More Successions Going to the Field

More Successions Going to the Field 
The vole barrier around our new succession of cucumbers.  So far, no losses!
Farm Update 
 
What a cold spring!  We formally take back anything we’ve said this year about how the fields looked like they were drying out nicely.  We were able to put about half of our planting-ready seedlings out.  The weather was best for soil prep and transplanting on Saturday, so a few of us came in to plant over the weekend.  

We weren’t able to plant everything because, as anticipated, we were limited by having too few areas that were dry and free of reside from previous crops.  The unexpected challenge, however,  is that we’ve run out of rowcover to use!  Normally this isn’t an issue, but it has been so cold this spring that we haven’t been able to remove those covers from our earlier hoophouse plantings yet and they're all still being used indoors.

Later this week should warm enough for us to take some covers out to the field and finish our transplanting As long there isn’t another severe cold snap we should be okay.  Luckily, the seedlings still look pretty robust despite the delayed transplanting.  We tried to harden them off a little last week and that seems to have also helped slow down their growth.

 In other news we are happy to see our cucumbers finally growing safely.  The first succession was totally decimated by voles and had to be started again from scratch.  With insult to injury, we discovered they weren’t actually eating the seedings, but using them as bedding!  We ended up building a wood barrier around the bed, which we quickly realized was not tall enough.  Eventually we figured out a setup to hold back the voles long enough for the seedlings to grow sturdier stems that are not as juicy and attractive.  It sets us back a few weeks, but thankfully now cucumbers are on their way in just a few weeks!
The tomatoes are so big that it's getting harder to see across the greenhouse!  Here Marcelino is preparing a bed with compost where we will transplant eggplant.
 
Order plants here

FARM STORE NOTES
 
Things to note from us: Red summer radishes are back again this week!  
 
Herbs have been taking off with the increase in light.  We have dill, cilantro, thyme and basil on this week.  We also have more Living Basil Plants ready. 
 
From storage we have carrots, red cabbage, turnips, kohlrabi, celeriac, radish.   From greenhouses and hoophouses: Choi, rosemary, thyme, dill, cilantro, salad mix and chard.
 
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS
 
PRODUCE
Forrest City Microgreens (London): Fresh, local microgreens perfect on top of any dish, in sandwiches, or blended into smoothies for extra flavour and nutrition!
Pfenning's (New Hamburg): Green cabbage, potatoes, beets and onions.
Through Pfenning's: Orgainc gala apples, celery, broccoli, garlic, mushrooms, citrus, ginger, turmeric.
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Sweet potatoes
Great Lakes Farms (Port Stanley): Nearly sold out for the season, this is the last week of Great Lakes apples!  We have​Empire, Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia apples.
 
DAIRY and EGGS
Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont): Non-homogenized, vat pasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheese curds.
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Eggs
Through Pfenning's: L'Ancetre butter and grass-fed cheese
 
 FROZEN
3Gen Organics (Wallenstein): Ground pork, sausage, bacon, ham, tenderloin, chops
YU Ranch (Tillsonburg): ground beef, stewing beef
New Leaf Foods (London): Beet burgers
 
BAKERY
Seth/La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas):  Organic sourdough bread made using local grain that Seth mills himself.
Artisan Bakery (London) is off this week. Sourdoughs and pastry made with local flour.
 
PANTRY
Aldred Maple (West Lorne): Amber, dark, or whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup.
Wildflowers Honey (St. Thomas): Unpasteurized honey from hives all over Elgin County, including our farm!
Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville). Fresh, organic and cold-pressed, organic hemp and sunflower oil. 

Weekly pickup / delivery schedule:

Pickup Instore: Farm pickup is​ Friday 1-7pm. ​Western Fair is Saturday 8-3 pm, Kitchener Market 7-2 pm.

Delivery: Thursday or  Friday in London / St.Thomas.  We will send out the schedule Wednesday.  
link:
Note that if you you will no longer get reminders about your subscription!

Common Ground Farm 6986 Middle River Road St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S9
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