2017 CSA Season Begins!

The days are getting longer and we're getting ready for spring! Seeds, seeds, seeds!

Seed orders have arrived and seedlings will soon be growing either in the greenhouse or under the indoor plant lights. We can't wait to get the growing season started!

Signups are now open for the 2017 CSA season! We're excited to be returning to Toronto with delivery shares after downsizing temporarily in 2016 to grow a baby. For our returning Toronto members there are a few changes from our 2015 season to allow for more options. Contact us if you have any questions.

We're also VERY excited to be heading to the Codrington Farmer's Market every Sunday 10 am - 2 pm from June through October. Local members can pick up their boxes at the market or contact us to make other arrangements. We will also have delicious farm fresh veggies available for anyone who drops by. Come check out our market stall!

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Greenhouse transition

As the season progresses towards summer, the greenhouse is steadily transitioning to summer mode. First, the seedling benches filled up with transplants:

On the warmer days, the roll up sides are open for ventilation:

Then, with enough transplants planted out in the field, the centre bed is freed up for some more tomatoes:

The tomatoes now have their extra row cover off, and are starting to grow up their string trellis:

A few seedlings are still hanging around in the back. In a week or two, I'll have it down to one small bench for late season transplants so that I can fill in the side beds with peppers and eggplants:

This small structure (built just last year) has been a hub of activity for its first spring. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything does in the summer ahead. It won't be changing so quickly once the peppers, eggplants and tomatoes are all in place, but it should still be a very productive area.

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Spring is near!

Outside the sky is blue, the temperature is above freezing and the icicles on the roof are melting a steady drip-drip-drip in the warm sun. After a dark and wintery hiatus to reflect on the past year and plan for the coming one, Eva Mae Farm is starting up our second season! Go to our CSA page to register for 2015 membership.

The first job in the new season is starting seedlings, which will first spend some time indoors, then move out to the brand new greenhouse, then finally be transplanted into the soil in the garden. Peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and organic fertilizer are mixed in large tubs and then a soil blocker is used to press down uniform blocks of soil onto the wooden pallets that serve as seedling trays.

Next the seeds are measured out and individually placed into the soil blocks. Depending on seed size we use either a vacuum seeder or drop them in by hand. Little hands can be helpful with tiny seeds.

Once the seeds are tucked into the soil blocks and misted gently with a spray bottle, they sprout under UV lights in the basement.

Our broccoli seedlings just popped up 2 days ago. They're our first sprouts of the year. Longer, warmer days outside and the first veggies of the 2015 season sprouting means spring is just around the corner. The end of another Canadian winter is always joyful, but the start of the farming season and the anticipation of all the good food ahead makes me all the more excited for spring.

Interested in learning more about membership in our farm for the upcoming season? Check out the CSA page.

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