Tractors and Toes - Tortuga Lessons

 Tortuga Thursday

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

Farmers are also mechanics

Between Farmers' Markets and book festivals, it seems I'm standing behind a table much of the time lately. On Thursday afternoons from 3:00 to 6:00, we're now doing the Chino Valley Farmers' Market. It's much, much smaller than the Prescott market. Frank and I are manning this one. Although the vendors are the same ones we see in Prescott, the patrons are different folk. But they still love pickles.

Our peppers went wild this year. Last year we were happy to get twenty jalapenos off a bush and this year we're getting 100+. Frank

A bounty of hot jalapenos

has decided to pickle peppers. We'll add those to our product line at the markets. Prescott is going to continue the market at an inside venue for the winter season and into spring, November to April. Our peppers should debut in a few weeks when they're cured.

Stylin"

If you've followed my blog from when we landed on the prairie, you'll remember I was quite excited to get my Justin boots for working. They've seen a few months of work but not this year. My feet have problems (I won't get into) so I've had to retire them. I'm not nearly as

Not so much...

farmer stylish but I've learned comfort means a lot more when there's field work to be done...means more most of the time for me these days.

By the time the fields had dried enough for Lance to get them tilled, the tractor had broken down and it rained again. Now he's waiting on a part and the fields are still wet. He had a conversation with an old farmer the other night about the timing and what to do. The elder man told him that if the fields are still a bit wet, you work them anyway and maybe you'll have imperfect soil conditions. A farmer has to work with the conditions he's dealt each year. I think farming must teach patience and flexibility.

The greenhouse now has a new crop of okra, onions and dill weed.

The Indiegogo campaign is still running. We're down to about three weeks. We need it to pick up steam for the last stretch. Whether we meet our goal or not, I'll give you an accounting when all is said and done. Have a look, get some pickles and spread the word. Thanks. Here's the link: Set Sail With Pirate Pickles