Another season, another field

Peas

Peas are coming along…once again. While the action in the field is familiar, this, my eighth season of tiny farming, is a particularly unusual one, way more about PEOPLE and RELATIONSHIPS, so far, than production. It will be interesting to watch… (The peas are trusty Sugar Ann edible pod—they haven’t failed me yet!)

38 thoughts on “Another season, another field”

  1. “…way more about PEOPLE and RELATIONSHIPS, so far, than production.”                                             My father helped me with my gardens & building hardscape to give us a chance to talk as evolving adults. Once he said, “My garden is people.” Enjoy your productive growing season.  :-)

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  2. Afternoon,
    A great pix. Tell me……… how do you prevent the pesky pigeons  from decimating your fine looking peas?
    Down my way, the peas are planted, the peas grow to about a couple of inches and then the peas are devoured by pigeons. I shoot the pigeons to eat but I want peas and lots of ’em!

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  3. This so so cool! I just stumbled upon your site while looking for a photo of garlic… I planted some last fall for the first time and I have NO idea what fresh garlic is supposed to look like (nor any idea when to dig it up!) 

    I’m feeling spoiled by my latitude. I’m already harvesting the peas that we planted last fall and wintered over, and the ones we planted in March are already 3 feet tall – but curiously no flowers yet. All things in time…

    I have a fantasy about having a tiny farm some day… for now I’ll just have to settle for the backyard. My question… are you able to support yourself through farming alone, or is it more of a sideline? I am so inspired by your project!

    Yours in Frugal Green-ness,
    Rebecca The Greeniac
    http://www.GreeniacDigest.com

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  4. Like many above, I just found your blog and I am addicted already. We bought our dream home last Sept. and it has 2.5 acres with a well – in the middle of the city! I’ve often looked out over that field and said to myself: “Okay, how can I make this work…” Great stuff here. Post more often.

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  5. It’s so great to find like-minded folks – we are starting out on our Maui “Farmlet” (about 5 acres) – we are blessed with an incredible climate here in Maui, but we live in a State that imports 50% of its food – across thousands of miles of ocean, no less. We’re excited to, like you, help demonstrate that small farming plots can contribute to the community and is a form of historical agriculture that is important to resuscitate! Thanks for inspiring us!

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  6. I just discovered your blog and I must admit that reading it makes me  feel like I’ve met an old friend again.  Much of what you’re doing on your farm sounds so familiar  to me.
    I’m in the middle of preparing my urban garden here in Mumbai for the main growing season of the year. Hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that the Monsoons will be good this year and I can trump last year’s generous veg. harvest.
    I don’t grow peas (not cold enough for it) but I do grow a lot of beans and gourds.
     

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  7. So what do you do with that many peas? do you freeze or can? we usually only do enough to eat fresh because I can’t stand canned peas and I don’t think we have the best freezing techniques.

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  8. @jodycb — tinyfarm is a commercial operation, so they’ll sell the peas to their customers.
    @Lehua — don’t sell yourself short, I think diminutives like “ranchette” are for the blending of suburbia with gentleman farms.  If you’re a commercial enterprise, don’t diminish what you’re doing by calling it a “Farmlet.”
    Since modern technology and techniques have blurred the lines, traditionally “gardening” was human scale — you used a hoe, while “farming” was draft animal scale — you used a plow.  Market Garden, Truck Farm, Farm…they all fit.  Five acres of vegetables is a substantial enterprise even today.  (My grandparents raised a family of nine, and started wintering in Florida before they retired, on about 15 acres back in the day).

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  9. My dad grows peas for Del Monte and we love watching them grow.  Our favorite time of the year is when we can walk out into the field and pick unlimited amounts of peas.  The kids eat them like candy; best treat EVER!

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  10. Mike;

    I’ve been reading your blog for at least an entire year now, and learned many, many things from your posts. You’ve even inspired me to start my own garden blog.

    I’m concerned that you have not posted in over a month. I hope you simply are too successfull with the market garden.

    Cheers, and I hope all is well.
    ITFarmer

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  11. I’m writing to echo the above note.  Yours is one of the blogs I check daily, for inspiration and ideas in my own much tinier farm.  I hope all is well with you and miss your updates very much.

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  12. I’m going to third the above statements.  I’ve been a long time follower and as well check for updates and miss them very much.

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  13. I’ve started my own tiny farm (with a twist) on Vancouver Island. I look to you for inspiration… miss your posts! Hope all is well.

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  14. Hey Mike,
    I’ve been following your site over a year now.  Hope everything is ok with your venture.
    Please post some more pics :)
     
    Vakees

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  15. What kind of crop did you get last year? Did you freeze them or can them or sell some? I grew a few dozen plants last year and couldn’t believe the bumper crop I got. Unfortunately didnt have the space to freeze them. From Philip, http://www.farmads.ie/

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  16. Mike,
    I echo the posts of others when I say we miss you! Please post soon if you can! We’re all quite curious to see how your season is going. Best of luck and I hope all is well.

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  17. i am a ankit.
    my uncle is a farmer. i know the season of fielding farmer . my own tiny farm (with a twist) on Vancouver Island. I look to you for inspiration… miss your posts!

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  18. I noticed that there are several large gaps between posts — e.g., April 20 to May 20 — so I’m hoping that Mike is just busy with all the farm work. But, it was just bugging and bugging me that there were no new posts so I went searching, though I don’t know Mike’s last name and other info that would be useful in trying to find out if someone is OK. Unfortunately, I found the following, posted “2 months ago”:

    Head-on crash kills Michael Domagala, 41, in Kawartha Lakes

    Source: Peterborough Examiner

    ONTARIO – A man is dead following a head-on collision between a car and an SUV Monday afternoon between Woodville and Bolsover in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

    City of Kawartha Lakes OPP closed Glenarm Rd. (City of Kawartha Lakes Rd. 8) just west of Farms Rd. in the former Argyle Township at about 5:47 p.m. Monday following the collision.

    The driver of the car, Michael Domagala, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene.

    At least one other person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Police expected the road to be closed for six hours for the investigation.”

    Of course, I am very sorry that anyone, their family and their friends would suffer such a tragedy. Still, I’m hoping that this Michael is NOT the TFB author. :(

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  19. Nice article. I also do farming in my fields. I grow all vegetable and sell them in market.
    Can you tell me, how much water these peas need after planting? What is the time duration?
    Regards

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