Raspberries Week 7 - The Bumble Bees Are Back!

Buzzzzzzz. Buzzzzzzzz. Buzzzzzzzz. Gets my attention. Ahhhh....they're back. Sprout flowers and they will come. Never mind that I followed this hard working farm employee around in the rain for 10 minutes to get this shot. Well worth it.

One of my best friends said hooray for free labor! I couldn't agree more. We couldn't do this without these guys, and I was so glad to see even  more of the calvary had arrived later in the week.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey.

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Raspberries Week 6 - Bouncing Back

Our Niwot are the black raspberries. The ones we were surprised arrived NOT as a stick with roots, but a delicate tissue culture. And boy did they look unhappy for a long time. But now they're all shiny and reaching for the sun. Something knocked them for a loop, but just like when that happens to humans, they had to bounce back and look for the plentiful light all around them.

These are the first "runners" we've seen. Fresh growth popping up not directly off of the original stalk.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Raspberries Week 5 - Recovery

The beautiful sight of new foliage after the leaves getting a little scalded in the sun from the spray.

The difference between the fresh new foliage and evidence below of where the leaves were getting decimated.

Some are even starting to bud.

Let the recovery continue.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Raspberries Week 4 - The Back Pack

Another first! Spraying with the new back pack. Very quick and convenient.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Raspberries Week 3 - I Don't Remember All These Thorns

Last time around, I don't remember thorns developing, so many and so early. My Mom said my gloves better be pretty thick! But then we only sold Jaclyn, Caroline and Anne last time and I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to know these new varietals too.

Scenes from Week 3:

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Raspberries Week 2 - Thirsty Berries

Scenes from Week 2

Rebuilding the drip irrigation system on Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd, 2015 to get water to the thirsty berries.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)

Planting Weekend 2015!

Always fun to start the day being greeted by such a pretty bird.

 Planting. Day 2. All 4 of us working together.

And then....we opened THIS box. The "Niwot" black raspberry. And said, Um, we didn't realize we had ordered any tissue culture plants. At least we knew OF them. Turns out they pop right into the ground like a fun little package with their well contained roots and dirt ball.

This came as a welcome relief at the end of the day after wrangling roots much longer like this, and many had root balls that were way, way bigger.

Husband and Thing 2 went especially fast, which was awesome for getting finished, but I took my time to clear out leftover hay and roots from the soil. Also want to make sure these new additions are happy here. 

Day 2:

 Area 6 - Row 11 & 12. Niwot - left. Niwot then Bristol - right.

 House #5. Josephine - left. Nantahala - right.

House #4. BP-1 then Caroline - left. Himbo Top - right.

House #3. Jaclyn - left. Joan J - right.

Heritage - the last 5 plants on row 2 - 6, 8 - 10.

We did it! Now on to building up the much needed irrigation. The saga continues.

Click here: The Unexpected Farm Girl - The Prequel for photos & amusing stories from the 2008 - 2011 part of The Unexpected Farm Girl's journey. 

Smiles!

The Unexpected Farm Girl (Erika)