6-11-10

TRANSPLANTING PEAS

GLOVELESS

SUGAR SNAP PEAS

SNOW PEAS

AARON FOREGROUND, YURT BACKGROUND

PETTING AGNES

The WWOOF host - WWOOFer relationship varies greatly from one farm to another. Sometimes hosts tend to micromanage, while other times we essentially have free reign. At Feel Good Farm, it's definitely the latter.

Farmer Jen is currently on a road trip, and she left us a list of jobs that we should take care of while she's gone. She'll return early next week, and we can attend to the chores however and whenever we see fit. Today, with just the two of us working, it sort of felt like a trial run of how our own place might feel years down the road. We enjoy working together, side by side on tasks. We rarely get in each other's way, and especially enjoy doing activities that bring us closer. For example, Jen was picking sugar snap peas for the upcoming week's CSA from one side of the hoophouse while Aaron was picking snow peas from the other, and as we finished harvesting we met in the middle and smooched. It was a job well done.

Without someone telling us what to do, we had to make some decisions about how to accomplish certain tasks. As we transplanted peas, leeks, cilantro, and lettuce, we had to decide how many plants should go across in each row. Each crop was planted differently, and we discussed if there is more than just aesthetics involved. Certain plants grow larger and need more space, but different farms have various row widths. It's physically challenging to reach across a six foot row, yet if they are too narrow, you cannot plant enough. Four plants across seems most ideal but with large growing crops, less is more. And because we were treating it like our own garden, we couldn't walk by any weeds without pulling them up, even though weeding wasn't a priority. After a week here, we've accomplished a great deal, and on one hand, the farm looks great. But on the other hand, there is still a WHOLE LOT to do...and learn.