for blog support staff. The current two staff members are simply not living up to expectations.
Ron had signed up for an online mushroom class so yesterday he arranged to take the afternoon off. Then he decided this was perfect time to get another water test done on our streams so he took the whole day. These tests need to be done several times a year and involve getting an early morning sample and driving to Syracuse NY with the container stashed in a cooler. Apparently you get the best testing done if water is kept cool. He headed out to THF about 730 am to get the needed water. A very good thing he did, too. When he got there he discovered that the wind we had the other day had pulled the landscape cloth up and taken some of our lavender plants with it. Because we still have 3 inch high wheat stubs left behind from our mowing, that means the cloth does not rest flatly on the ground. This gives the wind the perfect opening to slide under the cloth and cause havoc.
Do you think he took a few pictures of the situation? No, of course he didn’t. He didn’t have the camera with him, but his iPhone could have done a nice job. He didn’t even bother to tell me about the situation until hours later when he was on his way home from Morrisville College. He had stopped there to pick up some garlic scape pesto and talk with the food program people. Then and only then did he call me and let me know that we had a serious problem that we needed to immediately address.
The plan was that Jo and Ron would head to the farm after his class ended and I would meet them there. At 4 pm I left work and headed to THF. When I got out there, Jo and Ron were working and already baking in the sun. It was 71 degrees out and we had no shade in our work area. I had reminded Ron to bring the camera with them, but did they take a picture or two of how things looked before they got started? No, they didn’t.
Ron had shifted the landscape cloth back into position when he was out there earlier and the two of them were now pouring sand into each hole. The bare root plants were the ones who took the hit from the wind, being wider and dryer than the other plants. Ron’s idea was to add sand to each plant and then give them all a good drink of water. But first they had pulled all of our pallets onto the landscape cloth to be used as anchors. Fingers crossed that this will help our lavender settle in and start to growing nicely.
They had brought my work clothes with them so I changed and jumped into the fray. Dumped two cups of sand into each hole and moved on. Thank goodness we “only” had 150 holes to deal with. It really could have been worse. In fact I had expected it to be worse. From Ron’s description the wind had yanked our plants out of the ground and left them drying in the sun. Turns out only a dozen or so needed to be replanted. Obviously I need to train him to give me accurate details when relaying news.
Then it was time for watering. Jo and Ron got the tank filled and we started watering all of the plants. Up and down each row, pouring out water as we went and back to fill up our pitchers, then up and down the rows again. This was necessary not only to try and reset the plants but we aren’t expecting more rain here until Thursday. We really do need to come up with a better system. But on the positive note, I do tend get my daily step quota in. And then some.
We didn’t have enough pallets to secure all of our sheets, so we fell back on an old standby. The cement blocks that had previously been pulled out of the bushes. We loaded them onto the trailer and then plopped them down along the edges. It was just after 6 pm and we were all so ready to head home.
Side note for all of you, don’t donate blood in the morning and then have a farm emergency 6 hours later. One that requires you to be in hot sun and haul cement blocks around. For the first time, I had to sit part of a job out, drink some water and let Jo take over for me. Another life lesson learned by the doing. Guess that is one way to make sure the lesson sticks.
Applications can be submitted to thfaugustany@gmail.com. On site only, participation in work projects required. Will involve early starts, long days, in all weather conditions and sometimes at a moment’s notice. Strong work shoes or boots recommended. Most days lunch will be provided. Snacks and water always on hand. Serious applicants only need apply.