
While winter plants are tough, a week in the deep-freeze does take it's toll. We did lose a few of the outdoor crops, but there's still a pretty good selection of produce for late January. Most of your root crops will be coming to you now without the leafy green tops (the roots themselves are still excellent eating). I've been cutting field-grown salad greens later into the winter than I ever thought possible. While there was still quite a bit outside, it's beaten up enough that it's time to move into harvesting the lettuce and spinach, radishes and arugula out of the greenhouse. These look lusher and more tender than what you've been eating in the recent past. The cauliflower and broccoli are in the field under row covers, but despite their blankets I had expected to lose both when temperatures dropped down to 17 degrees one morning last week. Miraculously, about 75% of both crops pulled through just fine!
The hens also seemed completely unphased by the frigid weather last week. I try to keep them comfy through cold snaps by stuffing their coops with plenty of extra straw, and lugging warm water out to them every morning. The girls have also been enjoying piles of cold-damaged greens (they aren't picky). They did not slow down the egg production at all...if anything they're rapidly picking up the pace as the days get a little longer. I'm gathering more eggs every day, and if you're in the mood for eggy things, there's no shortage around here! Though if you look a little closer at the photo above (pardon the dirt; I hadn't cleaned them yet) someone out there seems a little confused as to just what size chicken eggs ought to be?