In true April fashion, we have been graced with a cascade of precipitation over the past couple week—not snow, but not quite a spring rainstorm as the droplets slowly glaciate on a raspberry’s thorn, encapsulating the branch in a not-so-thin coat of ice. Yet, the energy of the world moves on, escaping the freeze, as tulips and daffodils push toward the sun, the crocus begin to bloom, and the red buds of the maples bring a shy blush to the hills. The momentum is building and the dash toward summer and harvest and bounty is just beginning. While the world is still softly turning from shades of brown and grey outside, inside green is beginning to creep its way toward the sidewalls of our greenhouses. The first of our tomatoes have been planted, snapdragons and parsley need potting on, and a long list of seeding is awaiting us next week. The ranunculus are beginning to bud and Icelandic poppies are bringing a bright burst of color to our lives. The season is beginning (opening day is May 10th!) and we look forward to all that it brings.

Already, a big thank you to everyone who signed up for our early spring flower shares. We are so happy and grateful to be able to share flowers—color, life, beauty—this early in the year. Sign-ups for our Spring Flower Shares are still open, also featuring our tulips and a bounty of other flowers including campanula, snapdragons, carnations, foxglove, and so many more magical blooms from our overwinter tunnel. One of our big projects this month is converting part of the shipping container behind the farmstand into a flower cooler. We’re looking forward to expanding in this area of our business this season!

We are done harvesting and caring for our forced tulips and preparing our crop plans, and now it is on to seeding season as we begin to seed for our own fields and bedding plant sales. If you missed our online bedding plant pre-order sale, we will have plenty of vegetable, flower, and herb starts available when we open in May. We would love to help be a part of your garden and nourishment this season.

This week we planted the first of our tomato tunnels where we will be growing a variety of slicing and cherry tomatoes as well as basil, beets, carrots, and radishes. Pruning has also been on our list as we’ve been maintaining our blueberry bushes. We are delighted to have UNH Extensions visiting our farm for a Blueberry Pruning Workshop this coming Tuesday, April 8th at 1pm. This event is free and open to the public, but small donations are welcomed to help support UNH Extensions continue to offer educational programs like this.

Despite the rain we’ve been able to get into our fields with the tractor and are beginning to turn them over for planting. The soil, dark and fresh and not yet sun-lightened, is the canvas for the season, the starting point for what are about to be fields lush with lettuces, peas climbing skyward, tomatoes hanging heavy on the vine, and flowers splashing bright bursts of color across the landscape. It is never picture perfect, and to get there we know there are weather, pests, and the unexpected to contend with. A water line breaks, a disease runs rampant, micro greens rot in high humidity, seeds don’t germinate, trays get dropped. Farming is an experiment. Subject to any manner of outside forces; yet, through the process of trial and error we persevere. Each year we do, and learn, and grow—in more ways than one. We look forward to what lessons this season brings and we look forward to seeing you May 10th. Stay tuned for it all…the good, the unfortunate, the loss, and the beauty that is farming.

Happy spring,
The Rosaly’s Crew