April Newsletter

Preparations

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Transplanting has begun. Yesterday we had a full crew on deck—Dan, Steve, Peter, Jen, and Amanda, our newest volunteer—to plant the kale, chard, and collards. These single-row crops are planted into our signature “compost cannolis,” which can be prepared weeks in advance. First, the tractor-drawn subsoiler cuts an 18” slit down the center of the bed; the goal here is to facilitate drainage and nutrient uptake without pulverizing or inverting the soil. Then, we apply a concentrated layer of compost, thanks to a sander perched atop the manure spreader. On its own, the spreader would lay a 4’ span of compost, but with the sander, we can dial the spread down to 2’, so that it stays within the plant’s root zone. Finally, the tractor makes a third pass with a set of hilling disks, which covers the compost beneath a low mound of soil. And presto—compost cannolis!