tools of the trade

"Although growing commercial crops is often considered for 'experts' only, it most emphatically is not. The world of plants is vital, vigorous, and self-starting. Drop a seed in the ground and it wants to grow. The common wisdom possessed by successful farmers is that they understand how to help the seed do what it is already determined to do. The more successful the farmer, the better the understanding of how to enhance the natural processes without overwhelming them. That simply stated idea is the key to successful organic food production." -Eliot Coleman, The New Organic Grower

Wonderful! How empowering... felt that today. "...help the seed do what it is already determined to do."

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Seeded 17 128cell planters this morning in the greenhouse. 3 different varieties of spinach: Space, Springer, Lombardia. Watered all planters (learned how to "dance" with the greenhouse hose).
This pic from the greenhouse. Man made vine meets nature's vine.


...later

Focused on rejuvenation of all field hand tools. Scraped off rust, sanded wooden handles, sealed tools with linseed oil, sharpened edges/blades. I will be using every one of these soon...


Late afternoon, walked the fields to consider last year's crops and their rotational possibilities for this year. Learning, learning, learning.

Traveled into Red Hook for groceries. Quaint "upstate" town. I will surely be there again soon as my food intake has increased two-fold. Or at least it seems so. Hungry man.

This evening I began my book studies with what is considered by some to be the Bible of organic farming, The New Organic Farmer. Excerpt above.

My excitement only grows.

Looking forward to tomorrow. We put our first crop in the ground: peas. Veeery nice!