Opening Day - Western Wake Farmer's Market

Hey y'all,

We're preparing for our first farmers market next Saturday, April 3rd. We'll be at the Western Wake Farmer's Market in Cary, NC. The market opens at 8 am and ends at noon. There will also be bakers, fish, meat, cheese, eggs, crafted farm products, musical entertainment, a chef's demonstration, an educational tent and face painting. It's all located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Rd, Cary, NC. between Davis Drive and Hwy. 55. Get directions here... We are very excited and looking forward to meeting new and old friends. Our table will have lettuce, mesclun, arugula, tatsoi, radishes, baby turnips, broccoli rabe and green onions plus some other possibilities. Come see us there!


We're still going strong and working every day to stay on top of things. Patricia is busy with school and teaching. Just today, I planted our second succession of peas and carrots and seeded cucumbers, summer squash and melons for transplant. We have flowers growing, the potatoes have started to peek above the ground and the cabbage and broccoli are taking off like gang busters! The strawberries have started to flower and the plants are growing larger. The tomatoes, peppers and eggplant have had their first transplant to a larger "container" ( actually into soil blocks, which are container-less pots of soil) and are happily growing in our greenhouse. I put up pea trellis yesterday because they are about 6 to 8 inches tall and ready to climb.

This coming Tuesday, March 30th, we plan to have produce pickup at our house, 604 Sasser St., between 4:00 to 7:30 pm. The next NCSU delivery will be Wednesday, March 31th. Remember to have your orders placed by Monday evening.

A few of you occasionally may have trouble placing orders. Please make sure you receive an automated confirmation email a few minutes after you place your order. If you do not receive this email your order was not placed and we will not receive it. Please try again or email us your order to shields.ben@gmail.com or call Ben @ 919-800-8898. Also, we do not accept online payments, e.g. PayPal. We only accept payment of cash or checks at pickup.

Purchase of vegetables is made through our online store-
www.vendio.com/stores/bensproduce.

Current vegetable availability includes:
Arugula
Easter Egg Radish
Carrots
Mizuna
Lettuce
Mesclun Lettuce
Scallions
Sweet potatoes
Tatsoi


OUT THINKING IN THE FIELD, by Ben

Spring time is the winter thaw that fills the river of life with rushing water, bubbling and swirling to the sea. Farming is like jumping in that river for a good swim though not quite as cold. Fight the current and you'll wear yourself out, possibly to your detriment. Ride the current with wisdom, skills and knowledge and it's a beautiful day on the river. The swell will subside in a while when summer gets hotter and the river calms some.  I'm trying to ride that current though I'll admit it's not easy and is full of hazards. Well, this may be somewhat of a northern analogy because rivers don't freeze here and rise with snow melt but I think it works...



Be good and eat well,
Ben & Patricia