What Rain Brings

Another wet week on the farm has brought plenty of water to the vegetables, but also to the weeds. A challenge we often face, good comes with bad. It is what we make of it.

We visited Ploughshare Farm this week, in Moiese (not to be confused with Ploughshare in Parker's Prairie, where I apprentinced summer 2007). Two former PEAS students moved to the 18 acres with their young son and now have an adorable daughter to help with the work of growing tomato starts, shallots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Indian Corn, and a variety of greens and things for markets. A few goats and chickens add to the fun, too. They are members of the Western Montana Growers Co-op, and Homegrown, the Montana Sustainable Farmers Union. Both of these organizations help with the steep financial investment and logistical issues associated with organic certification (or lack thereof due to cost and how well it suits tiny operations), produce distribution, and sales.



After another good soaking this weekend, we were left with a gift atop our neighbor, Mt. Jumbo. If you look closely, there is a second, lighter, larger rainbow.



This is our garage, house, fantastic Subaru, Charlie's kayak (shall we take it down the Rattlesnake and into the Clark Fork?), and Mt. Jumbo across the way.



We're pretty happy, double full rainbows or not.