At this moment I am just waiting for the seeds to be delivered and as soon as they come I will be in the greenhouse starting the earliest things, such as onions and leeks (which should be started in early March), lettuce, and some herbs, along with the slow-growing flowers like snapdragons.  Eggplants and peppers are next, around the 3rd week of March, but tomatoes don’t get planted until the beginning of April (to avoid large, leggy transplants).  Curcurbits, such as squash, pumpkins, melons and cucumbers, don’t need to be started until the end of April, 4 weeks before they go outside.  Another late

Many gardeners and farmers believe in planting by the moon for vigorous plants and abundant harvests.  Most of the time that means planting or transplanting near the full moon, during the waxing period.   Some studies have shown that seeds germinate faster and more prolifically when sown at, or just before, the full moon, while those sown at the new moon were less successful.  This effect is due to a greater ability of the seed to absorb water at the full moon.  (E.A. Crawford “The Lunar Garden”).  The general advise for lunar phase planting is that crops that produce yield above the ground should be planted during the waxing moon, while those that produce crops below ground- root crops, such as carrots and potatoes- do best when planted during the waning moon.  While I try to keep this in mind during spring planting, the task seems to stretch on, over a period of a month or more, so it is not usually possible to time planting so precisely, or narrowly.  Still, with the moon just past full, it looks like I will be planting root crops- onions and leeks- on the waning moon, and peppers and eggplants after the new moon, March 18, during the waxing phase.  May’s full moon occurs on the 31st, which will coincide with the optimal period for planting and transplanting warm weather crops, since it is just after the last frost date for this area (around 5/20).  Since I really have no first-hand knowledge or experience to verify these theories (I tried to get one of my kids to test the hypothesis for their 4th grade science experiment, but they picked other topics), I can only hope that the (lunar) force will be with us this year.

Lots of other farm plans have been sprouting this winter that should result in more growing space, bigger harvests, expanded opportunities for community involvement, and wider distribution of BCF produce.  The DCR is giving Brookwood Community Farm a 5-year lease to expand our growing area to 2 acres.  I wish it were more, since we had hoped to put in some berries and other perennials, but, at the moment the DCR does not want to see the farm operation grow beyond the 2-acre boundary they set.  We are exploring the possibility of additional acreage nearby that would allow us to grow sweet corn and plant berries this year.  I will keep you posted as we pursue this opportunity.  Other farm additions, planned for this year, include a drilled well and a new hive of bees, arriving in April.  I have been taking a bee keeping class this winter through the Norfolk County Bee-keepers Association.  It has been inspiring, and I am enthusiastically preparing for the 13,000 furry little creatures who will make their home by the garden, pollinating our plants and providing honey to share.  Our hive was just delivered today, so now begins the task of putting it together, painting it and setting it up once the weather warms.  If anyone is interested in bee-keeping or wants to participate in “installing the package” when it arrives, let me know.  It should be fun.

Still up in the air are our hopes of restoring the house and barn at Brookwood, tractor/equipment purchases and the size/make-up of this summer’s farm crew.  Stay tuned for more news in future newsletters.  And in the meantime, send me your ideas, questions and requests.

Happy growing,

Judy