*Photographs coming soon
This week I sowed milky oats into the first half of their bed. I plan to experiment and sow a second succession later in the season to compare the success rates of different sowing times later in the season. I sowed the seeds according to the Strictly Medicinal suggestion, broadcasting them about three inches apart and then raking soil back over them. I also started the process of inoculating skullcap seeds in a wet paper towel in the fridge. They need to be cold stratified for a week and then moved to the greenhouse. I will give updates on this later in the quarter. At the farm this week I worked on the Arnica bed and noticed that the Skullcap and Calendula I planted last week are not looking very healthy, it looks like deer have been trampling on them and munching on some of the plants. I also am noticing that the skullcap starts are looking yellowish-green and unhappy, I am wondering if all of the hail and cold weather is affecting them. Next week I plan on addressing these issues and getting some TLC to the plants. I am nervous to plant anything else until the weather clears up.
This week I also spent some time with another group of Evergreen students working with the distiller at the Organic Farm. During last season’s cycle of POF I focused on herbal medicine production and worked with a team and the distiller to produce multiple batches of oil and brandy made from apples and pears grown on the farm. I helped share my knowledge of how the process works and the basics of setting up and running the distiller from beginning to end. I am really interested in doing further work with distilling and am excited to get a chance to learn the process of using the tincture press.