May 18, 2009

After weeks of tilling, planting, and constant weeding we finally had some sprouts! Though there certainly has been no shortage of rain as late, our number one concern still remains water capture. Slowly we began to collect water barrels and totes and now have approximately 1000 gallons of storage capacity. 

Thanks to Frankie we also now have a platform to raise the barrels off the ground so we can gravity feed the water onto the fields. Water will flow from the roof of our shed and trickle into the barrels from a gutter system we are currently designing. 

(platform being built by Frankie out of recycled materials. This will hold over 1000gal of rain water runoff)

Our second biggest problem is going to be the deer that have shown plenty of signs that they love this field.  We hiked way down into tick country at the back of the 20 acre plot and cut down some old tobacco drying posts that are about 15' long. We hauled them back out, dug holes, and started setting posts for our solar powered electric fence. It may look like we're trying to contain King Kong but deer can jump higher than you'd think. 

(this deer fence will be electrified using a small solar panel. It will be 10ft high with 6 wires)

We have radish, beets, and lots of greens that have started to pop up (thanks to all this rain!). We are also putting in some transplants that Jason and Katie started athome. 

(tomato, edemame, and popcorn transplant trays)