Winter Subscriptions Available NOW!

From our Farm to Your Pantry...

A Four Month Subscription

to wholesome & delicious, organically grown, family farmed

Spring & Summer treats during the Winter Months

for your and yours!

While many people enjoy the fruits of the abundant 

land we live in...not all of us have the time necessary 

to preserve the bounty!  

Esperanza Farm Winter Subscription

$350

November - February

-------------------

(1)

Once a Month Pick-Up!

(These items are "non-perishable," so you can come by just once a month

and pick up your goodies!)

(2)

Surprises in every box!

(Every month you'll get a different flavor of:  tea, fruit leather (perfect for kid's lunches), 4 jars of jam, apple pie mix, and 4 jars of frozen berries - perfect for yogurt, smoothies, pie,

on ice cream, in oatmeal...and more!)

We're taking Subscriptions NOW! 
(Early Sign Ups Allow More to Join)

Contact March Twisdale
Phone:  473-1643 
Email:  Esperanzavashon@gmail.com

Lights of Springtime

OUR LIGHTS OF SEEDLING SPRING!

This is one of those frames that comes with a large plastic cover - for outdoor greenhousing.

We find that it grows mold when used that way - we never use the plastic.

The metal tray under the whole thing is a blessing - keeping our wood flooring safe and dry.

That's one of those oil spill catching things they sell at car supply stores.

Our seeds LOVE living in a south facing window with no shade trees around the house.

These lights are special - ask at the store which will work for plants - and we've got them mounted on 

long pieces of wood which then have screws for the chains to go around.

This system allows extremely quick and easy lowering or raising of the lights - CRUCIAL!

To really get good effect, you need the lights no more than 2 inches from the top leaves

of the plant.  It takes a bit of organizing, but it's worth it.

Some things to keep in mind:

(1)

You want to plant seeds in waterproof trays that will all grow to about the same height.

If I put tomatoes (tall) and basil (short) in the same tray - then you see the trouble with the lights, right?

(2)

The heat of your home is getting a "second use" by keeping the seeds warm!

(3)

Seedlings take some time (not much) but they save tons of money!

Just our tomato plants alone, when ready to go into the garden, would have cost us $200 

if we bought them from someone else!  AND we got to choose our own varieties.

We'll talk more about this in the early Winter!

Happy Summer for now...

Cultivate a Seed Bank you'll LOVE eating!

Do you pull up all of your carrots?

Do you yank out those darn lettuces once they bolt and turn bitter?

Do you spend time "weeding" out old plants that are going to seed?

STOP!

Have you heard of the advice to continually sow successive generations of plants?

This lengthens your harvest period and increases your yield, right?

WOULD YOU LIKE THE PLANTS TO DO THIS FOR YOU?

If you say YES, then do what we do!

Leave in several of each plant variety...and let them go to seed!  Once plants

have established themselves "wildly" in your garden, THEY will naturally offer

up several "crops" per season...all on their own!

Right now we have the following, and you can too, after one year of "letting them bolt!"

(1)

We have Strawberries full of ripe berries AND new plants 

just getting started (with everything in between).

(2)

We have fully ripened chamomile AND new babies just a few inches tall.

(3)

Some of our "wild" lettuces went to seed back in early April,

some are going to seed now, some are about to go to seed, 

and a ton are babies or just perfect for the salad!

(4)

We have parsnips almost in seed,

parsnips that are almost ready to harvest,

and some that are just getting started.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

AN OVERLY CLEANED UP GARDEN IS A LOT OF WORK

& NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST FOOD PRODUCER!

LET THEM GO TO SEED!

Slugs...Slugs! SLUGS!

Am I worried?

Actually...no.

We've done the same thing year after year, home 

after home, from California to Washington!

And it works.

It's called The Slug Boat, and it will:

SAVE TIME

SAVE MONEY

SAVE YOUR PLANTS

and all with

Zero Animal Cruelty!

As you can see, we've used a pair of kitchen tongs to gather a group of European Slugs (we never get the banana slugs in the garden).

Three weeks ago - Slug Hunt #1 - 112 slugs relocated (1 hour)

Two weeks ago - Slug Hunt #2 - 54 slugs relocated (1 hour)

One week ago - Slug Hunt #3 - 27 slugs relocated (30 min.)

Two hours ago - Slug Hunt #4 - 15 slugs relocated (15 min.)

It takes 1 month of regular slug "hunting" and next year will see AT LEAST a 50% drop in numbers, and so on each year.  

AFTER A SUCCESSFUL HUNT, 

you simply take a walk to a nearby open space or empty grassy lot and relocate those slimy yet gentle creatures!

**Timing is everything - head out around 8pm, 7am, or in the rain!**

HAPPY HUNTING!

Harvest on purpose - weed by accident!

This is where one of our grapevines lives.

When we gathered soil from our garden (in the Winter) to prepare the wine barrel

for the vines, we brought along the "seed bank" that our garden currently has.

While I did plant strawberries on purpose as a cover crop, I clearly didn't need to.

All that you see (lettuces, herbs, even parsnips) are volunteers.

Every day (for health and for savings) I wander my garden in search of salad.

I've noticed that, in past years when I sometimes forgot to eat what I grew, I would have

to PLAN to weed.  They would get so bad, I'd spend a long afternoon on the job.

This year, as our need to eat out of the garden is greater, I'm finding that I naturally

see and yank out weeds as I'm gathering my family's salad.  I haven't 

had to set aside time to weed more than once this whole Spring!!!

So, my advice on this is two-fold:

(1)

Let your good plants go to seed and build a "seed bank" that you LOVE!

(2)

Eat what you grow as often as possible - and the weeding will happen almost by accident!

Happy Spring and Salads, everyone!

Strawberry Season Begins!

This is from our first harvest - 247 berries!

(1)

We baked a homemade cake and whipped up some cream

to go with these beauties...

(2)

I grabbed a lime, a little agave nectar, and some berries for

Strawberry Lime-aid!

(3)

In anticipation of my Low-Sugar Jam Class, I made up four jars

as taste comparisons!  Our recipe used 1 and 2/3 pounds of berries

with 3 tbsp of regular white sugar...the "normal" canning recipe calls for

(brace yourself)

5 cups of berries and 6 cups of sugar!!!!

Can you believe it?

We're counting berries for an annual total - additional harvests, so far,

have brought our total to 331 strawberries! 

WE SHOULD CALL EARLY JUNE BERRYDAZE!

Gather often and weeding is a breeze...

Just a quick "ah hah" moment I had yesterday.

We've really done well with "eating" out of the garden this year.

Some years I feel like I've grown a bunch but forgotten to actually eat the stuff!

You know, bolted lettuce you never got to, flowering broccoli heads, over-ripe 

and dried out radishes, and berries on the ground (rather than in your mouth)!

Well, this year we are in a financial pinch and I am so very, very happy to 

take a walk in my garden and come back with 1/2 or more of dinner for my family!

While enjoying this new and better use of my garden, 

I'm also noticing that when I'm gathering greens, it's just so peaceful and easy

to pull up this or that weed that is poking it's head up.

It came to me that a truly functional garden

is one that you eat out of frequently.  I like this much more than 

being a weekend warrior with a garden that looks great on Sunday

evening but then looks terribly weedy again on Saturday morning!

So, this posting is to encourage us all to spend more time eating what we grow

and enjoying the "gather" moment as a time of "escape" from the busyness 

of life...plus, I bet you'll notice that there are a lot less weeds on Saturday morning!

Happy Gathering!

Low Sugar Strawberry Jam Class (garden to belly)

Sorry - Class Canceled!
Have questions?  Post them here,
and we'll answer as we can.
Jam with little sugar is MUCH BETTER
than with - try it and you'll never
go back!  Trust our kids on this!

Class would have included:

~ Q and A about easy and inexpensive propagation of strawberries

~ Tour of the Garden and Hand's On Gathering of Class Materials

~ Instruction on Low Sugar Method 

~ Sampling of freshly made organic, local, strawberry jam on toast

Especially this year - Keep Tomatoes Trimmed

PLEASE KEEP ME TRIMMED UP!

Ugh - more rain?? 

So far, I've kept in mind the awesome berry year we'll likely

enjoy - but, enough is enough already!  I'm ready for some dry, hot weather!

Not so much for me, but for my tomatoes! 

Like some of you, I start my

tomatoes from seed in late February and after three months of tender, loving care...

well, I want them to be healthy!

While I trim my tomatoes up for several reasons, I think this year

calls for extra special care in order to minimize the risk of BLIGHT.

My (non-scientific) understanding is that blight is caused by something in the soil that can splash up onto the tomatoes during a heavy downpour and if the conditions remain "moist" it can "thrive" 

on the plant and cause all sorts of trouble to our much-loved and very much non-native tomato plants!

I HAVE FOUND THAT I'M MUCH HAPPIER WITH 6 WELL-TRAINED TOMATO

PLANTS THAN WITH 15 THAT ARE SPRAWLING ACROSS THE GROUND 

AND COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.

SO, HERE ARE MY 5 STEPS OF TOMATO MANAGEMENT:

#1

When I put them in the ground, I remove all leaves that are within 4 inches of the ground.

#2

I Place a stake (or similar contraption) beside my tomato babies on the day my plant or very soon afterwards.  I have been fooled in the past by strong, sturdy baby tomatoes that look like they'll stand up on their own for the rest of the season - but they don't!  So, I make sure to stake them NOW.

#3

If you grow from seed, like I do, hopefully you've been meticulous about preventing "sucker" growth.  These are the "new shoots" that grow out from the juncture where leaves grow off from the trunk.  I  want a trunk and a food-generating leaf - I don't want that 3rd stem growing up from the middle of these other two.  I've certainly had my share of "octopus" tomatoes that have sent out lots and lots of extra "suckers" which looked impressive but led to very little ripe fruit.  I want "working tomatoes!"

#4

Now, about 2-3 weeks after initial planting, I do one more "low leaf removal" as the upper trunk 

of the plant has produced more leaves for food-creation and I no longer need the "yellowed" 

lower leaves.  My goal is to have tall tomatoes with a big gap between the lowest leaf and the dirt 

so that I minimize the Blight risk!

#5

And, now I just need to do maintenance.

 Meaning, on a weekly basis, I wander amongst my tomato babies and ruthlessly (no mercy!!) remove 

all suckers.  (NOTE:  There are two tomato varieties - determinant and non-determinant - 

one type creates insane excess growth and another does not.  I am NOT an expert on the difference between these two - it would be great if someone wants to write in to comment 

about this and share their experience.)  I also carry that lovely stretchy green tape with me (or 

another similar product) and tie up each plant to it's stake as necessary on a weekly basis.  

And, of course, I'll eventually actually have to water them.  Right?

Okay - that's what I do - please feel free to share your own tips!

Strawberries - the ultimate mulch AND weed!

I really cannot stress enough how sad it is that most of us

so greatly UNDER-USE strawberries!

Let's keep in mind some basic tenets of successful gardening...

(1)

  For Water Conservation, we want to protect the soil from direct sun.  Therefore, wherever

I have "tall" plants growing, I have an "understory" of strawberries that provide "shade" to the soil.

This "living mulch" is especially wonderful around other acid-loving plants, like blueberries.

(2) 

For Weed Control, we want to avoid open soil that simply waits for a weed seed to blow on in.

Strawberries are some of our earlier waking plants - they are usually fully fledged out by mid-April - giving us valuable weed protection during the dangerous Spring Weed Months (May & June).  As you can see above, they really fill up the space and serve as excellent  weed barriers!  They 

are also easy to weed AROUND when the rare weed gets a foothold.

(3)

For Easy and Self-Sustaining food producing plants, I'd have to say that only chamomile and kale canhold a candle to the wonders of the strawberry!  I have about 1000 strawberry plants 

in my garden, and they all came from 8 plants that I bought in 2005.  They are so prolific, 

it's almost a "chore" to keep up with those babies.  However, once you recognize their value, you'll appreciate each and every one of them!  

Here's are some examples of what we do with our "flocks" of strawberries!

Idea #1

I always have an idea of which beds will do what over the next two years.  Right now, I've got a bed that is hosting brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower) - but, about 6 weeks ago, I had a bed that was being "cleared out" and there were a bunch of strawberry babies - so, I planted them in my brassica bed.  They will be smallish this year, so the weed control is minimal.  BUT, by next Spring, they'll have filled in the space.  Strawberries produce best on year 2 and 3, so I might let that bed simply grow berries for two years - or I'll find something compatible.  

Idea #2

I just put in some permanent berry beds.  This year, in February, I gathered volunteer chamomile and strawberry babies and planted them all around the newly relocated berry bushes (gooseberries, blueberries, and currants).  While the strawberries are having their "slow 1st year," the chamomile is about 2 1/2 feet tall, bushy, and totally shading out any weeds that might have tried to grow in the rich new berry bed soil.  As I pull the chamomile for tea, the berry bushes are appreciating the extra light (some of them are shorter than the exploding chamomile), AND the strawberries will get the light they need just as the hotter weather comes in - weeds simply don't "start" well in July or August.  By next Spring, I'll have a thick and rich "living mulch" of strawberries covering the soil around my berry bushes, and I'll have MORE FRUIT + MUCH LESS WEEDING in March of 2011!

So, please, please, please...spread the strawberries everywhere you can, 

whenever you can, as often as you can, and enjoy

those yummy red fruits fresh from the

garden OR in some jam!

Go Strawberries!

Early Investments in Fruit Trees!

If you need to protect against deer, then you might as well do it well.

And this means you'll need two stages.

Stage One 

Keep the Fenced Area Small so the deer absolutely cannot jump inside easily...

But, as you can see above, when the trees are 4-5 years old, they'll outgrow these 

smaller confined spaces.

So, we have Stage Two!

Yes, it's really worth it to go out there and jerk those T-posts out of the ground, hassle with

re-using the deer fencing that you can while adding more, and getting a final 

boundary around your NOW FRUITING young trees.

(See Below)

We went from 4 foot sides to 7 foot sides...

and this ought to last us until the trees are big enough

to withstand some deer nibbling here and there.

I'm looking forward to removing all of the tree fencing

sometime around 2014 or so!

What you can expect in 2010

If you're new to this blog - here's what you can expect!

(1)  In general, weekly (seasonally appropriate) tips and suggestions.

Examples:  In late April I warned about "Weeds in May," next week I'll be talking about how to train your tomatoes to reduce blight risks, in March I talked about the late Winter prepping I did to survive the wild growth of Spring in the Northwest.

(2)  Registration Options for Classes Offered

Examples:  We will offer a Strawberry Jam Making Class (from strawberry bed to belly) which will include discussions about easy strawberry growing + all the jam making ideas you can imagine!  Will offer a Fruit Leather Class (from tree to belly), etc.

(3)  Notices of "buying" opportunities.

From eggs (sold year round) to grass-raised, organic meat birds (pre-sold for Summer 2011), to miscellaneous fresh garden produce (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and more)...as they come available!

This is a great source for all people - new or experienced gardeners, 

rural or urban dwellers, chefs or non-cooking types, 

and more!  We look forward to having you

join our community!