The white buds are sweet cherries and were so pretty until the frosts came! Our peaches bloomed heavily but certainly don't need the usual hand thinning now. The stamens on the apple buds in the upper right corner are frosted (black), the fruit did not set. Two buds in the background are forming apples.

May 26

So how was the spring weather this year in the North Fork? The Old Timers have conflicting opinions. "This is the way winters used to be," and "never saw anything like it!"

Everyone has lost more than one good harvest so far. Not only have we had an extended frost season, we've also had drying winds of 40-60mph and expect more this week. Wink details his wind machine dilemmas early May blog entries.

The trees and plants are having a difficult time getting started this year. Many vineyards in Palisade are back to the ground, meaning minimum two years of zero grapes. One winemaker who visited us this month is hoping to make fruit wines instead!

For beginning farmers, who have invested heavily in start-up, a bad weather year can be a heavy blow. A sheep farmer in Nebraska we know had to forego expanding her flock because the "tractor blew all of its hydraulics in the snow, heavy barn and fencing damage."

So you might be asking how Mesa Winds Farm is faring this spring? The peaches will be a lighter crop than usual, but the apples and grapes look better. Jack Frost picked our asparagus twice which reduced our harvest. But the lambs are eating lots of orchard grass and getting fat, our geese are still amusing, and our Young Farmers are eager to learn about agriculture and help us create a successful season.

More news and photos are now on our website!

Save the date if you love cycling and local food!

We are planning a foodie cycling fiesta on Mesa Winds Farm, Sept 10-13. That's when our valley is awash in harvests and the weather's perfect for riding. Avoid all that gas-guzzling traffic on Labor Day, bicycle the long weekend afterwards on North Fork country roads! Start some (toned) winter fat! More details revealed in our next newsletter.

2010 Fruit CSA (community supported agriculture)

Thanks to all of you who signed up for fruit shares this season! Your share in our farm fruit will be satisfied before we take any other fruit to market. We are very pleased and grateful for your willingness to share our farm's ups and downs and experience the growing season with us. June 1 is the deadline for joining our CSA, in case you haven't, but wish to do so.

All the best, Max & Wink.