While Steve was turkey hunting in South Dakota, the boys and I started planting what I call some of our salad vegetables. Keith also has picked up the camera in this process and has been one of our photographers.

We mark our row with a string. The seeds are planted in furrow, rows dug in the ground. The furrows are made by the planter, tiller or hoe.

Kristin and Sam planting.

Beets – We planted beets to harvest both the leaf greens for salads and the roots for eating.

Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce is one of my garden salad favorites. We will be trying a variety of salad lettuces throughout the season. I love it in any salad or with just a bit of sugar sprinkled over the leaves. The boys love it to!

I love spinach in my salads and in place of or in addition to lettuce on sandwiches.

Carrot seeds – Nantjes and Danvers in the first round.

Carrot seeds – as we were planting one of the most interesting and fun things to notice is the distinct differences between seed shapes and sizes.

Carrot seeds – as we were planting one of the most interesting and fun things to notice is the distinct differences between seed shapes and sizes.

Turnips are a newby to us as well. But we thought it was an “old” garden favorite so we should try it. And it seems to love our soil. So I will be researching ideas for all of us to try.

Big Max Pumpkins – Now we realize we will be lucky if we have one huge pumpkin. But in our year’s of gardening we feel you always have to try for the huge pumpkin. So we will hopefully have a CSA “pumpkin mascot.”

Big Max pumpkin seeds – no wonder the end product is supposed to be a couple hundred pounds!

These two boys can’t wait to see how big the pumpkins get. Of course you have to be taming kittens while you are planting – notice the kitten in Keith’s arms and the other wrapped in the towel by Sam’s feet.