We are a small farm in south-central PA. We grow most of our produce and fruit. We do our best to use sustainable practices on our land. We have two high tunnels and one greenhouse for propagation. Berries and tree fruits are main crops and we have four garden patches dedicated to vegetables, greens, root crops, legumes, melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, brassicas, alliums, and flowers. We love growing the unique items and we strive for excellence. The Gardens We are beginning to plant in the gardens. We planted spring onion bulbs two times this month. They are planted about 15 days apart so that we can have spring onions for several weeks in May and June. We also seeded radishes and Hakueri turnips and arugula/ Tokyo berkina in the gardens. These are all covered in row cover to hasten germination. We like to keep them covered because it will discourage the early leafhoppers. We made some raised beds with the two-wheeled tractor in order to lay black plastic and then transplant kale next month. We are trying to get all the gardens worked up , but it has been raining so much that we are getting it done in piecemeal fashion. We have been spreading compost and lime and fertilizer on all the blueberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and gooseberries and currants. The High Tunnels The potatoes have come up and we are now hoeing them and keeping them weeded. We have planted transplants of red beets, lettuce and pac choi into tunnel one. Tunnel two has the potatoes and newly seeded spinach. We are putting compost into tunnel one and two whenever we get a free moment. The Greenhouse The greenhouse is full of plants. Some things are for sale as bedding vegetables and herbs and flowers, and others are for transplanting into our own gardens at the right time. We have tomatoes, peppers, red beets, kohlrabi, cabbage, chard, lettuce, and pac choi. Gregg has also seeded a lots of flowers for cut flowers. We began seeding basil this month. We have the sweet basil and Thai basil and the purple basil. I love to have some of the purple basil in my flower beds. They are very pretty dark purple plants and they have spikes of yellow flowers in late summer. Fruit and Berries The old plum trees are now cleaned up and we are mulching them, circling each tree with lime and compost. All the diseased branches have been cut out and we are waiting for a calm day to have a BIG bonfire. The plum trees are getting ready to blossom. In about two weeks it will look like a fairy land of flowers covering all 43 old plum trees plus the twenty-some newer ones. The pears will be blooming a bit later. The black raspberries are pruned and fertilized. We are preparing the ground for planting new strawberries and also a new row of yellow raspberries which should be arriving in early April. The gooseberries, grapes, blackberries, currants and kiwis are pruned and waiting. The gooseberries have small green leaves. The elderberries are under planted with about 100 tulip bulbs and the tulips are coming up and some have their flower buds popping up Farm Stands and Markets Dates to Remember! East Columbia Library Farm Stand begins on Thursday, May 7 Fairfax Community Market begins on Saturday, May 9 Get ready! We are planning to have lots of greens, asparagus, rhubarb, red beets, spring onions, and great flower plants and bedding plants for your garden! We are anticipating May with great hopes! CSA We are excited about the CSA for 2026. Thanks to all of you who have already signed up to participate. We are now accepting subscribers for 2026. We have added 4 more weeks of produce and fruit to the season giving us a full 28 weeks of good vegetables and fruits. See our website for details on this change – www.handtilledfarming.com May 15 – November 21You can sign up for the full season from now until April 15 for the special price of $900 for 28 weeks. Add one dozen eggs/week for $168 or one-half dozen eggs/week for $84 Note: This price is only good until April 15 – so sign up NOW! May 14- August 15 or August 20 – November 21 You can sign up for 14 weeks for $490 Add $84 for one dozen eggs/week or $48 for one-half dozen eggs/week. Check out the website for information. You can send us an email and drop a check in the mail. Please let us know if you would like to set up a payment plan. Baking, Grilling, Preserving, Canning, and Outdoor Gardening I have been outside a lot this month pruning and planting. The daffodils are everywhere. I also can see windflowers and some galanthus (snow drops) from my window. The winter aconite bloomed and faded very quickly this year. I noticed that the red-bud tree is about to bloom and the pussy willows have they soft catkins out. I love to see the buds beginning to swell. Things are beginning to wake up! We have been eating a lot of spinach this month – spinach in soup, spinach in salads, spinach in eggs. I made a rhubarb/peach cobbler using last year’s canned rhubarb and peaches. It is delicious. I also made Gregg and peach/blueberry pie. We are anticipating the fruit season. Spaghetti has been on the menu this month and a lovely soft braided raisin-cinnamon bread with icing for breakfast – well, and anytime really! We hope you are enjoying the spring time and getting ready for the burst of activity once the heat comes in. I cannot believe it, but on Saturday I heard two different mowers whirling in the neighborhood! Ugh! Mowing again! View email in browser Contact Information: Gregg & Louise Keckler1-717-486-4653 kecklers@handtilledfarming.com http://www.handtilledfarming.com Hand-tilled Farming · 1410 Goodyear Rd · Gardners, PA 17324-9028 · USA update your preferences or unsubscribe |
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