And so it begins...

A strange summer this is, to be sure.

Wheat is ready to harvest in the fields on our way to the land.

Grasshoppers are devouring green in hordes.  Truly, I don't remember seeing a fraction of the number of grasshoppers in years past.  A consequence of a mild winter, I suppose.

Our onions are the largest I've ever managed to grow, which is a pleasant surprise after several rows of starts were swept away in the heavy (and frequent) spring rains.  So far, we've harvested a little over 2 pounds of onions, some due to hoeing mishaps.  (We are quite good at mishaps this year!)

First onions hanging in the basement

In March, we planted some well-sprouted potatoes remaining from last year's bounty as a "children's garden," hoping that being involved from planting to harvest would help our kids weed a little more with us.  Last Friday, due to grasshopper ravages and general dying off, we opted to harvest three rows.  From three rows, 30 pounds of lovely, well-formed, scabless potatoes.  Some plants were discovered to have both red and white potatoes growing.

Potatoes with green skin or hoeing damage
Our "USE ASAP" pile

Medium to large potatoes

Baby potatoes

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.