2014 Summer CSA

2014 Summer CSA

Monday, May 30, 2011

The season begins!

Hey all,
Spring has definitely sprung up here on the hill. Leaves are out and so are the mosquitos and black flies, and they are as hungry as ever thanks to all of this rain. This season looks to be one of the most productive to date as we set our roots and begin to take hold of the possibilities our fields and forests have to offer. Everyday brings about new additions to the farmstead. This first week of activity includes us finally finishing the metal roof job that never got finished over the winter. The last of the panels were set, flashing applied, and ridge cap installed....Looks like we won't have to worry about roof shoveling ever again!

The next big project currently being tackled in the inoculation of our first-ever batch of Shitaake mushroom logs (approx 250-300 when all is said and done). The job entails retrieving fresh, green, and still dormant hardwood logs (oak, maple, beech) about 40" in length and 3-8" in diameter from our woodlot. We then drill holes throughout the entirety of the logs length, and insert an inoculated mixture of sawdust and shitaake mycellium into the pre-drilled holes. The filled holes are then covered with melted cheese wax to keep in moisture and too ensure thorough colonization. We are experimenting with a variety of stacking techniques including log-cabin style stacks, as well as logs leaning against wire run between two trees. Extra attention needs to be paid to keeping the logs at a very moist and humid climate of about 80 degrees and 50-80% humidity.

I'll be taking pictures and posting them along the way to keep everybody updated on projects, up-coming workdays, and of course farm parties!