Market Farming

["homegrownwisdom" <homegrownwisdom AT ns.sympatico.ca>]

Hi Folks,

Regards from Nova Scotia way (Zone 5a)...My partner and I are just starting
our first season of supplying greens and other vegetables to about 20
subscribers in our local area near Wolfville. We call ourselves
"WinterGreens". We have five subscribers so far and have been making weekly
deliveries to them. This will increase to ten subs in August, 15 in
September and 20 in October, when we hope to sell three-month subscriptions
to 20 households (October through December) and then another three months
(January through March) etc.

We will be posting to this list A LOT with various questions as we move into
planting the appropriate crops for our Fall and Winter hoophouses. Our first
question to you all is this: We want to mix our own seeds for baby leaf
lettuce that we would plant in the "32 degree House". What hardy varieties
would you all recommend? We are in Zone 5a. Black Seeded Simpson and Tango
are obvious ones. Are there other varieties you have tried for a winter
harvest?

I have studied Eliot Coleman's Winter Harvest Manual and have put together a
plan following his suggestions for an "Early House", a "Late House" and a "
32 degree House". Does anyone have any experience with building on Eliot's
knowledge? How do YOU make a plan? Do you reckon on the Plan carrying you
through to March? When is the soonest you can plant for the Spring seasons?

It's hot as hell here right now. Hard to imagine just how cold it will get
in February!

Best Regards,

wendy & fredr'c
WinterGreens
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Zone 5a

<<attachment: winmail.dat>>