In the beginning of a farm season there is seeding. In the middle of the farm season there is seeding. There is more seeding late into the farm season. Though there are lulls during the course of the season, seeding is a constant part of a farm season. This might be stating the obvious, but paying attention to the obvious is a vital part of productive farming. Seeding can often 'seem' to be a tedious, mind numbing, and boring process. But if viewed from a different perspective, seeding is an act that helps one to slow down, to pay attention, and to concentrate ones focus on a crucial task. Seeding requires patience and paying attention to what is being done. If you get caught up in the notion that the repetitive nature of seeding is a chore, you will be miserable. If you accept that seeding is part of the natural process of farming to be embraced, you enhance the likelihood of enjoying and appreciating the intrinsic value of seeding. If you take your positive attitude further, to the level of mindfulness, seeding can become an act of meditation. In this context, if you pay very close attention to what you are doing as you seed, the act of seeding can be relaxing, peaceful, and very satisfying.
A little behind schedule, seeding has started at Z Food Farm. On 3/16 onions, scallions, and shallots were seeded. On 3/17 cabbage. cauliflower, parsley, mitsuba (Japanese parsley), celery, broccoli, broccoli raab, collards, piracicaba (a different type of broccoli). and fennel were seeded. By staying focused ont he task at hand, by bringing one's attention to the present experience, you are able to derive a sense of personal value and a sense of pleasure and satisfaction in accomplishing a great deal in a relatively short period of time. Being mindful is a conscious act that can lead to a sense of pride in the doing and the completing of seeding.
And so it begins again. The ongoing cycle of the seasons and the beginning of the farm season. For those interested in the quality of their food, get to know where your food comes from. Shop local at farmers' markets and get to know the vendors, get to know the people who are working hard to provide you with the fruit/produce of their hard labor. Shop local. Buy organic when possible. Support small, local sustainable farms.
Good health and good eating to all.
Ye olde compost pile. Last years leftovers. Yes, that is 'stuff' growing out of the pile.
This is the soil mix that is used for seeding. It contains peat moss, compost, vermiculite, perlite, greensand, blood meal, bone meal, and limestone. The various additives are approved for organic farming and help provide the nutrients that will aid in the germination and growth of seeds into plants.
Day one seeding. Onions, scallions, and shallots. This may not have the appearance of being a lot of seeding. What you should know is that each of the flats you see has 288 cells. And each cell has 5 seeds. Do the math, what you see is a great deal of seeding.
Seeding, day 2. Varieties seeded on this day were: broccoli, broccoli raab, piracicaba (a special type of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, fennel, celery, parsley, and fennel.
Stay tuned. Much more to come.
Peace and good health to all.
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