Adventures in Wonderland

On the way home from our farm today I was utterly exhausted. I wasn't prepared for how mentally and emotionally exhausting it can be to start you own business! Especially when that business is dependent on the weather, and the the soil, and the water table! Not to mention germination rates... All things that are in some way or another, out of my control, something I can be less than patient about! And I was listening to a scary book on tape (my fav), and I was stressing out majorly, about the farm, and about my family's personal challenges, and about money! And I was thinking about how I should really be listening to a happy story, and trying to relax. I tried to think of a story that would just be happy and uplifting and non- stress inducing, and I realized that any story without challenges is a boring story. 

They teach us in creative writing as children that there is a Protagonist, who runs into Challenges, and those Challenges build into a Climax, and the Resolution is when the Character finally figures it out and wins, and from there the story wraps up pretty quick. When things are running smoothly, then there is really no story to tell. The most interesting stories are about challenges, and how we overcome them. 

I'm at the beginning of this adventure in our story. I crawled down the rabbit hole at Wonderland Farm and I still don't think I've quite landed on my feet, though I have already had help from some of the most amazing characters. I'm walking into a different world, and I know it's a long road ahead. I can't express my love and appreciation for the help of my incredible family and friends. Namely, Susan and Roger, best parents in the world, Megan, Katie, Rachel, Mitty, Emma, Luke, Justin, Anya, and Monica. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a crew, and Thank You will never cover it. 

Here are the pics of the past two weeks:

May 2

Transplanting heirloom tomatoes with my beautiful mom (and her shadow, Rudy!).

May 3

Mixing fun and work! Having a drink with Rachel and creating our farm dinner dates and menus from our harvest maps!

 May 4: Epic Farm Day

Katie, Mitty and Emma, transplanting our broccoli.

Luke, planting Gold Rush Bush Beans!

Rachel, trenching a line for our buried rabbit fence. Sorry, field bunnies,
sneak your veggies in someone else's cabbage patch!

Luke and Rachel transplanting Farao and Napa Cabbages.

Justin was the total fence master of the day.

Mitty and Rachel adding row cover for cold and hail protection. Katie and Emma planting Graffiti Purple Cauliflower.

 The A Team Crew! Justin, Rachel, Mitty, Luke, Emma, and Katie.

 May 9

Rach, Teddy and Mitty helping me move our tender tomatoes from the grow room to the farm to prepare for transplanting!

 May 10

Burying rabbit fence in the hail!

 May 12

Getting our herbs planted for the farmers markets!

Bonus Foto(s):

Our freshly transplanted heirloom tomatoes, and a few eggplants, next in line.

The nightshades' temporary new home, in our custom rolling herb beds, to move in and outside for hardening off. These beds will be bursting with letuce and other goodies  at our farmers markets to harvest your own herbs and salad!

Dirt Masters!

Planting Spring Wheat by the toss method.

It's all good if you have a dirt hand and a dirt foot.

I think these pic really speak for themselves this time. Have a great (and finally warmer) week. All of us have our challenges, but I know about myself, and my family and friends, that we like a challenge. And we really love a good story. Bring on the adventure!

XO,
Val in Wonderland