The Really Big Little Garden, Part 1

2016 was supposed to be a year of rest. And, if you compared it to the two or three years preceding, I suppose it was. But only by comparison. 

Instead of planting a garden big enough to feed 80 families, we planted enough for one. Well, that was our intent. It still ended up producing enough for several families, in addition to our own. There is clearly an art to downsizing which we have not yet mastered. 

After all of the work we had put into cultivating the large north garden, we hated to let it lie fallow for the season. So we were thrilled to be given the opportunity to raise pumpkins for one of the local pumpkin patches. 

Pumpkins are easy, right? The hardest parts would  be the beginning and the end: planting and harvest. Our plan was to cover the ground in plastic to suppress weeds, absorb heat, and retain moisture, making the pumpkin patch as low maintenance as possible.

We had plenty of plastic left over from previous years, with perfectly spaced holes already cut. It was just a matter of rolling it out and pinning it with landscape staples. Surely seven of us (okay, six and a half) could whip that out in a few hours. 

But we didn't count on the weather. Expecting a typical, cool, if not chilly, Montana spring day, we quickly realized we were in for unseasonably warm temperatures. 

It wasn't long before we were all standing, hammers and staples in hand, looking anxiously at the sky, waiting. As soon as the shadow of passing clouds fell on the plastic, it visibly contracted, rapidly stretching taut, flattening tightly against the soil beneath it. As fast as possible, we ran along the edges and seams, pounding in the long wire staples until Daddy shouted, "Stop!" 

As the cloud shadow moved eastward, and the sun shone down fully, the plastic relaxed, rising into loose ripples and folds. Any staples placed while the plastic was slack would either pop loose or tear out once it contracted again. 

And so, what should have taken a few hours in the cool of the morning, dragged on throughout the day. I'm sure we put on quite a show for the neighbors.

The next step was to set out the pumpkin plants. Between us, our crew has easily set out thousands of plants over the last few years. We know how to do this! But the unseasonably warm temperatures were not in our favor. Tender young plants on hot black plastic are not a good combination. 

We needed speed and endurance, which put most of our young crew out of the running. Daddy figured all the plants could be in the ground within a few hours if he had the help of Ben and one of his friends. 

On the appointed day, they woke early and set to work in a frenzy, hardly looking up as the coolness of the morning quickly burned off. Sweat poured off of Daddy and the two boys as they raced, bent over at the waist, from one hole to the next, piercing the brown earth with small spades in one hand, dropping in a small pumpkin start with the other. 

As soon as one section was finished, sprinklers were turned on to revive the already wilting plants. The younger kids and I felt quite useless, with nothing more to offer than pitchers of ice water and lemonade. In a sudden flash of inspiration, I hopped in the car and made the nearly 40 mile round trip trek to town, where I bought a 15' diameter quick set pool and two jumbo bags of popsicles. 

By the time I returned, they were finished. Nearly 1000 plants, mostly pumpkins, were in the ground, along with some gourds, watermelons, and cantaloupes. We set up the pool while the kids binged on popsicles. We looked across the expansive pumpkin patch with great satisfaction. Surely, now, the hardest part was done. From now on, it was just a matter of keeping the sprinklers going on the hot days, and pulling a few weeds here and there as they popped up alongside the plants. At least, that was the plan.

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An End and a Beginning

There are those here in Montana who seem to dread the approach of winter, with its long months of short days. To be honest, I once numbered among them. But that was long ago, before our lives became so thoroughly tied to the land.  Now I embrace it as a much-needed time of rest. 

To be fair, the time likely flies by much more quickly for us than for others. Within days of putting up the last of the harvest in November, the holidays are nearly upon us. The end of the year passes in a flurry of cleaning, baking, crafting, and visiting. January finds us resting at last, snuggling under blankets, reading books, watching movies, napping. Lots of napping.  

Then, while the snow still lies deep in mid-February, we begin to work on our summer garden. Our first plots are quite small; seed-flats and six-packs. How can it be anything more than an act of faith to sow in a few square feet what we expect to fill a few acres? 

Words cannot fully describe the pleasure of stepping from chill, scentless winter air into the balmy greenhouse, heavily fragranced with the rich scent of dark earth. How delightful to slide our winter pale arms out of heavy sleeves, to feel once more the warmth of sun upon our bare skin. As music plays and the children chat, cats loll as close as they dare to the wood stove. Everything here, in this place, in this moment, proclaims life, and hope, and joy.

There was a time when winter was my least favorite season. No longer. I have come to  appreciate the unique blessings that each season offers. Winter's gift is that it marks both an end and a beginning. One year closes; another opens. Work complete, there is rest, a time of refreshing. And then, the work begins anew.

No CSA Shares for 2016

Looking north across the family farm, fall 2015.

After much thought and prayer, we have decided not to offer CSA shares for the 2016 season. Our reasons are many, but the foremost is to allow our family to have more downtime and for our children to have more opportunities to pursue their own interests. This is of particular importance with regard to our eldest son, for whom this will be the summer before he enters his final year of high school. All of our kids have worked faithfully and with little complaint; for this we are deeply grateful.

The north gardens, cleaned and tilled, ready for winter.

At the end of last year's season, we stood outside and looked over the empty gardens, thanking God for all that He allowed us to accomplish. But we also held everything up to Him and asked, "What would you have us do next? How do we make best use of the blessings you've given?" And so, we now find ourselves on a slightly different path. We will still have gardens, but on a smaller scale. We will also still raise and sell herbs, perennials, and vegetable starts. But, these will not be the primary focus.

 

After the harvest comes the season of rest. 

Thank you so much to all of our past shareholders. We are so grateful for your support and encouragement. We will miss visiting with each of you every week. Please stop by and see us this summer if you are in the neighborhood, or catch up us at the local farmers' markets.

Enjoying some well-deserved downtime.

As time allows, we will continue to use this site to share the goings on here at the farm. Lots of plans in the works for this year: a barn raising, the return of meat and laying hens, and expansion of our dairy goat stock.

Baby Poppy

Application Deadline Extended!

Today is the last day of March. How did that happen? And what is all of this green stuff growing in our yard? Grass? Really? Seems like winter was just yesterday.

Apparently, we aren't the only ones caught off guard by the passing of time. Tomorrow is the official application deadline to sign up for CSA membership. And over the past few days, we have received numerous calls from people anxiously asking if it's too late to apply and if there are still shares available to purchase.

No, it's not. And, yes, there are! 

We have decided to extend the application deadline until all of the spots are filled, or until May 31, whichever comes first. 

We are thrilled to have so many new families joining us in this year's gardening adventure, and look forward to getting to know all of you over the course of the season. 

At this point, everything is on track to start harvesting shares the first week of June. It will be here before you know it!

What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks?

Our littlest son, shining in the sunshine!

Sunshine. Real, honest-to-goodness sunshine. The kind that not only gives light, but also gives heat. 

 

You kind of have to live here to appreciate the magnitude of this. Spring-like weather in late February/early March is pretty miraculous. This is the kind of weather we usually have two months from now. 

 

Yes, it still frosts hard at night. Yes, the probability of snowstorms between now and May exists. But, for now, it's spring. 

Giving Hazel a treat while enjoying the warmth of the southern side of the barn.

Like the horses, goats, and cats, we frequently find ourselves stopping, standing, eyes closed, soaking up the sunshine, reveling in its almost forgotten warmth. Such a blessing. 

Herb flats running the length of the greenhouse. The smell is amazing!

But, we cannot stop for long. There is much work to do, regardless of the weather. The greenhouse is rapidly filling up with veggie starts for the garden. Nearly 1,400 herbs are potted and growing rapidly. If the weather holds, as the forecast promises, we plan to plow the gardens this week, turning under last-fall's compost layer and adding in some new. Unreal.

 

From tiny starts, great gardens grow!

 We are thrilled to have so many new CSA members for this year's growing season, and are looking forward to getting to know you better in the coming months. As always, we will still be selling our produce and veggie starts at the Kalispell Farmers' Market. We are also considering becoming vendors at one or more of the other local markets, as our schedule allows. 

 

Golden oregano.

There are only a few weeks remaining before the April 1st application deadline. If you've been putting off applying because spring seems so far away, we're happy to tell you that it's almost here!

Boots on the ground: let's get this garden started!

Despite the Snow, Spring is Near

The Dannik Gardens crew enjoying a snowy afternoon on the south side of the greenhouse.

 Christmas has just past, and the gardens are blanketed by a deep layer of snow. The only plants we are tending are a few hardy succulents in the kitchen window. While we snuggle close to the fire, reading our books, playing games, or just dozing, spring seems far away.

And yet, with the coming of the New Year, we feel it drawing near. Every seed order placed, every pot and flat purchased reminds us; very soon, while the snow is still on the ground, our spring season will begin.

We enjoy visions of spring through the work of our young artists.

While the ground outside remains frozen, in the greenhouse we will once again dig our fingers into piles of soft dirt, inhaling its fragrant promise of new life. We will shed our winter layers and enjoy our own little tropical retreat as we fill seed flats and care for tender new plants. Before the first green leaf appears on any tree, our greenhouse will be filled with a full array of maturing plants, just waiting to be transplanted after the final frost.

Though the world outside our windows is cast in shades of white and grey, the colors of spring remain fresh within.

Yes, for us, spring is very near. We hope that you, too, are already dreaming of the first salad greens, tender peas, and delicate new potatoes. Dannik Gardens will begin offering shares for the 2015 growing season starting on January 1st. We are pleased to be able to offer half-shares, as well as several membership payment options.

    FULL SHARE:

Option 1:     Full payment by April 1, 2015--$500.00

Option 2:     Half-payment by February 16, 2015--$250.00

                                Half-payment by April 1, 2015--$250.00

   

Option 3:     Quarter-payment by January 7, 2015--$125.00

                     Quarter-payment by February 4, 2015--$125.00

                     Quarter-payment by March 4, 2015--$125.00

                     Quarter-payment by April 1, 2015--$125.00

   

HALF SHARE:

Option 1:     Full payment by April 1, 2015--$265.00

Option 2:     Half-payment by February 16, 2015--$132.50

                                Half-payment by April 1, 2015--$132.50

 

With one harvest just put away, our hearts and minds begin to turn toward the one to come.

 

 

Wishing you all a blessed New Year! See you in the spring!

 

 

A Sweet Finish

I'll admit it: my kids are becoming food snobs, at least where it concerns produce. Applesauce is one of their absolute favorite foods, but they won't eat store-bought. Not even if it's top quality organic.

This year our big apple tree was dormant. This was a huge disappointment, as we have not made applesauce for nearly three years. My kids wanted applesauce in the worst way.
 

Thankfully, a good friend generously let us come pick apples from her little orchard. We got enough for 70 quarts of applesauce and 15 pie fillings.

Processing apples, though simple, is very time-consuming. We had four large tubs of apples. If we started early in the morning, we were able to work up an entire tub in one day, usually yielding about 22-25 quarts of applesauce.

Everyone pitched in though, which made it all go so much faster. Undoubtedly, running the food mill was the coveted position. Even the littlest guy took a turn. And all of the children, except the youngest, got to be in charge of flavoring a batch of applesauce. Each is quite certain that their batch is the best.

The last batch of applesauce was canned about a week ago. The kids have already eaten seven quarts. I have no doubts that it will all be gone before spring.