- Author: Deena Miller
What is something you are enjoying eating from your farm right now?
We are still eating our potatoes from the 2014 crop, and we love potatoes! What is especially exciting is that we are getting the first of the goat's milk for the season. We are also eating some greens, mainly dino kale and some foraged greens like miner's lettuce and chickweed from around the farm.
Are you growing or raising anything new in 2015?
We are excited about growing nettles this year. Two years ago we dug up some nettles from Misty Meadows and put them in a wet zone by our water cistern. Last year we put in a larger patch for ourselves and thought that they could be a great medicinal food to bring to market. Also, we heard from Shana Maziarz at Three Forks that when they have nettle pizza they sell out every time. Hopefully we will be able to get multiple harvests since it will be irrigated, it is good to use just as long as you harvest before it flowers and set seeds.
[So should people be watching out for nettles it at market?]
I hope so!
Besides trailing the nettles, we will be growing cauliflower and broccoli in the fall, which is really exciting. Another new venture will be growing in the greenhouses through the summer, a few varieties of tomatoes and peppers. Since we are a cooler site it hasn't made sense in the past to grow peppers and heirloom tomatoes, so we have just stuck with cherry tomatoes until now. I am also growing some new herbs which you may see in the market!
What crops or tools are you leaving behind in 2014?
There are some herbs I am taking out, certain items that I have sold in the past that don't sell large enough quantities to warrant full beds. I'm excited to be planting more commonly used herbs for the farmers market and planting more flowers for the bees in the fall. We may be growing our bees in the future.
What is your favorite tool?
My personal favorite tool is one very specific digging fork. I won't even let Tim use it for fear he could break it. It goes everywhere with me at certain times of the year!
Tim Van Wagner and Ashely Votaw of First Rain Farm produce vegetables, herbs, seeds and goat milk in Nevada City, Ca. You can find out more about First Rain Farm and where to find their products at http://www.firstrainfarm.com