Planting and Other Cool Things

I have a new roommate! Her name is Katie Jickling. She is also a WWOOF-er like Mat. She is from Vermont (which is really cool). This is the first farm she has wwoofed at. She is a very nice girl, and I am glad to have another girl my age around.

Last Monday we had RAIN!!! Everyone got slightly drenched at least once, Monte got soaked twice. Me and Katie had been making 2 inch soil blocks and transplanting plants that were in 1 inch soil blocks into these new soil blocks. It began to pour. When the sky decides to rain here it really rains. We all ran up to the house, and began preparing some Roma Tomatoes to roast with herbs and olive oil. There was a break in the rain so Monte and Laura went down to finish some rows. It began to pour again. It was delightful to see the rain, then we started to worry that it might wash out some of the things we had just planted, or the pelting rain would ruin the delicate swiss chard or other greens.

Doing tomatoes this time was a lot of fun. The tomato process consisted of putting the tomatoes in boiling water until their skins began to split, putting them in ice water (these first two steps make it easier to peel.) , then we had to peel them, cut them in half, and get all the seeds out of the seed cavity and put them in a bowl until Laura was ready to do the next bit with them.
Since there were four of us working on the tomatoes there wasn't room enough at the sink. So I put a bowl and a bucket on the counter. One was for the finished tomatoes and the other was for the skins and seeds to take down to the pigs or chickens. Mat and Jordon supplied much entertainment during the entire process. I am actually being teased a good portion of everyday. I am not quite sure how to respond. Mat kept mixing the two containers up and accusing me for putting two many things out. Mat and Jordon also would try to come up with new creations (these creations were often a half peeled tomato that they said looked like a pirate or anything else that came to mind.) with the skins.... one was a bat, one was a turtle, or making a mustache with the skin or putting the skin over their nose to make themselves look like clowns. They also had contests of who could get the longest unbroken peel from one tomato. Me and Katie laughed along with them but remained focused and accomplished a bit more. We were listening to various CDs the entire time which added to the fun. I have come to the conclusion that boys can make tedious tasks amusing.
After we were done with the tomatoes Laura would put them on a cookie tray with wax paper, drizzle olive oil all over them, some chopped garlic and thyme. Then they would be baked (or roasted) until slightly crisp. These are way yummier than potato chips. Once you taste one you can never say "just one more." unless that one is the last on the tray.

Another thing me and Katie did this same Monday before the downpour.... We were on making one of the gates rabbit proof. This required digging under the gate deep enough to put a beam of wood down in, then covering the wood back up. This was no easy task, considering the soil was almost as solid as cement, and required the use of a pick ax. My shoulders were definitely feeling it for a few days after.

On Tuesday I decided to take advantage of one of the opportunities at my finger tips and learn karate from Monte. Monte is in the karate hall of fame. He teaches a class every Tuesday and Thursday evening. Mat, Katie and me are all new students. I know it is going to be hard in many ways but also good for me. My hardest part is putting the needed force behind a move. I don't want to hurt any of the blue or green belts that help do the teaching, I have been told that they can handle the kicks or punches, but I still am uncomfortable doing them. Karate I believe will help me to draw more distinct boundary lines, as well as increase my confidence, strength, and most likely many more things that I am not even aware of yet.
I am glad that Monte is willing to have us in his class and teach us.

Also on Tuesday we went to neighbor's house and picked a LOT of olives. Olives are super nasty after just picking them. In order to eat them with out gaging you have to soak them in a lye /water brine for several weeks and then do some other things with them. They were probably the first thing I have helped pick from a tree that I have not been tempted to snack on during the picking. Mulberries, figs, apples, pears, etc have all been really good and several end up in my tummy, olives all went in to the harvest bushels.

Yesterday Monte had the boys helping with making rows and me and Katie were transplanting small little plants into these rows. We did four rows and each row had probably 186 plants in it. So we figure we planted around 744 plants give or take a few. We planted Brunswick Cabbage, Tete Noir Cabbage, Long Island Improved Brussle Sprouts and a variety of Broccoli that I can't remember it's name.

I have been informed that I say "aygg" instead of egg. And I say Ornery "onrey" ( as in rhymes with henry). I have also been told that before I say anything I give it a preface.

I have a new favorite melon. It is in the musk melon family (meaning it is in the same category as Honey Dew, Cantalope, etc). It is called a Crenshaw melon. It has a dark green rind and a peach/ pinkish flesh. So sweet and YUMMY!!!! We have been harvesting these melons at the High School Agriculture Farm. Reasons... 1. They have a lot of land with a lot of crops and not a large enough market. 2. We need over 100 melons for our share baskets, and even though we are getting some melons from our farm it is not giving us over 100 melons each week.
So we have gone and harvested all cantaloupes and other muskmelons. I also really like the Anna muskmelon. It looks exactly like a cantaloupe except with a white flesh that is similar to a honey dew.

Our Swiss Chard plants seem to have survived the heat and are looking good enough to continue to harvest.

We got two new goats this week. One of them is pregnant and is due to have her kids in two weeks!!!! I can hardly wait for more baby goats!

To entertain ourselves while planting or weeding we have done riddles and played 20 questions. If you have any good riddles I would love to know them.

ttfn.