Tropical Storm Blues

After 3 days of rain, the sun is shining again.Our soil amazes us. I was determined to rescue my tomatoes today before they split and spoiled; I thought for sure I would be sinking in the muck, but I could actually walk out there without sinking, and this is after 6 inches of rain! We made 28 quarts of juice today which makes a total of 50 quarts.
The 600 plants ( broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower) are doing well. Good thing we planted them deeply. We were able to find onion sets. We have been searching all over for them so were grateful to find them.
The beans are exploding with blooms and little peas and green beans. The honey dew are crawling off the plastic, okra is blooming and setting well, and we had some delicious yellow zucchini for lunch.
Lettuce is under shade cloth and has sprouted very well. Next week will be in the low 80's so we will be able to remove the cloth. Good thing we had that on during all the rain.
Ron and Seth started on our chicken tractors. We have 12 Rhode Island Reds coming in October. They will be about 18 weeks old then. We found a local guy who is breeding RIR, and Buff Orphingtons.
We are getting geared up for the Fall Market. Ordering labels for the lettuce, bags, tables , and making more signs.

ReGrouping

We are regrouping, starting school, planting and planning. Mercifully, we have had 2 beautiful rains. Lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower will love it. Honeydews are spreading rapidly as are the squash and cukes. Okra is finally coming on, brown crowders and green beans are blooming. We are still about 2 weeks out from harvesting. Mixed lettuce will be ready then, too, and then back to the farmer's market. We found 2 more markets in Crossville. One is attached to the new food buying club we joined so we can kill 2 birds with 1 stone- ( as awful as that sounds).
Hopefully they will come to dig our pond soon. We just made it this season by the seat of our pants. Rains came just in time. Ron found a good place to buy drip line and greenhouse supplies in McMinville. We also found a man in Pall Mall- Wolf Valley Growers who will grow our plants for us (organically). We bought our broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower from him. They were lush and green and we popped them in the ground this morning, and then it rained again. Great timing.
Ron made the hoops for our low tunnels. He bought conduit and a hoop bender from Johnnys Seeds for about $79. We will start to use these in September. Try to purchase that from the manufacuturer. We are going to buy the Salad Spinner that Johnnys carries; however, we will purchase it from the manufacturer for 1/2 price. Sorry Johnny's - They have great seeds but some of the extras are a little pricey.

We are getting our website, herbandplow.com, ready for purchasing produce.

Meltdown

The heat index was well over 100 degrees. I felt like wilted lettuce. Everything was moving slowly, lots of people had corn to sell. I didn't know how we could sell all that we had. Patra yells across to the other vendors, "Are we crazy or what?" There's a heat advisory out, what are we doing here?" I was too hot and too tired to answer.
There must have been 1/2 a dozen people ask me if the corn had been sprayed with conventional sprays. Organic standards saved the day. We sold every ear of corn, cantaloupes and watermelons. My 13-year-old said, "This organic thing is big." Yeah it is big. People are tired of being subjected to poisonous sprays and tasteless food. Viva naturally and locally grown food.
Yesterday at the market the heat index was 109. I sold all the corn again and people were asking for me, the melon lady. Those sangria watermelons were incredible. We won't raise anything else again except maybe for some sugar babies. The ambrosia cantaloupes were all that their name implies. They could look soft and over the hill and be absolutely delicious. Lots of chicken manure and a handful of kelp in each plant hole.
Excited about the gourmet food varieties for this fall. Herbandplow.com will have available produce and what is available for this fall.
Also had a lady inquire about CSAs for this fall/winter. She was very excited about moving out to the country. When I mentioned that Ron helps people to pick country properties, build energy efficient homes, and help them to utilize the property's natural resources ( springs, trees, fields, etc.), he grabbed my hand and shook it.