Today's weather was as near perfect as it gets. Full sun all day, temperature hovered in the upper 60Fs and lower 70Fs. It felt like September.
Spent the morning with NYU and Stretch. We got Rhode Island all set up for market-- Newport was tied to the sink washing/ soaking case after case of greens. Watered up the greenhouse, then we headed up to the field of Taylor raspberries on the far slop of the hilltop. We picked along until lunch. NYU and I worked either side of the same row and chatted the whole way through-- we talked religion, politics, farms and books. He shared a mind-blowing tidbit the boss shared with him yesterday at market-- all I can say is that I'm glad the farm's future is gonna be in good hands. If all this talk actually goes through-- I definitely want to stick around, help out and see what I can learn. I thought about it all while plopping berries into the bucket-- I'm almost surprised that I haven't got a shred of jealousy. But truth is, I've learned my limits and right now (at least) managing a farm is beyond me. The future needs rock solid field hands, so rock solid I'll be.
Bah and Old Rudolpho's crew came to help on the berries and together we got 8 trays picked before lunch (6 trays of pints, 2 trays of half pints). We loaded them up in the boss's rental van and hiked back for lunch.
After lunch NYU, Stretch and I wandered back to the raspberries to finish off a few rows. The weather had us in wild spirits, Stretch has really broken from his shell and we laughed like maniacs as we walked-- dreaming up all varieties of towering bullshit. It was a good day to be in this field, on this farm, at this time. I don't think the world has known happier men.
We picked 2 more trays before the rows were spent. Peering over the plants, new berries seemed to have ripened just over the course of a few hours work. We ate them for spite.
Back at the farm store, even the boss seemed to have caught the spirit of the day. He laughed his low laugh and hummed our new orders-- up with buckets to the forest field to pick squash and zucchini. We ran the whole way through the tomato fields, over the log bridge and under the old trees of the woods. Yesterday was a thorough day, so not much remained for us. We filled a third of a bucket of zucchini and a half bucket of summer squash. We jostled our way back and presented the catch for Easy and the CSA members to see (apparently unimpressed, they went about their business). Today was Easy's first day back on after a 2 week vacation-- he was a bit sullen, stuck in the shady store while we had the sun and fields. Newport finally finished washing everything in the cooler and joined us by the greenhouse.
I gave all the seedlings a second watering and hooked up the plant wagon to the old tractor. NYU passed out the trowels and dibbles, then we hopped aboard as the boss took the tractor up the hilltop. I really appreciate having Newport around-- I can discipline myself, but I'm no good at driving others: he took care of all that. The foreman marked out 3 long rows on the hilltop and we got to transplanting. Broccoli, Cabbage and a mystery plant (even the boss couldn't remember what was in the 2 trays) were sunk into ground. We worked at a hard clip right past closing. 1 and 1/3 of the rows are finished-- the rest are tomorrow's problem.
Before leaving I chatted with Viking in between her customers. A little ways back my mother had given Viking a mess of plant pots, so my friend was looking to return the favor in some small way. All week Viking marked the hot days she was happy not to be in the field-- but today she had the work itch so bad that she'd nearly snuck out with Bah and Old Rudolpho. Signed out and took my leave.
If everyday were like today, I would work everyday of my life.
Darlin is due to arrive tomorrow night-- come on friday!
Take it easy.
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