Planting Days

Remember those 865 tomato plants in the greenhouse?  Our goal for 2008 was to get all our tomatoes transplanted into the ground by May 1.  In past years, we have lagged behind that date, sometimes by as much as two or three weeks.  Waiting later causes the plants to bloom later and set fruit later, and later is not what we want when it comes to tomatoes!

So, how does one get that many tomatoes planted in such a short time frame?  One leans on friends and family.

Fifty people converged on farm on April 26 for Planting Day and the party that follows.  This is our fifth year hosting such an event, providing us with an opportunity to see our friends from this area and Atlanta before things really get into full swing here at the farm.  It's a great time of socializing and eating some great food that we prepare (no catering allowed).  In addition, the food editor and a staff photographer from Taste of the South Magazine helped with the planting that goes on before the eating happens.

What?  Planting?  Yes, before we load everyone we know up with hickory smoked pork bbq, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, chocolate chip cookies and all the sweet tea you can drink, we make them WORK for the food.  Here is friendship and devotion in action:

 

Work started about 10:30am and after a brief orientation and tutorial on "how to plant a tomato plant", everyone was digging and tamping down.  200 plants went in on April 19, when most of the Atlanta crew came up for the day.  Another 500 or so plants went in on April 26, plus the T-posts needed for the trellising system we'll use in a few weeks when the plants get big enough to need support.

 

And then, there are the desserts.  Kym Yoder, fiancé of JC Groves (the luckiest guy around, IMO) made the cheesecake, banana pudding, chocolate pie, and the most delightful coconut cream pie I've tasted in a long time.  The chocolate chip cookies are mine, and they are also pretty tasty.  I'm humble- r eally.  

Seeing so many people working on our fields, planting a crop that will define a large part of our summer season, all because they want to help us succeed at this farming operation, is a seriously humbling experience.   There would be no way we could do this ourselves.  

 

 

 

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27.  Thanks to all who helped get our fields ready this year.

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