The new floor is the first stage to opening up Chan’s Barn to enhance it as a community space. The Barn creates opportunities for workshops and events. We’ll continue to fundraise for siding, windows, electricity upgrade, etc.
The seed is in the ground.
Now we may rest in hope
While darkness does its work.
By Wendell Berry
I always enjoy this poem, especially in the spring as we sow seeds in the greenhouse and in the fields. It gives a peaceful feeling, although “Now we may rest …” Has me scratching my head. Because it’s anything but restful at the CSG!
These weeks between the winter share and the start of the 2019 season is a big push to getting seeds and seedlings in the ground. Plus keeping them weeded and cultivated. Many of the early spring crops – especially those in the brassica family, (i.e. Broccoli, arugula, cabbage, kohlrabi, and bok choy) need to be covered with reemay. Reemay is a white row cover that lets light and water in yet keeps most insects out. And there is one tiny insect called a flea beetle that loves the brassica family and will eat away until the plant looks like lace. When a plant is attacked by these beetles, it loses vigor and small leaves like arugula taste bitter. So we keep them covered. The reemay covers can also provide warmth to the soil for seeds to germinate. And, yep, this means weed seeds, too. So we spend a bit of time uncovering beds, weeding them and then putting the covers back on. Whew! Some of those 500 foot beds can seem pretty long!
We have a task board in the work room of the Gardenhouse. There is a section called “BIG PROJECTS”. And this past Friday, we were able to cross off one of those projects. We poured the barn floor over at Chan’s!! You know that feeling of ‘being in the zone’ or having a flow happen, or when all the instruments in an orchestra make a beautiful piece of music … Well, this is exactly how it felt when we poured the floor. Even the cement truck driver was part of it! We had to use wheelbarrows to move the cement from the chute and dump into the graveled space while another team was doing the leveling as it went in. There were 4 wheelbarrows going, and there wasn’t one spill. Farmer Mike had spent a lot of time calculating, arranging tools, staging the whole thing and just thinking about it. And as someone said at the end “it worked like a well-oiled machine”. Truly.
As I was part of the leveling team, I could feel Chan’s blessing on the project. At one point, I looked up and felt sure I saw her sitting in a chair, knitting away, and giving a nod of satisfaction.
This new floor is the first stage to opening up Chan’s Barn to enhance it as a community space. The Barn creates opportunities for workshops and events. We’ll continue to fund-raise for siding, windows, electricity upgrade, etc.
So please, stop by the barn and check out the floor. Also, be sure to stop in the greenhouse on your pick-up day to see what’s going on in the nursery. If I’m nearby I would be happy to show you around.
Happy 2019 Season!
–Farmer Judy
Follow Us