Putting the Farm to Bed 2014

We got some welcome rain today.  That will help my rye and vetch cover crop get established before the winter.  Next year, this mixture will suppress weeds and bring some nutrients and organic matter to the soil.

Looking south, clover aisles bisect the field with blocks of germinating winter rye and hairy vetch.

This time of year, it is a race to pull up the crops and sow the rye.

Kamal tilling where the sweet potatoes were.

Earlier in the week, I thought to try to sow into the spaces of the growing fall crops.  As I harvest the crops, I will leave the rye.  We'll see how it turns out. 

I spread the winter rye and cultivated it in between the lettuce.

We pulled out the stakes so there's less architectural dimensions in the field.

Looking over the former potato field with the only height of fading flowers giving some food for the birds and bees.

Still there are some bright surprises to be found.

A beet harvest... I was stunned to find these as they have been struggling and in the ground since May.

Giant Amaranth or Love Lies Bleeding

August 2014 Farm Update

Well, it should be abundant August on the farm.  Alas, not so much: it has been both disappointing and delightful.

For the disappointing, last Friday, I noticed what appears to be Late Blight on my cherry tomato plants and yesterday noticed it on the heirloom tomato plants.  I am awaiting confirmation from the lab; however, to prevent the spread of disease, I have pulled up the affected plants.  The following pictures document this.

Space where the plants were.

Then, there were just too many plants to bag.

Plants tightly enveloped in a tarp in the field.

Yesterday, instead of harvesting, I bagged up 40 heirloom tomato plants. Here's what they looked like with the disease.

Notice the brown leaves that within days spreads to the stem, fruit and eventually kills the plant. 

 

 

 

 

And, here's my van.

Bagged diseased plants going to the trash away from the farm.

Now for the delightful, I have sold some of my extra produce to the community at the school.  Here's what the farm stand looks like.

Last week, husk cherries, cherry tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, kale, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers and flowers were on offer.

 Meanwhile, I am planning for the fall and for February 2015.

Fall vegetable starts for the CSA.

In February, I can start planting greens by peeling back the weed block fabric and tilling. Until then, I can reuse the space to cure or to store vegetables.

Curing shallots and acorn squash and storing Delicata squash for when folks are ready to eat winter squash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying to Protect the First CSA Harvest of the Season

On Saturday, the woodchuck discovered the high tunnel.  Kamal put together the electric fence: the lowest wire for the woodchuck and the other two wires to deter the deer.   I knew the woodchuck would want to enter the field, but never thought it would enter by the front door into the high tunnel. 

Kamal pointing to the paw prints in the fresh compost.

Alas, it's humbling.  Notice the defoliated bean plant in the foreground?  Of course, I planted beans in the tunnel because everyone at the school warned me.  Another close-up below.

A better view of paw prints

I read somewhere that woodchucks monitor folks habits. This woodchuck comes out in the afternoon.  Anyhow, I spooked it when I went to turn off the water near its burrow.  It ran to hide in the closest place possible - my high tunnel.

Yesterday, when delivering woodchips with a bucket loader, my colleague saw the woodchuck jump over the side and into the high tunnel.  He cornered it (not before it sampled lettuce, radishes and more beans) and it ran out.  My colleague suggested chicken wire.

Before I could buy chicken wire, for the night I draped in row cover what was most tempting to the woodchuck.

Out in the field, most of the row cover is off, because it is too hot.  I can only use it at night.  Plus, the row cover blocks the plants access to pollinators. 

This evening's photo with chicken wire along the baseboard.

Hoping that all this (plus a cinder block and deflated volleyball at the door), keep the woodchuck away and our first harvest of 2014 safe.

Scenes from the farm this May 2014

As it is rainy and cool this morning, I have time to do this post.  Here are some scenes from the farm. 

Beds made by Kamal after the field had been tilled.

Now, I can start planting.

Getting the bed ready for planting broccoli with the high tunnel in the background.

Shade cloth on the high tunnel has protected (as in kept cooler) the peas and lettuce.

Broccoli is under cover and preparing the next bed for kale and collards.

As I take this picture, behind me are 11 beds of double rows of fingerling potatoes.  Two beds of biodegradable "plastic" hold the shallots, onions and leeks.  All this planting can take place because the electric deer/woodchuck fence is up. (Many thanks to Kamal.  Without his ingenuity, I would not have a fence nor would it be solar powered.)

Planted another 110 foot bed with cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

  The first potatoes planted have begun to sprout.

Both peas have begun to flower.  Thankfully, right on schedule.  Unfortunately, the spinach has flowered too - as that means it is done. Other crops growing in the high tunnel are the following: beans, carrots, scallions, onions, arugula, radish and lettuce.  Plus, all sorts of summer crops in trays awaiting planting. 

Solar Power for the High Tunnel

It all started with the posts to hold the panels: sunk three feet underground with concrete.

I needed power to open and close the louvers of the high tunnel.  Moreover, power was needed to run the blower that provides a layer of air between the two plastic layers - making the tunnel better to withstand the wind. Kamal designed a structure to make it all work.

Circuit breaker panel in the high tunnel

Digging the trench, threading the wire from the panel into the high tunnel and now connecting the circuits. 

Blower inflating the plastic

Here's the backside of the high tunnel with power!

Solar panels with batteries

High Tunnnel Is Up Just in Time

High Tunnel on a warm day

Thanks to the Brooks School for their help and hearty welcome!

I was running out of room upstairs in our home for more seed starts.  Thank goodness, the high tunnel was completed just as I needed it.   

In the hallway are the trays needing cooler temperatures and/or dark to germinate.

In the TV room, our cat Lidea makes sure the summer crops germinate on time.  (My towel for quick clean up that also doubles as a knee pad is comfy for the cat.) 

So far, spinach, peas, scallions and purple onions are planted in the high tunnel.

Using some cardboard and leaf-mold for mulch in between the beds.

First Sprouting of 2014

On Saturday, I started the first seeding of the season.  February is the time to plant onions, leeks and scallions from seeds.  They will be transplanted into the field in May. 

Leeks, onions and scallions on a heating mat with a humidity dome to help sprouting

Using a temperature controller, I get within the optimal temperature range for germination. 

temperature controller for the heating mats

The scallions came up first.

Scallions sprouting

Now is the time to remove the dome, heating mat and turn on the overhead lights. 

Leeks barely visible

Onions

 

 

Meanwhile, the leeks and onions need a couple more days of heat and humidity.