June has been a very busy month and we are only half-way through!  Since the garden was planted on May 25th, we have seen seedlings emerge alongside numerous weeds.  Last week we went through the garden and hoed out many of those weeds.  We also planted second plantings of squash, beans, cucumbers and melons.  Farmer Dean has planted pinto beans and a number of additional plantings of corn.  Weeding, cultivating, fertilizing and scouting occupy most of our time.  As oldest son has said many times, "It is good the see the plant emerge amidst the forest of weeds".  It makes weeding worthwhile. 

We recently participated in The Self Reliant Fair in Edgewood this past weekend giving a garden class and will be conducting another here in Moriarty at the Library this week.  It is great to hear of many individuals desiring to and starting their own gardens. 

Local Flavor, a local newsstand magazine, did an article about our farm and family.  June is their farm and ranch issue and they chose to feature our farm along with another local farm.  They also write about local restaurants, businesses and events.  Please see the article at http://www.localflavormagazine.com/the-magazine-2/this-month/ or visit local restaurants and grocery stores in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos to pick up a copy.  We are grateful for the kind article they wrote about us.  We hope you enjoy it.

The 2012 season ended in a hurry.  Mainly due to a family illness that kept up busy and at the hospital for the next several months.  We are delighted and grateful to say that the Lord did a miraculous work and saved Ivellise's father's life.  

The 2013 season is now upon us!  We always look forward, with anticipation, to a new season of growing.  With little moisture this past winter, we have thoroughly pre-watered all the areas we are currently planting.  So far we have four plantings of corn in the ground.  Onions, potatoes, carrots, beets, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, tomatoes and peppers have also been planted.  This weekend the big garden gets planted.  This is where we put all the other vegetables you see at the Farm Market or other locations. 

It is a great season, as we see seedlings emerge, even in this dry, desert-like ground.  The corn emerging like little green straws never ceases to amaze me.
I do marvel at the resilience of a seed, pushing up hard crusty soil to get out in the sunshine.  Oldest son recently did a science experiment displaying that very resilience.  He was to plant lima beans in plaster of paris.  Amazingly, with little moisture and hard dry plaster, the lima bean is growing.  It has already put on it's true leaves.  What a marvel of creation a seed is!   

We have been selling pintos beans for three weeks now and they are almost gone!  Unfortunately, we had lower yields this year, due to the hot, dry summer and the pintos we did harvest have been selling quickly.  We have 10 lb. & 1 lb. bags remaining. 

The bolita beans have been cut.  Now Farmer Dean has to thrash them.  This is the process of separating the bean from the hull.  The thrashing is done with a bean combine.  After the beans have been thrashed they will be taken to the bean cleaner for cleaning and bagging.  We anticipate having them in the Farm Market this week.
We have also begun the winter squash & sweet onion harvest.  Baskets brimming with lovely & tasty winter squash are filling the Farm Market as well as 25 lb. & 10 lb. mesh bags of our dry sweet onions.  These crops signal the beginning of fall & winter for us.  We look ahead to winter suppers of baked winter squashes and and dishes laden with fresh sweet onions.  How about you? 

The sweet corn has been very good this season thus far!  We hope you are enjoying it and finding locations where to get it.  If you are not finding it, please visit the Harvest Availability tab above, where you will find all the locations where corn is being sent or give us a call.
Last evening, we saw a tremendous amount of hail in the skies just to the northwest.  We prepared for the worst and prayed to be spared.  The Lord was gracious to us and by the time the storm arrived, it was a soft rain.  So, for now the corn continues to grow and we have a nice crop to harvest for several more weeks!
As always, we appreciate your feedback on our corn and other vegetables, so we can grow better for you. 

Each year I anxiously await the first digging of potatoes.  Once our previous year's supply is gone, we simply wait until the new harvest comes in.  We have made it a tradition that each family member goes out into the potato field and participates in the harvest.  Last evening, we ventured out with potato fork in hand to unearth those golden nuggets (Yukon Gold potatoes).  We also tried a new variety alongside our Sangre de Cristo red, called Colorado Rose.   The potatoes were beautiful and very tasty as well!  A simple tradition that our family enjoys, builds lasting memories and sweetens our relationships. 
It had been a cloudy week and we did not begin harvest when we had hoped.  A little sunshine yesterday and the corn seemed to mature and sweeten overnight.  So, we are beginning to send out to new locations.  Please visit the Harvest Schedule page on our site to see where it is going.
Find a new and simple tradition to do with your family today! 

As all who farm or garden knows, crops are very weather dependent.  We have had many cloudy days this week and some rain, for which we are grateful.  So, that slows everything down a bit.  Sweet corn is available beginning today at the Farm Market.  We plan on sending sweet corn out to other locations beginning this coming week.  So, please keep checking back!

Farmer Dean continues to go out in the first corn field planting and check that corn.  It is getting very close to maturity!  Young son Dominic says, "Sure am looking forward to roasted corn!"  As we all are...  We hope to be sending corn out before the weekend.  Visit the website often for updates.  I will be updating as soon as new information comes in.  We look forward to eating some fresh white sweet corn with you all!

This year has certainly flown by!  I had hoped to get to blogging earlier this season, but it did not work out that way.
During the winter, Farmer Dean plans the layout of the fields and rotation of the crops, seed and other farm inputs are purchased.  Field prep begins, cover crops are tilled into the soil and planting beds are shaped.  In April, onions and carrots and the first planting of corn are planted.  Through the month of May, more corn is planted, the garden vegetables and potatoes are put into the ground.  Pinto beans and more corn through the month of June.  The last planting of corn just went into the ground two days ago.  Delayed somewhat due to a good rain storm.  Right now, most of our time is invested in cultivation, weeding, fertilizing, scouting for pests/disease and watching the crops grow. 
The first planting of corn is almost ready!  Summer squash, lettuce, beets and bell peppers are ready for harvest.
The Farm Market will open Wednesday, July 25th, 2012.  Keep an eye on the site to see when the corn harvest will begin and where you can find our produce.  We look forward to seeing you!