Welcome to Leapfrog Farm!
With only 2/3 acre under production, you'd think there wouldn't be much to do ;) But between selling a wide array of organic and heirloom fruit, flowers, and veggies at the Bainbridge Island Farmer's Market (Saturdays 9-1, come visit!), the farm stand at the Kingston Ferry several times a month, and through a small CSA (farm subscription) program, there's plenty.
Somewhere in all that we do a lot of weeding and cultivating and sweating. (Or shivering- the early mornings are chilly!) It's a sun-up to sun-down intensive farming experience, and when I'm not trying to figure out how to get enough rest and food (good thing I like veggies!), we're getting to know each other.
Christine, mom and head farmer, really knows what she's doing, and her husband Andrzej (An-jay) has the market down to a science. In the mix are their two little boys, Alex (8) and Danya (5), pictured above w/ Andrzej; and Sara, from Portland: an accomplished musician, home gardener and landscaper, and, most importantly, my fellow intern.
Working with experts has definitely begun to refine my skills... and not just how to power-weed. 18 years of 'growing,' as they call it, has led them to develop systems for everything, from a complex but effective drip irrigation system to a particular method for loading the truck for market. Leapfrog produces nearly year-round, so I'm learning a lot about succession crops and how to encourage things to grow in not-exactly-ideal weather. Right now, though, we're just battling the dry heat like every other farmer at this time of year. Thank goodness for tomatoes and basil, mmm. Who needs meat, anyway?
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