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May Farm Tour Photos / Farm Work Day Info

May 17, 2006

Irrigate!!! - Thaddeus

Irrigation has been the main topic on the farm for the past week. Chris and I installed a new pump that puts water onto the Mother Oak field. The pump is connected to the irrigation canal (which now has water in it). The first problem we had was that we couldn’t get all of the air out of the lines that connect the canal to the pump. This is a problem because if there is air in the lines you cannot get the pump to suck the water from the canal. After some adjustments we were able get the pump up and running. The next day we went to start the pump for the second time and it wouldn’t go (it would start, but wouldn’t pump water). Turns out that the screen at the end of the suction hose was not good enough to stop the pump from sucking up small rocks from the canal. When we took apart the pump the impeller had several rocks in it that were preventing it from moving water. Now with that problem solved and a new screen on the pump, everything seems to be working well. It is amazing how many different things can go wrong on any one part of the farm.
Last weekend we cultivated the green beans - they look quite nice. We are also cultivating the tomates and have a hoeing crew that is removing the weeds from between the plants (the tractor cannot get the weeds that grow between the plants). It is a lot of work to keep a field free of weeds.
Ricardo found a nest of a wild turkey the other day. Ricardo was setting up some of the irrigation pipes in the corner of a field. A hen ran out of some weeds and Ricardo noticed all of her eggs there. We left the area alone and were a little worried that she may not return to the eggs, but the next day while drivng by we noticed her there. We have marked that area of the field and everyone is making it a point to stay away from there until the hen is able to get her chicks up and running.
Enjoy your box and the weather - it hit 100 here last week! - Thaddeus

Customer Work Day Update
Date: Sunday, April 30th
Our next "work day" in the city will be held on Sunday, April 30th. Join us for the Grand Opening of our new retail location in the SF Ferry Building!
Festivities begin at 3pm.
See our city side!
Meet our city crew! Talk with other FFTY folk and enjoy the Ferry Building!
Bring the family and go out on the town!

Please email: noah@farmfreshtoyou.com to
reserve space for you, family and friends.

Plan on arriving at the farm early in the morning, as close to 8am as possible, and bringing a lunch to enjoy out in the orchard.
We'll plan on wrapping things up around noon due to the heat,
and you'll be free to relax in the shade of the trees and
have lunch afterward.

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The Canal Season

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The Spring Rush

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The Science of Farming