Doing a little housekeeping

This weekend has left me much time to do a little housekeeping and less time to write. So while I put off grading papers for tomorrow, I figured I better not let another day go without updating what is going on at the farm.
Dad and I spent the last two days doing odds and ends. Since we got a good, heavy rain on Friday, field work was out of the question. So we picked up the lettuce and spinach plants at Kube Pak and are lettting them harden in the shed. Since it was cold and windy the last two days, it's not a good idea to exposure them to the outside just yet. The long-range forecast for the coming week is to moderate into warmer temperatures so they will have their day in the sun before long. Plus, my target date to plant them will be next weekend.
In preparation for that planting, we spent some time on Saturday bending tubing for the low tunnels that will protect the plants once they go into the ground. It is the first time I have used the bending tool and it was a breeze once I got the hang of it. It will be used for a 36-inch row that is approximately 100 feet long.
I finished cleaning up the blackberry patch. Now I will add the compost around the plants and fertilize and they will be good to go.
Finally, we cleaned out the sheds and organized everything. Old seed packets and trash were discarded and all seed was organized for easier use. Once we get going into full production, there is no time for this kind of work. Also, I checked the machinery to make sure it is in good working order and finished the day by wirebrushing and filing the hoes and wire weeders to a sharp edge. Tools that are very sharp are much easier to work with and do minimal damage to the soil.
Last Friday we received our latest piece of equipment, a tilther from Johnny's Selected Seeds. This 15-inch wide mini-rototiller is used to finish a seed or plant bed by working the top 2-4 inches just before planting. It runs on a cordless drill, so we don't have to worry about gasoline. I am looking forwad to using it next weekend for the first time.
Dad and I spent some time discussing the planting of the potatoes, which will probably happen in the next five weeks. Usually, we use a furrow maker hooked to the tractor and scratch open a 10-inch hole. But I am re-thinking that method as I want to be sure that the plants will have good soil structure to lay roots in. Using the furrow making could lead to hard pan, something I want to avoid. I am kicking around the idea of "double digging" the rows and laying a compost in the furrow to give the seed a good start. Stay tuned and you'll find out where I am going with this.