Wind, Mildew & Aphids

Yesterday we had winds of up to 50 mph...our little farm did not like that at all. Today I discovered our artichoke plant had bent and blown over, the Pea Vines had blown so hard they were sadly hanging in their place looking miserable. Lots of sticks, debris and leaves everywhere - it was a clean up...today I was reminded of how Mother Nature helps our veggies grow but can also do damage. Must be tough being a real farmer! After cleaning up and trying to secure the artichoke and peas, I discovered some of the pea leaves had a sort of white dust on them thinking I must have some kind of pest. After researching and matching images online I realized it is mildew and most likely caused from planting the vines too close together which doesn't allow vines to dry properly when it rains. We still have peas and new flowers, just dusty looking leaves. After tending to the peas I moved on to what is left of our winter broccoli and discovered some uninvited guests all over the stalks - Cabbage Aphids! There is not much left of the broccoli except some of the flowering pods so I decided to clear out the pondering pests and open the veggie bed for something new. Lots of work to do!