Just Humming Along

The following is a guest post by Kelsey, one of our farm crew this summer...

While harvesting salad last Friday in the large high tunnel at Blue Gate Farm, the farm crew had a wonderful surprise. Kelsey and Wendy were harvesting from the north salad bed when they heard David (who was in the salad bed closest to the south side wall) say there was a hummingbird drinking nectar out of the clover near the netting covering the south wall opening. As the content little Ruby Throated Hummingbird carried on drinking his nectar he didn't realize that he squeezed his little body through the holes in the netting and was in the high tunnel with the crew. Amazed, we all took time to watch the little bird fly around as we tried to figure out hoe we were going to get him out so he wouldn't hurt himself or even worse, die. As we watched, he landed on the cucumber trellis right behind where Kelsey was sitting, and then flew over to the pea trellis behind Wendy. Pretty soon he took off again and made fast laps around the high tunnel, seeming to realize that he couldn't get out. Then he swooped past Wendy's head and, whether the little hummer was just tired, or was attracted to Kelsey's red pants, he landed on Kelsey's leg. Shocked at what happened, Kelsey jumped and the little bird was up in the air again.

He made another pass around the high tunnel, then flew back and perched on the pea trellis once again. Wendy stood and turned to the pea trellis with her finger outstretched, all in slow motion. The little bird just watched, without even a flinch. as Wendy stretched her finger out to the bird the tiny hummer took a second, looked at the offered perch and then in the blink of an eye he flew and landed on Wendy's finger. She slowly cupped her other hand over the top of her finger, carefully trapping the small bird, and walked to the door, setting him free. We couldn't believe what we had just witnessed and we still have a good chuckle about it but everyone we tell just can't believe what we tell them. But that will be a memory that we will never forget. It is always an exciting time here at Blue Gate Farm!

Still Here

No we haven't died in some mysterious farming accident, buried under a two-ton pile of compost. Nor have we chucked it all and returned to our theatre lives. No, its just spring and if I had a web cam pointed outside, you would see me crawling around on hands and knees transplanting vegetables like a mad woman.

Last weekend was all about tomatoes, eggplant, edible flowers and herbs (thanking my lucky stars for family and Terri help!). This weekend was bed-prep followed by transplanting garden huckleberries, ground cherries, hot peppers, okra, cucumbers, patty pan squash and zucchini. The haywagon which was once a solid block of transplants is now just dotted with orphan plants and the yet-to-be-planted herbs. So the bulk of the transplanting is now complete, then there's the weeding...
I haven't forgotten about the blog, I just can't seem to find a way to get everything I want to get done, done.

So yesterday while transplanting ground cherries I had a eureka moment, followed by a "duh" moment which involved smacking myself in the forehead with a muddy glove. It can be summarized in two words...
"Guest Blogger!"

I know, its not exactly revolutionary thinking, but I had been encouraging my mom to start a blog to show off all of her wonderful nature photography from around the farm when I realized that I could provide the forum and she could help update and beautify the blog. So keep checking in, as new and exciting content is on its way.