We desire a lot, have big expanding dreams. A month ago, our hopes were through the roof on how many good strawberries there would be, the crowd of people that were going to forage them. Phillip started plotting the purchase of more greenhouses and expanding our growing spaces down the hill. Then, we experienced two brutally hot days reaching 100 degrees this week.
This week was a reality check. The strawberries essentially melted in the heat, the ripe and unripe. We are still assessing the damage. Not all the berries are lost, but a huge chunk is gone. Mourned and quickly got over it. Changed our expansion plan this year. Rather than building more green houses, we are going to focus on our water sources. We think in coming years we can combat the heat with better irrigation. Also, continuing to vigorously weed and deeply mulching the orchard for the rest of the summer. Come Volunteer!
This set back has also allowed us to realize how we want to put energy into our other visions beyond the food aspects of our farm. We introduced ourselves as strawberry farmers a few years ago. Yet, we are so much more.
Our Observatory dreams are potentially coming true in the next year or two. We reached out to a company that uses a robot to construct 3D printed concrete structures. They have given us a quote to construct the building that will house our future 24-inch telescope. The cylinder building with dome top will be connected to the deck we currently have. It seems like it’s a doable project in the near future!
Yesterday's Strawberry Full moon was spent a lot differently than my vision a month ago. We didn’t harvest any strawberries. Instead, we focused on the other aspects of our life and the farm that we want to grow. It was our monthly Astronomy Club meet up at the Limerick library. It was so much fun. Next meet up is July 1st at 4:00 p.m. at the Waterboro Library. Our topic is galaxies!
Phillip and I also enjoyed a charter around Casco Bay with the lovely Nauti Sisters Sea Farm to celebrate his birthday. I continue to hold on to my vision of connecting land farm and sea farm. So grateful to have made connections and friendships in the ocean farming world.
It was hard week and an encouraging one all at once. We will continue to dream on and work hard to make it all work together the way we envision it. Thank you for your continuing support and encouragement. We know big things are ahead.
-Gwendolyn
