This week has been filled with hot temperatures and sunburns, so most of the week has been spent finishing books and writing papers. By the time it was cool enough to go outside, it was about to get dark. I didn’t get a lot of time out there, but there was still upkeep to be done, sprinklers to be moved, and things to be harvested.

I typically walk the garden daily, to try and get myself in tune and figure out what needs doing desperately. Monday, I noticed that something has been munching on my plant starts. Whether is is the cats, rodents, or birds, I don’t know, but I had to set up a system in order to cover them and protect them. I will have to replant some of them to be sure we get a harvest!

I finished both Braiding Sweetgrass and Market Farming Success this week. I found that it took about half the time to finish Market Farming Success as it took to read Braiding Sweetgrass. I think this has a lot to do with not really wanting the book to end, versus reading specifically for educational purposes. I have tons of notes written down, and they will be typed up and added to my reports section this next week.

It’s hard to believe that it is headed into Week 9, and that I’ve done so much this quarter. This week I have built most of the compost heater, there is still the matter of filling it but that needs to wait until it’s not boiling inside the greenhouse. I won’t get an analysis done this quarter because it won’t be in use. It will be something I keep an eye on through fall and winter though.

We pulled the rest of the cabbage and processed it for the freezer, also in preparation for the fall and winter starts to go in. We will direct seed a bit in week 9! We planted the last of the zucchini and cucumber starts, and while I don’t expect much of a harvest, I wasn’t going to waste the starts! I have pulled the weed fabric out, and now I need to mow and prepare the soil before I lay it down for the winter veggies. The goal is keeping the soil a little warmer through those frigid months.

Due to the heat this week, I spent much more time than normal filling and cleaning water troughs and chicken waterers. I dumped and refilled each day so that they had fresh cold water through all this heat. I did not lose a single animal, and no one showed signs of too much heat stress! I did wind up with wicked sunburns on my arms and shoulders, but I had to keep everyone alive.

I harvested for 2 CSA boxes this week, and will have 3 next week. Tonight (Sunday) I helped prepare a dinner for 15+ people, and with the exception of the meat, it was all farm grown! I am so thrilled to be able to put on a dinner like that.

During my reading of Braiding Sweetgrass, I became interested in where it grows, what exactly it was used for (in more depth), and if it grew in the West. While doing this research, I came across a wildflower called Fireweed. I’ve seen it on trail rides around the JBLM range areas, and had never known what it was called. I was listening to different pieces of information about it, and learned that they use the fluffy seeds as firestarter, the leaves for tea (great for indigestion), and the early shoots are eaten raw and cooked. It never ceases to amaze me what all the native plants can be used for. I collected some seeds in hopes that I can grow some in my native plant area! I’ll definitely be doing more research into it though.