Line 'em Up!

Here we are in mid-May and things are happening.  We could not actually declare the start of the spring garden season because we never really stopped.  The cold frames produced all winter into early spring to the present. 

We roto-tilled the soil, raked it out and laid out the paths and rows

I guess you could say the turning of the soil in the rows and the removal of the cold frame tops that happened in mid April was the start but by then we already had peas and beets in and we were still harvesting nice salads and other greens.

A grid of square raised beds lined up to the sun



The front fence with the new gate makes a nice line

Oh I've seen corn in Kansas
And I've seen picket fences
And certain cowboy dances
I've gone lining up for shows
I've been safely placed in rows
Sure I know how it goes

Somebody line 'em up
Line 'em all up

by James Taylor



The vegetable gardens at Monticello

The rectilinear orientation of gardens goes back to the ancients. An inspiration for us was a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charottesville, Virginia.  To Jefferson gardening was paramount.  The architecture of his gardens like his structures was rectilinear with curves for accent and interest.  Nature provides the soft, curved, textured wildness.  



Pear tree blossoms in early May



Peas are flowering too

 

14 Broilers fattening





4 new Araucana chicks joined the flock thanks to a visit from our friends from Black Sheep Farm in New Hampshire






Sometimes you purposely do not line things up like this polyculture raised bed

 

Rocks lined up for the foundation of the planned garden shed



   



<>The hens could care less about lining up the eggs....



                                                                                                                                                                        but we do...

Line 'em up Liz








 Edamame already up!