The Farmers Market

We have started to go to the local farmers market in Santa Cruz. 

Although we have little to sell right now, mostly limes, oranges, mustard greens, chives, chu chu, and sweet potatoes, it is important that we attend now to see what customers are looking for this Spring and onwards. It is also good for Magnus to practice his Portuguese, plus he gets a laugh out of me when he wanders off and sees me looking all embarrassed when we get a customer who realises I don't speak Portuguese. When this happens, I have to get Magnus to explain that there is too much to do if we are to make money selling vegetables this year to cover our living expenses, so I am finding it difficult to find the time to learn Portuguese. 

It has become clear to us that potatoes will not be our main crop to sell, because we don't have a tractor or flat land, so it really is difficult to make selling potatoes for us worthwhile. So, instead we will need to increase our own compost supplies and work to create a system that will supply the local and tourist needs of alliums, root vegetables, colourful greens, and fancy beans. Not forgetting, an endless supply of tomatoes once our large greenhouse has arrived and been installed in a way that not even a category 5 hurricane could destroy (we hope).
Zone 2 soil will need a couple of years of regeneration, but we know it will be very fruitful one day with all the work we continue to put into it. I feel I have almost also doubled the gardening space we have in the home kitchen gardens, and any surplus vegetables that are produced will be destined for the market.

First Seeds to Sow

A small area I have repaired after a large flood washed the stone wall and chives away many years ago