vine crops are coming along nicely. this small squash field had excellent emergence. it'll start vining soon. we'll cultivate again in a week or so and that will be about it.
watermelon are already vining and setting blossoms.

June 15th crop report

Crops are well ahead of last year at this time. Plenty soggy out there right now. Emergence has been good. Its great to see pumpkins/squash/gourds emerge quickly and get a jump on the weeds. if it was dry enough we would rotary hoe them at this stage, but it is way way too wet. So, next week we'll start right in with cultivation.
The early corn, although very short, is healthy and beginning to show tassel. In a way, I really dont love to see it tassel this early, my back hurts just thinking about picking those cobs that will only be about a foot off the ground.
My guess is there will be little dabs of corn to sell around July 20th; maybe even earlier.
Transplants are doing well too; watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, tomatoes.
Second photo is a small field of gourds. Lower photo is a field of pumpkins.

IH Super C

A very exciting day today. I bought this lovely machine last fall; brought it home today. Its a little older than myself. Runs well. It has a few issues that need addressing and will require some adjustment and modification for intended weed suppression tasks; I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. The belly-mount cultivator should make for nice close cultivation.

Spring;
New this year for anyone with South American cravings: Rocoto, Aji Amarillo and Huacatay.
Also, two new watermelon varieties, a few new squash and 5 new sweet corn varieties.
The weather is so nice that its pretty tempting to start working ground. I suppose we'll do a little this coming week, and start planting the following week. I don't like to get in too big a rush because if we get a cold hard rain it can really ruin early sweet corn plantings.
Transplanting will start around May 15th.
Planting is a little daunting at the start; I lose a little sleep. Gradually one develops a rhythm, and as the plants emerge and grow, the anxiety lessens.
I guess at this point its hard to imagine life without.

There are times, moments, when I have to move slowly. It helps me if I say to myself "self, one must be very strong to go slow". I suppose it is true, however, I have gradually discovered that I am not the strong one in that situation. And my role really is more like a partner in a dance that I do not know well, and the other knows all too well. I can only hope, in that moment, to move with some measure of grace so my partner is not embarrassed by my awkwardness.

Yesterday on the tree lot was rough; the Drive-in is right on the Dakota trail; bikers, walkers, bladers, all whizzing by, and me, I'm breaking down stands, pulling nails, watching for the trickle of customers coming through. The late season bargain hunters are tough. Some of them so crabby, some of them just so darn poor. One has to find a price that they'll accept and still leave oneself with some small measure of self respect. It's brutal. And you cant give them away or sell them too cheap because next year they'll come in 2 weeks earlier and want them for that same price.
There was a point where the darkness was overcoming the light, thankfully, a good bowl of hot chili and a rush of rather cheerful customers saved me and i went away from the day feeling good about the season.