July 4th weekend

by Melissa

It is always interesting on the farm over July 4th weekend because of the conference that takes place! You know, the farm is on the fields around the church and meetings were scheduled for Friday, the same day we harvest for market. We use the kitchen in the church, also, and it was being used for preparing food for lunch. It was busy in there, but it was fun, too, sharing space and being caught up in the excitement of busy-ness and visiting with people from out of town. We wanted to be in the meetings, so I helped harvest a little of what we could on Thursday. Wes came early Friday morning and was “Mr. Speedy,” harvesting root crops, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. By the time lunch was over Friday, I asked Pavlina what to do and all there was left was to cut some dill! Saturday, July 4th, was rainy all day – not too good for market. And cool, too – I cannot remember a cool July 4th. I mean, it was in the 60s and 70s! Not many customers and having to work in the wet…blah! Oh well! I thank the Lord for brothers and sisters in the Lord with good attitudes!

One of our former, helpers, Kristi, actually brought old clothes with her because she wanted to work! Pavlina jokingly asked her if she would plant brussel sprouts with her and Kristi was serious when she replied that she had old clothes and wanted to do it!

They planted the brussel sprouts from a contraption that gets pulled behind a tractor. I had never seen it in action before, so I walked out to the field to watch. Two people sit on seats fairly close to the ground, and take baby plants and stick them in the holes that the machine makes in the black plastic, which is on the dirt. The machine adds water and fertilizer to the holes, which is what the plants really need when they are first transplanted. Wish I had taken my camera out with me…

The best part was, Kristi enjoyed herself, reliving some of those days before marriage and children!