Planting, Planting and Weeding

Carrots are coming up nicely, however so

are the weeds.  Volunteers are needed to

pull the weeds and leave the carrots.  Some-

times they both look alike.

We really appreciate our numerous volunteers

that come to help on the farm each night.

Right now the carrots are being weeded.

We do have one grow box with weed cloth

under the carrots, hence, no weeding.

Weeding carrots or any plant in the grow box

that doesn't have weed cloth is hard; crawling

on knees and making the decision - weed or

plant.  The first weeding of carrots is critical.

Our celery is doing nicely.  This celery was

actually planted last year and "wintered over".

Celery likes the cool weather.

Prior to planting tomatoes in the field, T bars

are pounded in the ground and twine is woven

in and around the bars.  This twine will keep the

tomatoes from falling down thus making it

easier to harvest.  

   

     A closeup view of our tomato plants.                   

Lots of volunteers were needed in the process

to pound all the T bars into the ground and then

weave the twine.  The volunteers above are planting

the tomatoes which are spaced about 2 feet apart.

As the tomatoes grow, we will add more twine to give

the support to the plants.

Our Greenhouse is still full with plants.  These

plants are healthy as our greenhouse is temperature

controlled.  We have fans blowing all the time to

strengthen the plants; exhaust fans to take out the excess

heat and a swamp cooler to help with cooling the greenhouse.

The greenhouse temperature is about 75 to 80 degrees

all the time.  An ideal setting for germinating the seeds to

produce beautiful plants.

The plants in the greenhouse are in various

stages.  We don't want to overload the

greenhouse and not be able to get the plants

out to the field or grow boxes.  Planning

is critical to keep the process 

running smooth.

Missionaries are planting pumpkin seeds for a

fall harvest in October.

Another view of the greenhouse and progress

of the plants.  Missionaries are in charge of

the greenhouse.

Missionaries are tying up the leaves surrounding

the cauliflower plant.  It is critical to shade the

cauliflower itself in order to keep it white.

We have already harvested 29 pounds of

cauliflower.  

Tomatoes were planted in the grow box on Saturday

May 31st.  We now have three grow boxes of tomato plants; 

one box has weed cloth and the other two boxes 

have saw dust applied on top of the ground and

around the plants to suppress the weeds and 

to keep the plants moist.