Catch a wave… of rainy spring days…

1 and 2 yr olds coming back strong as of May 10

And you’re sitting on top of the world! Weeks of rain! And we made it in time. 

Our last cuttings got in the ground last week, just as our planting tool and our backs were giving out. In the end, we got a 12” drill bit/auger and just drilled the last few rows. But we’ve now got 607 stalks planted in the new beds. It took us 6-7 weeks, a few days a week. We were also laying the fabric down during that time - laying, planting, laying, planting and so on.

New stalks after a few days of rain - so far so good. May 10

There’s been some die-off, sadly most of the Packing Twine and Dickie Meadows cuttings  haven’t sprouted. Some other varieties are still struggling. I almost bought another 100 stalks from another farm to fill in those holes in the beds and then decided to just stop here. Knowing your limits is key in your 70s. But overall, a pretty good start to year 2.

After a few days off, we came back and mowed and weeded around  the planting beds and mulched the edges with straw. It looks wonderful, all neat and new. 

5/10 New bed - mulched and mowed 

So the these last few days have been rainy and cool, and we are staying home, happily recovering while the willows grow. And the field grass grows too. We’ll need to get back to mow again for sure. But we’ll also get back to our new-to-us RV and selling off things to get ready to Downsize,Baby!

Below are some shots of the new beds, but also the 1 yr olds and 2 yr olds as they grow  back from February’s harvest. 

3/28 The 1 yr old bed s just starting to revive.

3/28 Most of the fabric is down in the new beds and the first stalks in

3/28 The 2 yr olds are coming back, even the ones in pots. 

This video of a walk around the 1 and 2 yr beds was taken two weeks later, April 10. (Forgive the wonky camera work.I am still learning how to edit) See the photo at the top of the page for that bed one month later.