Tuesday At Two
This week we'll feature sweet corn in a drought year.  We'll start by learning how to choose which ears to pick and when to pick.  We'll talk about GMO and why that is significant to Sweet Corn, what is hybrid corn, and open pollinated corn.  What happens in a drought to pollination, sweetness, density and moisture content.  We'll take what we pick home and process sweet corn and share recipes for corn chowder and how to make cream style corn.  Take some home too. 

Tuesday at Two next week we will talk about water and rain: how water acts in the soil, how it is taken up by plants, and transpiration. Ever notice how irrigation just doesn't seem to work as well as rain?  Come find out more.  The featured plant will be Aloe Vera complete with a free plant.  The pest this week will be spider mites.  Lets talk about the weather and how it effects you, me, and the food we eat. 

Usually use some pictures from the operation, but still working on how to get them across from my new phone. Finally getting some rain!  Still in drought conditions, but always any is a help.  Crop conditions are deplorable since we have limited irrigation, and from experience, the best we could do is keep things alive, and not really grow a crop.
Cherries          Froze out early March
Apricots          Same
Plums               Same
Peaches            Some?
Pears               Potential yet for a bumper crop if we get more rain
Apples             Some gone, some limited potential, some good potential with rain.
Strawberries    Really limited
Raspberries      Same
Mulberries        Same
Grapes              Same
Most veggies in the field are being disced under.
Growing limited supply of veggies, herbs and flowers under controlled environment and "water!"
Getting some green beans, lettuce, onions, potatoes,and may have some edible pod soybeans if the spider mites and dry weather give them a chance
Sweet corn potential looks fair to good
Popcorn potential so-so
Corn, soybeans, small grin, and hay, all to early to tell how badly damaged they are.

Tuesday we will celebrate the Fourth of July by talking about the plants the colonist found when they came to this country.  We'll review how they were used, and how one plant was so plentiful in this country that the market for it crashed in England.  Learn how to make our special fireworks sun tea.  Taste Oswego Tea made famous in the many tea party dumpings of tea. Happy Fourth Everyone!  

Tuesday @ Two - June 26th

June 26th's Tuesday at Two
     We will talk about dead heading  for the gardening topic and learn why it is especially important in a drought.  Learn what is good about the drought and why now might be an especially good time this year for gathering herbs now.  We'll talk about the importance of using indigenous plant materials and how they can help you through a drought.  Try Les' Berries and Creme Day Lilies.  And don't forget your own questions.  See you there.

Tuesday @ Two this coming Tuesday.
     Find out what you can learn about the growing season from your local strawberry.  Learn how to make and sample Elderberry Fizz.  We'll discuss the use of currently available greens.  The featured herb will be parsley.  With the drought the little water fountain featured last week has yielded a litter of wild bunnies so I think we'll review backyard nature spaces .  And don't forget the question and answer period.
     Remember these workshops are free to CSA members and $2.00 to nonCSA members.
(Late CSA memberships begin July1 run through October plus a pick up in November and are still available.)

Tuesday @ Two on June 16th will feature creating a backyard nature space.  You will learn about the elements that are needed in this space and why encouraging these birds, butterflies and frogs are important to organic growing and enjoying your backyard.  We will also be showing you how to put in a simple fountain.  As long as we are on backyards we will also talk about backyard chickens and you may visit and talk about the minor breeds of poultry raised at Black Sheep Enterprises.  We will demonstrate and sample Sr. Rose Mariam Tea.  Don't forget to bring your gardening and crop production questions.                                                                                                                                                       Tuesday @ Two is open to everyone for $2.00 and free to CSA members.                                      (We have CSA memberships that begin in July and runs through the end of Oct.
                                            with a pick up in November still available)

Tuesdays @ 2

Over the years we have been asked to answer a variety of horticultural and agronomic questions or just
share the ideas we have used on the farms we have stewarded. This year we will be offering a series
of workshops each Tuesday afternoon at 2:00PM. We will cover many topics featuring the questions
we are most often asked, cultural practices, and a question and answer time. For the cost of a stop at a
coffee shop you’ll sample demonstrated recipes featuring a currently available product on the farm or
your own back yard. The cost of this workshop is $2.00 each week or free to CSA members. (CSA’s are
still available.)

We will kick off the series celebrating our anniversary by sharing some our story through this week’s
featured topics. The featured plant materials will include the flowers from our wedding and the wild
rose Les gave Pat years ago as an anniversary gift. Learn how to propagate, grow, and use them. We
will talk about the anatomy of an insect and why that is important in understanding how to control
insects and plant disease. Learn about lady bugs and how they are used in organic production. There
will be time for a question and answer period or sit and enjoy sometime on the farm.

Next week will feature the elements in a back yard nature corner; putting in a simple water feature, the
plants that attract birds and butterflies, and natural ways to control mosquitos. As long as we’re on
backyards we’ll talk a little about backyard chickens and you can visit with and learn about the minor
breeds at Black Sheep Enterprises.

Each week you’ll learn about the things at going on at Black Sheep Enterprises and don’t forget the
featured recipes and time in the backyard or a walk in the orchard. There will be plenty of time for
questions. Join us each week or on the weeks that work best for you.

See you here on the farm!

Don't Have a CSA, Yet? You're in Luck!

Late CSA's start on July 1, 2012 and run through the end of October with special pick-ups in November. More details to follow. We're updating the site this weekend! We'll also be better about the blog, promise ;)