New Brunswick farm ready for summer growing season

New Brunswick farmersEva Rehakand her partner, Alain Roussel,have wasted no time planting for the summer.

They own Alva Farm in the SaintMaurice area, nearBouctouche. They started planting in their cold frame at the beginning of March, and by now thegreenhouse is full of seedlings.

"This year we were lucky with a mild winter and earlier spring," said Rehak.

Roussel says each layer of plastic covering the greenhouse is the equivalent of being 500 miles south.

"We have two layers of plastic, so it's like you're in Florida," he said.

Rehak says some of the first seeds to be planted are those in the brassica familysuch asbroccoli, kale and cabbage.

"The very first ones are actually more alliumsleeks,onions and green onions. Those take longer in trays."

The tomatoes and peppers are a little more touchy, according to Rehak, andrequire more heat in the germination room.

The two are alsobuilding a new greenhouse for tomatoes. The farm, along with three other farms,feeds roughly 100 families through their Community Supported Agriculture program, the Organic Corner Co-operative.

Members buy a share of the produce at the beginning of the year and receive a box of food every week through the season.

Rehak says she would like to see the box program extend throughout the fall.

"We are growing About 40 different fruits, herbs and veggies on just two acres of land."

"For me it's putting the seed into the soil and then seeing how it sprouts, and you put it into the ground and the magic of it ...It's like, I did that, I started it from seed."