Week 5 Farm Share

We found this metamorphosis bug hiding in the lettuce during a slug slashing adventure the other night. Not sure what it is? It wiggled it's tail when you held the shell. I had every intention of watching the contents emerge in a glass jar this week. However, quick little hands investigating the insect pressed slightly too hard in a rush of excitement. So our newly discovered insect species will go undocumented.

This weeks share includes some loose lettuce mix of Pablo and Slo-bolt(wavy green) with a splash of color, a Zeno Fino Fennel (all parts edible), one bunch dinosaur kale, one bunch Red Russian Kale, 2 bunches of Chard, 1 bag of the first Mammoth Melting Snow Peas, 1 bag of early and everbearing strawberries. The size of the berries vary to the littlest harvested from the 100 new plants this year and the large from established plants over the years. The small ones are really the sweetest to me. Talus snags most of them throughout the week as he's foraging in the garden but I managed to swipe a few before he reached them. Finally, there's 2 types of Romaine Lettuce heads-Red Valentine and Jericho and 1 head of Oak leaf Lettuce as well as, 1 bunch of Garlic Snakes.

Looking ahead the broccoli is shaping up and more flowers are emerging on the snap and sugar peas. If the weather doesn't get too hot they should keep producing. Already some of the Sugar Snap peas have crested over my head. We also transplanted more Blacktail Watermelon (an Idaho heirloom), Eden's Gem Melon, Potimarron(a French winter squash), Spaghetti and and an assortment of other curcubitas. The burgandy okra has the first fruits although this southern wonder may need more heat than Montana has to offer. We'll see.

Since last week the sounds and sights of the garden are full of the first grasshoppers and dragonflies. The grasshopper leg violin serenades may actually be more a tragic tune if they do more damage than the slugs. A good once over along the perimeter of all the beds with the mower was in store this week.

Our rooster and chickens were moved over to the mixed fruit orchard. They are still quite timid to venture out of their beloved tractor. Thankfully, the roosters' resounding call in the early morning has yet to solicit any complaints. He's really a beautiful guy and I think keeps the flock safer and balanced so we hope we can keep him.

To dangling toes in glacier lakes while the garden grows