Working through a heat wave
Greetings!
Just a brief newsletter for you all this week, on account of a hectic and hot week. We’ve been chugging along in the fields early in the morning, and attempting to accomplish less taxing tasks during the peak heat hours. We’re hoping the temperatures will be a bit cooler next week, and in the meantime we’re trying to keep our crops and ourselves cool.
Managing irrigation and weeds is 90% of the job in July, and we’ve got our hands full! We’re making our way through weeding neglected areas of the farm, removing this spring’s overwintered flowers to make way for cover crop, and hiding out in the barn making bouquets when it gets too hot for anything else. This time of year the tasks are fairly repetitive and the heat is brutal, so there’s not much else to report on from the fields! The second successions of our summer crops are coming on, and there won’t be anything new coming into season for a couple months. The summer grind has officially begun.
I never tire of looking at these giant dahlias! Once again, featured in our large bouquets this week.
This week I’d like to introduce you to Ailene.
I’ve only gotten to work with Ailene a few times, when she’s stopped by so that I can train her to harvest flowers she’s not met before. Ailene only works at the farm on weekend mornings, harvesting the special blooms that can’t be left untouched over the weekends.
Since I don’t get to see Ailene much and don’t know her well, I asked her if she might write up a bio, and here’s what she has to say:
I’m the weekend help, takin’ a break from the kids to harvest flowers and enjoy the quiet at Two Boots farm. It’s been a great experience, one so different from my past lives: one as a registered veterinary technician, another as lab technician working with mouse oocytes at Washington State University and Columbia University, a third working with birds at the Tracey Aviary in Salt Lake City, and another as a biology student at the University of Idaho relocating from my home state of Alaska. This current life has taught me a lot about gardening, and it’s helped change how I plant and grow at the acre I share with my husband, two kids, three turtles, nine chickens, a goose, a dog, and four pet birds, among the various insects, frogs, toads, and snakes the kids catch and release.
We’re thankful to have Ailene to help us out on the weekends and allow us all to take a break!
Ailene, holding the last of the Spring snapdragons.
We’re beginning to have lots dahlias available, and we’ll try to bring plenty of bunches to market this week!
We’re back at the JFX market on Sunday from 7:00-12:00.
This week’s market stand will feature bouquets, bunches of celosia, cosmos, dahlias, foliage, foxglove, lisianthus, rudbeckia, scabiosa, and snapdragons. The produce selection will feature edible flowers, celery, cucumbers, spring mix, and the first harvest of shishitos and basil!
The flowers are stunning right now, and summer produce is rolling in! Stop by your local farmers market this week and pay a visit to your farmers.
Wishing you well,
Amelia and the rest of the Two Boots crew
Regina, holding a lovely florist order earlier this season. I felt like I didn’t say enough about Regina in last week’s introduction, so here’s more! Regina lives with her husband and 15 year old son, loves to travel, kayak all the local lakes, hikes every chance she can, and loves to cook. She loves cities and finds that one of the highlights of working at Two Boots is that the job takes her into Baltimore and DC on a regular basis. Regina also loves gardening and flowers, and enjoys the creativity of the floral industry and meeting all of the florists we work with.
Elisa had this small pond installed in the spring, and this week the frogs finally found it!
Spooky continues to be the most photogenic being on the farm.