Rain, Rain---Go Away!

Well, I think we've gotten enough rain to last awhile. I can't imagine how Noah must have felt! Even though we still have to pick--rain or shine---I'm getting tired of the muddy mud boots, muddy floors and wet clothes! I'm very thankful that horrible hailstorm only got us on the tailend of the storm and we only recieved pea sized hail, still the vegetables didn't care for it much.

The pumpkins and watermelon plants are doing quite well now. Getting very big with the moisture we've been having. We picked the first of our cut flowers to sell. Beautiful colored plume celosia and multi-colored zinnias. We'll be taking those to our BriarCliff Market tomorrow. The zucchini and yellow squash are coming on full-force too. We're now picking those daily to avoid the Baseball Bat Syndrome!

We'll keep you posted on any upcoming events! Kids Night at BriarCliff Village will be the 18th of June. It should be alot of fun. Come on out and bring the family.

Just a little tidbit of our children and who we are.

My oldest son Jeff and oldest daughter Shayla run a couple of our stands in Farmers Markets, you've probably met them. Couldn't do it without their help. My 2nd oldest son, Jesse, works the BriarCliff Market with us (17). All of our younger children come to one market or another to see where our produce is sold. Josiah (13), Jonah (11), Sarai (9), Salome (7), Selah (6), Shemaiah ( 4), and Shekinah (1) (she doesn't get to go to market because she doesn't like to sit still!) I'll include some pictures to let you see a few of them.

Market Madness

Vegetables are in the full swing of things now. It seems that we can hardly get everything picked in a full day. We have lots of help but there's an endless amount of work that needs to be done besides the picking. I'm going to enclose some pictures of the farm and what actually goes on here. We have our fun days too, not all work! We are really hitting the markets hard with all the fresh greens you could possibly want. The tomatoes in the greenhouses are doing well for us as well. We tried alot of new vegetables this year and we're quite happy with the result of them all except one---dwarf pak choi. We'll do the regular size one next year! Hope to see you all at the market soon!

Picking, Picking and more Picking!

The days are starting early for most of us around here now. We have to get up quite early to get the spinach picked and washed before it wilts. Also, the cows need to get milked before our second oldest son, Jesse, can get to the fields to get done what needs done. We are picking daily, radishes, spinach, collard greens, heirloom lettuces and tomatoes out of the greenhouse. The tomatoes are finally ripening, Yeah! All those long winter months of keeping them warm is finally paying off. The strawberries are just about ripe and then that will be added to our list as well. The greenhouse was pretty much cleaned out from what was sold as bedding plants and others that were moved to our cold frame. Now it is overfull with pumpkins, winter squash and gourds flats germinating to be planted in 2 weeks. Never a dull moment! Hope you are all enjoying this cool and WET spring. See ya at the markets!

Spring is in the Air!

Here on the farm it is the busiest time of the year. Everyone is coming and going every which way. One group is planting in the fields, another is discing, tilling and laying plastic and the other group is starting more seeds in the nursery greenhouse. We all work good as a complete team (family) when planting season really hits hard. We've been very fortunate about getting our vegetables out inbetween rains since we use plasticulture. Therefore, we have already been harvesting beautiful heads of lettuce. Collard greens, radishes, and pak choi are also being picked often. Markets are here and we are really having fun this year. My two oldest children, Jeff-21 and Shayla-19 have been doing a couple of markets for us. That sure lightens our load from having to leave home so often. God Bless them for it! We have also ventured out in our home town doing Providence Farms Prepaid Produce Packages. It has taken off quite well. We'll see how the next month of sign up time goes though. I've learned not to count my chickens before they hatch! If you see us at the markets just let us know if you have looked at this blog. There will be pictures on here in a week or so. I'm working on it, among other things!

What's Up With The Weather?

Well, all the vegetables in the field were doing exceptionally well until....the April 5 & 6th freeze. We're hoping they will pull through and still be alright. We were busy all day on Saturday the 4th putting up row cover to protect as much as we could. It just goes to show you....God is still in control. I think He likes to keep us humble! No problem there!!!! The tomatoes and bedding plants are doing great and we're gearing up for the first market on Thurs. the 30th at BriarCliff Village. The men of the family have been chopping wood for the last of these freezes to keep the greenhouses warm and preparing the fields in between drenching rains. We're also constantly doing erosion repair, not by choice though. The children are getting antsy and are ready for nice weather to go play in. It seems they keep getting teased with warm then cold all the time. It will be here before we know it though. Old Man Winter can't hold on forever.

Vegetables are Growing!

The tomatoes are in the greenhouses and are about 2 ft. tall with lots of blooms and lots of quarter sized tomatoes on them. We've been busy planting lots of cold crops so our customers can enjoy several fresh lettuces, onions, broccali, cauliflower, cabbages and many more. Market dates are approaching quickly and we're doing our best to ensure we have quality products to bring. Of course, we can't control the weather, only God knows what's in store for us next month. We'll pray for a mild April so no crops suffer. We look forward to seeing you at all our markets. I'll list where we'll be for your convienance.

Wed-7 am - noon--Liberty Hwy. 152 & 291
Thurs.-3pm-7pm--BriarCliff Village Shopping Center
Fri.-7am-1pm--North Kansas City Market
Sat.-5am-1pm--Independence Farmers Market
Sat.-7am-12 noon--Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers Market

Come see us at any of our markets to enjoy fresh, local, wholesome produce straight from the farm.