This week I had my hands full getting all the markets up and running for the summer. Over the next ten weeks we will have four farm stands open everyday from 9am-6pm, plus our CSA, the farm, the packing house, not to mention trucks and drivers picking up and delivering seven days per week. It is a lot of hustle and bustle, tiring but rewarding. You’ve got to make hay while the sun shines as my grandfather used to say. I’m looking forward to the friendships, teamwork, and comradery that will be forged amongst my crew. I enjoy getting updates and reminiscing with past employees spanning back over the past four decades. For many this is a first job which will be looked back upon with fond memories. Monday morning at GreenTree I had several customers back to back, all parents of past employees updating me on their child’s whereabouts.

So far this season feels a bit like our golden age. The new & improved Jones Mill Stand has more parking and more shade, a bigger tent and wood floors. Mass Ave gets better every year like a fine wine. Tilden has a new trailer which is going to make setting up and closing so much better. And the farm itself is experiencing our best season yet.

Adding our new location at Brown’s Market, at the corner of Old Georgetown Rd and Greentree is the icing on the cake. It has been fun and exciting and a bit like a dream come true. We kicked off our first Friday Evening PorchFest with live music by Robert Lighthouse.  I really enjoy being the new kid on the block along veteran vendors Salt River Lobster Co. and Bear’s Shaved Ice. It had a real neighborhood block party vibe as we offered samples of gazpacho, (compliments of the Daily Dish), prosciutto and melon.  We even fired up the charcoal grill and cooked a couple trout on cedar planks which we then shared with our guests. What a blast. I hope to do this weekly as we run our evening specials. Next week I’m looking forward to grilling some corn, squash, and slicing up some watermelon.

So I will confess that I never even made it out to the farm this week. Instead I relied on my brother, Jeff Norman, who is in charge of our nutrient management and scouting. He is also our liaison with other growers and always getting the lowdown on what’s coming in, or going out; who’s expecting a bumper crop and who’s predicting crop failure.

In regards to our farm, Jeff says the following:

This week we have planted our fall squash and pumpkins. They just sprouted and are looking great. Our tomatoes are growing like crazy so we are tying them to the trellis at every 8″ of height. We picked our first harvest of zucchini and squash blossoms and soon are expecting a great crop of kirby and slicing cucumbers. Our peppers, eggplant, okra and ground cherries are looking phenomenal.

That’s all for now. Have a great week everyone.