Lots of fun little tidbits to share this week. For many years researcher Olivia Smith from WSU has been surveying birds at Fifth Crow 1-2 times a year as part of an ongoing research project on Bird Diversity on Farms. But more recent news- we've just recently joined the Songbird Farm Trail. We've always subscribed to the view that farms in addition to being places of humans intervening in nature can also be oases for wildlife. We see our farm as an eco-system that we are caretakers of. This Spring Wild Farm Alliance put up a bunch of Western Bluebird boxes on the farm. We just got an update from our friends Jo Anne Baumgartner and Sam Earnshaw (a powerhouse couple who've devoted their lives to this work). We got the boxes up a bit late, but still 3 of them had signs of use. Hopefully we'll be ready for them next year and we can convince the bluebirds that always come through in the Spring to stick around awhile. They're fabulous insect catchers. If how farms can be havens for wildlife interests you, check out more about their work here: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/
Also, heaps of strawberries, so we'll be offering full flats and half flats in the extra section. Time for jamming!
Product Spotlight:
Lot's more things coming into season! Carrots should be around to stay for most of the season, barring the unforeseen ;) We plant carrots every 2-3 weeks. Potatoes are almost ready. Yum! and we're harvesting our first basil of the season.
Rooted Basil: We harvest the entire plant with it's roots on. When you get it home, but it in a vase or cup with the roots submerged. Store it in your kitchen in a shady spot and change the water every few days. You can then use it bit by bit and can keep that way for weeks. WARNING! Do not store basil in your fridge as it will turn black. Basil is very cold sensitive.
