Learning something new everyday!

It's another beautiful day here at Sunny Hill, which translates to lots of work. During our springtime planting season, especially with the incredibly wet spring we've been having, it's important to make each day count. So we've been spending a lot of time in the fields; planting and tending to the needs of the plants.

The trees in our orchard are beginning to bud, such a breath-taking sight!

With the little sunshine and rise in temperature, we've seen progression in the fields. The Strawberry Patches are beginning to perk up and the outer leaves are becoming broader everyday. Before you know it, we'll be picking Strawberries already!

There has also been quite a progression in our Sugar Snap Peas. The little plants have bursted forth from the ground and are beginning to develop their biomass. Such a difference from last week, the Pea field is beginning to look colorful.

We also were able to plow out in the fields and prepare the land for a variety of vegetables; Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, etc. We were also able to plow inside our little greenhouse to begin our planting inside.

The interesting thing about life on the farm is you never really stop learning. Every year you learn from the year before on how you can make your produce better and how you can use your equipment, money, and time wiser. You also learn of new techniques that can improve the growth of your vegetables.

This year we're trying out a new technique in our fields. We're laying plastic down over the plant beds. We've learned that by laying down the plastic, you can better protect your plants from Fungus. Another idea behind this technique is that the plastic absorbs the heat and can keep the soil warmer. The warmer soil will result in plants growing faster.

Today we used this technique in planting our onions. First we laid the plastic over the desired area and then we used a machine to poke holes in the plastic. We had 2 farm-hands riding behind the tractor to place the onion bulb into the holes and then another 2 farm-hands following to secure the bulbs roots in the soil.

Though learning new techniques can have many positive effects on the plants, it definitely comes with frustrations. When trying out new techniques you never know what to expect, you don't have previous years experience to base your thoughts on. One farm-hand commented that, "This new method takes alot longer than the old method", which is true. Fields we thought we could finish in a day, end up taking longer. Farming definitely does keep you on your toes, so we will see how this season goes.

With all the sunshine we've been receiving, the trees in the woods are beginning to wake up from their winter nap.

Well these were some of the things we accomplished today. We pray that the warm weather stays so that our plants will continue to flourish.

Till next time

~Sunny Hill Farm