing updates!