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Spring Is Here!

4/24/2016

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The green grass, the leaves sprouting on the trees . . . warm sunshine and a slight, pleasant breeze brushing against your face...there is nothing like spring!  

​Spring time around the Proverbial Pumpkin Patch means  a lot of hard work involving dirt, seeds and plants!  Pumpkin planting season isn't quite here yet, but we are preparing the ground for vegetables . . . lots of vegetables!!  As most of you might recall, we participated in our local farmer's market last season.  We were blessed with a wonderfully successful market season.  We decided to continue again this year  but to considerably increase our production.  Our vegetable garden is using most of a two acre field!!!!  Pictured below is just one plot (out of seven) that have already been tilled in the field.  This plot was completely planted early last week with our Spring Lettuce Mix, carrots, radishes, spinach, and beets.  

This is known as intensive planting.  There are one foot walkways (the grassy areas in this photo) and then 30 inch beds.  The beds may contain one to five rows of seeds depending on the spacing that is required for each different type of vegetable. 
​Obviously we didn't make straight lines on these beds!!  Our motto has been "the vegetables will still grow even in crooked beds!"

​We were able to sow this plot prior to the wonderful spring rain that we received Wednesday and Thursday.  As of yesterday, radishes and spring mix were already poking through the soil.

​In the past few days we have also planted head lettuce, potatoes, onions and peas. 

It has been a big job, but we have lots of help!  It is so enjoyable to look across the field and see everyone working together. 
​ Greg tilling.  Joseph driving the tractor.  Daniel tending the goat or playing pretend with Stephen.  The girls planting seeds or laying out onion bulbs.  What a joy!
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These are rows within our garden beds in the field. Little sprouts should be popping up soon!
 We are also working on erecting a large hoop house on our property that will be used for growing vegetables. 

Because we will not be heating it from an outside source,  it is considered a hoop house and not a greenhouse.  However, it looks very similar.
  It is about 30 feet wide, about 10 feet high and 50 feet long.  

We will growing vegetables in the ground (not on tables) under this hoop house.  Lettuces, carrots, and radishes can get an earlier start by using a hoop house.  Tomatoes will love the heat from the hoop house during the summer months.  And we will be able to  extend our growing season into the fall/winter by finishing the year with more lettuce and carrots. 

​We are excited about the benefits of this project.   Photos of the completed hoop house will be coming soon.  Lord willing!
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We were excited to purchase four little ducklings a couple weeks back!  A few of us have wanted to get some for a while, so we were happy!
 When we first brought them home, they were very tiny and could fit in your cupped hands! Their little cheeping was so adorable!  We have now had them two weeks, and they have grown tremendously!  Every day we are amazed at their growth!  They have already grown much more after these photos were taken!
 A couple of days ago, we moved them from a plastic tub inside to a temporary pen outside in the yard to be able to keep an eye on them.  It is amazing to see their natural God-given instincts as they LOVE to splash in water and clean themselves.  When they are happy, they will waddle around and around the pen as fast as they can!
​ They aren't quacking yet, but it will be soon! 

​It is so amazing to watch God's creation right in front of us.  From grass growing, to the flowers popping up from the ground, to the little ducklings growing.  It is just humbling to think God would love us so much to give us these special blessings!  We serve a great God!

​We will post more updates as the vegetable garden progresses and the market season draws closer.  We look forward to seeing what God is going to do! 
If you have any questions about the garden or the market, feel free to email us at pumpkinpatch@tds.net!
​
​We will leave you with this one last adorable photo of one duckling...
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1 Comment
Toni
4/25/2016 10:49:37 pm

Goodness, those ducklings are so sweet. In that last photo. there almost appears to be a "smile." I really enjoyed reading the update on your vegetable planting. Wishing you a most blessed and bountiful harvest.
Blessings,
Toni

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