Sunny Days Ahead
Hello!
It’s so nice to have some sunshine again. We’ve been anxiously awaiting harvesting more flowers-- as soon as we have a few days of sun, they’ll take off. We’ve been in a lull for the past week or so, as the tulips are done and the ranunculus are beginning to fizzle out. The fields and high tunnels are brimming with flowers that are so close to opening, and we’re getting impatient! Still, we’re harvesting a few new flowers every day, and soon we’ll have so many that we won’t know what to do.
Thanks to all who came out for our Mother’s Day Market. We were blown away by how many bouquets we made!
We can’t get enough of these poppies. These sunny blooms just exude joy.
Over the next several weeks I’ll be introducing you to this year’s farm crew and sharing some gardening tips. I’m Amelia, and I write the newsletter each week, along with being the assistant manager here at Two Boots Farm. I’ve worked at the farm since October of 2017, and I feel immensely grateful to work alongside Elisa and our fantastic crew. This month marks my tenth year of working on farms, and I’ve done a little bit of everything! My past experience includes working with livestock, urban farming, and diversified vegetable farming. I really enjoy the work I do at Two Boots, and I’m loving the opportunity to learn about flowers and pawpaws. I love farming because it offers endless learning and plenty of time outdoors playing in the soil. When I’m not working with plants, I’m usually sewing, wandering through the woods, or hanging out in my kitchen.
Tomatoes are in the ground! Elisa and Samantha knocked out the tomato planting in no time on Thursday.
Enough about me, here are some gardening tips!
If you haven’t already planted your summer crops, now is the time. One thing we always like to emphasize is that it’s a great idea to buy your seedlings from farmers in your area. We sell what we know and what we grow. This means that what you’ll buy from a farmer is most likely a plant that’s delicious, a good producer, and well-suited to your area’s growing conditions. We’re always happy to tell you what our favorite varieties are!
Don’t bother growing things you’re not going to eat! If you don’t like squash, there’s no reason you should feel obligated to grow it when you could be growing tomatoes!
Use compost and mulch! It’s always good to add organic matter to your soil. Using compost will help you increase the water holding capacity of your soil and add nutrients. Mulching also helps hold in water, and keeps the soil covered, which is excellent for promoting the life of microbes that live in the soil.
Elisa and Amelia consulting with one another during the weekly field walk.
This week at the JFX market we will have Cherriette radishes, gorgeous hakurei turnips, head lettuce, spring mix, and mixed bouquets. We’ll also be bringing flower, veggie, and herb seedlings!
Save the Date
Saturday, June 29th - Two Boots Farm Open House and Potluck - We’ll show you around the farm, share a meal, have activities for kids, and an opportunity to build your own bouquet to take home.
Saturday, July 27th - Centerpiece Workshop at the Farm - Participants will learn to design their own centerpieces with flowers from our farm, sip wine from our neighbor’s vineyard, and tour the farm in this late afternoon summer workshop. Sign up early!
Saturday, August 10th- Flower Farm Dinner- Join us for an intimate seasonal dining experience on the farm prepared by Wilde Thyme. We will roam the farm, share a meal made with produce from Two Boots and other local farms, and enjoy an evening on the farm at the height of the season.