The wet weather is having only slight effects on the crops at Two Toad Farm. Due to the gentle slopes and fairly well drained soil (Beckett), there is no puddling of water. The wetness is causing some loss of young, tender leaves of salad mix, the bottoms of some pac chois, and making slugs a problem for the farm for the first time ever (in my entire farming/gardening career). Another slight problem is that the peas are not sweetening up as they should. They are growing well, but without the sun, they are not producing as much sugar as they could (varieties like sugar Anne, sugar sprint, and sugar snap are usually very sweet).

Some new allies have emerged from the soil this week. Bee assassins catch and eat cabbage moths and other flying pests. Unfortunately they also eat my honey bees, but hopefully they stick to slower flyers. I hope they eat the grasshoppers.

Broccoli is coming for the CSA next week, and summer squashes are starting to size up, we’ll keep an eye on those). I will also be vigilant in the tomatoes watching for signs of early blight that devistated so many tomatoes accross Maine last year.

Keep thinking sunshine,

jp

CSA Shares consisted of the following:

2 large bunches of Kale, 1 bunch of baby bunching greens (choice of purple mustard, mizuna, or red kale), one large Black Summer pac choi, bunch of green onions, 1 lb of salad mix, 1 bunch of radishes, and for those who wanted, a bunch of arugula.

Next week, look forward to winterbor kale (more common variety), and bright lights swiss chard. Also Red Cross lettuce (head), and Tropicana lettuce (head). Sweet, baby turnips will also make a comeback… and I’ve been watching the first large plantings of peas. There MAY be some peas for the CSA, but if so, a small amount.

Please send recipe questions and Ideas for a new section of the website coming soon.

Thank you,

JP

The CSA is almost SOLD OUT. First CSA pick up will begin on Tuesday June 02, 2009. See the CSA tab above for more information.

• Also come buy fresh, local, organic produce from 9AM-Noon each Saturday at Great Brook Animal Care on 202 in Lebanon, Maine.
• 14 different types of produce were at last Saturday’s market including: 4 types of pac chois, 2 types of Kale, Raab, POUNDS AND POUNDS of salad mix, lettuce mix, head lettuce, baby beets, radishes (gourmet French breakfast), scallions, hakurei turnips, swiss chard…. More coming THIS SATURDAY May 23!!

Many FULL shares left, but HALF shares are sold out.

You can now go to Farmfeild Nursery and Greenhouses and purchase shares in person (in full) using your Visa or Mastercard. The transaction fee charged by the credit card company (about 2.2%) will be added to the share price.

Send the farm an email to be put on the half share waiting list if you cannot find another couple or family to split a full share with. As people who already have half shares find friends to split a half share with, thier half shares go back up for grabs. This has been rare, though.

Just last week, we were having nights in the mid 20’s. Now we are in a heat wave and I am planting like mad. Without rain, however, direct seeded crops (carrots, beets, radishes, parsnips, peas)will have a hard germinating in the dry heat. We need about 1/2″ of rain every other night for a week for things to get back to ideal. Irrigation (like last year) will be the key to spring success.

Some crops will be available at market on Saturday May, 09 at our NEW SATURDAY MARKET Location: Great Brook Animal Care on 202 in South Lebanon. CSA pick up (along with limited and specialty crops for retail sale) will still be at Farmfeild Nursery and Greenhouses on 202 in East Lebanon.

Also, new this year: Cut Flowers. Stay tuned for updates.

If you have sent in a check and sign-up sheet to become a member of the CSA, but have not received a confirmation from me (phone call or email, or I’ve deposited your check), please contact the farm to make sure nothing was lost in the mail.

Thank you to all of the CSA members who make Two Toad Farm’s 2009 season possible. Without them, I would not have grown ANY veggies this year for retail sale.

Jordan Pike

Two Toad Farm is a small, diversified vegetable farm that began growing commercially in 2008. The majority of the 1.5 acres in production is leased from community members who are committed to preserving local farm land. The mission of Two Toad Farm is to protect local farmland by putting it into viable, organic vegetable production. Affordable organic produce for the local community and stable farm jobs is the result. Two Toad Farm is interested in leasing other fields of 2 acres or more in Lebanon, Maine and surrounding towns for future expansion.

What We Offer:

* 50 summer vegetable shares by becoming a member of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

* Retail sales at fresh markets in Lebanon and surrounding areas.

* Wholesale sales to restaurants and natural food stores.