Trying to save 8,000 square feet of greenhouses: Jim with a broom getting the snow and ice off.

Even with carrots, Mayday was not happy about the snow, although we managed to coax her and Trooper out of their barn.

No amount of carrots worked on Maybe Bob or Baby Juniper — they stayed inside.

It’s hard to believe it was only two weeks ago that we were inside the greenhouses with brooms, trying to get all the heavy snow and ice off the greenhouses so they wouldn’t collapse. A few days later, we completed the building our heated tables and sprinklers in Greenhouse #1. And this week, we began working the ground where we will soon be planting corn. Here are three more things to help you get Spring Fever too:

Spring Field Trips & Summer Camps

If you are interested in coming to the farm for two hours, from 10am to noon on any Wednesday between April 21 and June 9, you might be interested in signing up for a Family Field Trip with the Sauvie Island Center. The Sauvie Island Center is the non-profit group who you may have seen on the farm, working with volunteers and students of all ages. They offer Family Field Trips on a sliding scale, $10-25 per family. And they just posted their summer camps sign up too.

For more info: Spring Field Trips and Summer Camp

Behind the Scenes: Feeding Time

We have so much fun with our animals, we assume everyone else will too! We’ve chosen 11 nights in May, that you and your family can come help us with our nightly animal chores. Yes it does sound like we stole a page from Huck Finn, but taking care of the animals is seriously one of our favorite perks of having the farm.

In addition to feeding, you can brush our mini-donkeys or our super soft mini-cow Rita - or all of our 5 mini-goats, including Maybe Bob and Baby Juniper. Or check for eggs in the hen house and make sure all the animals have fresh water. Finally, help get all the goats inside for the night. $50 per family, one family per night. Don’t forget to wear your boots!

For more info: Feeding Time

Tomato Plants & Hanging Baskets

Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 8th & 9th - Mother’s Day weekend! We are opening the farm almost an entire month early so you can get your vegetable starts, including grafted tomatoes!!! Last year we grew a couple of the grafted tomatoes and were so happy with the results, that this year we are selling 9 varieties: Virginia Sweet, Saucy Lady, Opalka, Damsel, Super Fantastic and a few cherry tomatoes too: Sunshine Bumblebee, Sungold and Indigo Cherry Drop.

And don’t forget mom. Our farm to plate chefs are at it again, making Mother’s Day Brunch boxes. You can picnic on the farm or bring them home to mom (the menus will be posted soon). Our grill and bar will be open too!

For more info: Grafted Tomatoes and Mother’s Day Brunch Box

See you soon,

Kat + Jim Topaz