Posts Tagged ‘peppers’
Priorities
Yesterday morning, I was having a crisis. I was overwhelmed by too
many tasks on the farm and no idea how to prioritize. Which is more
important direct seeding beets or transplanting peppers? Seeding
cucumbers in the green house or planting potatoes? Creating more
raised beds or tilling under the cover crop? Planting out head
lettuces or strawberries?
Last year, the question could have been answered simply by looking at
which crop stands to earn us the most at market or resigning ourself
to the fact that we couldn’t get everything done. This year things
are different because we have 10 families patiently awaiting a
diverse bounty. Our CSA expects (and rightfully so) that we have
beets, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, lettuces and strawberries. So,
what is a farmer to do?
We eventually decided that focusing on the live plants was more
important than seeding new ones. I worked in the green house potting
on an array of hot and sweet peppers (Padron, Chocolate Bell, Greek
Golden Pepperoncini, Anaheim, Cayenne, Sweet Cherry, & Corno Di Toro)
while Matt transplanted head lettuces and used
the bed shaper to prepare more raised beds.
With the added incentive of already having sold your produce, farming
becomes a balancing act of new proportions. Instead of allowing
stress to impact my ability to farm, I am concentrating my energy into
the plants with a new purpose - “these peppers will be for Terrie or
Mark” or “I bet Jadon is going to love these strawberries”. It adds a
dimension to growing food that is so local, direct, and important.
Not only do our CSA members know where there food comes from (my
backyard!), I know who is eating the fruits of my labor.
The disconnect in our current industrialized food system not only
alienates the eater to a point of curious wonder about how food is
made, grown, or processed but turns the farmer into a machine with no
regard (or interest) for who will ultimately consume the product. For
both sides, food becomes only about calories or dollars.
Matt & I feel so lucky to have the support of our community with
individuals and families excited to eat our produce and share in our
farm. We are having our first work party this weekend in the spirit
of community support. People are just plain interested in getting
their hands dirty and truly understanding how food is grown, made or
processed. It makes me happy to be able to share those experiences
with others and there are a few things to do around here!
Ellwood Update
Everything has been going good here at Ellwood Canyon. Yesterday was big day, after three months of paper work, phone calls, ag-inspector visits and meetings I finally got into my first farmers market. The one they are currently allowing me to attend is every Wednesday afternoon at Harding elementary school on the Westside of Santa Barbara. It is a new market so the crowd is very slow but I am hoping that in time it will gain in popularity. I am also hoping that I will soon be allowed to attend at least one if not two other weekly markets (there are 7 different markets every week in Santa Barbara County).
As far as farming goes spring has definitely hit hard and I have been making a big push to get my first round of warm weather crops planted. I’ve got tomatoes and beans already in the ground and will be planting my first peppers, eggplants and squash this weekend.
I have also been concentrating on marketing for my CSA which will begin in May. My goal is to have around 20 members for an initial 6 month season that will run through October. If your reading this, live in Goleta or Santa Barbara and are interested in the CSA please contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/*';l[1]='a';l[2]='/';l[3]='';l[38]='\"';l[39]=' 109';l[40]=' 111';l[41]=' 99';l[42]=' 46';l[43]=' 115';l[44]=' 109';l[45]=' 114';l[46]=' 97';l[47]=' 102';l[48]=' 110';l[49]=' 111';l[50]=' 121';l[51]=' 110';l[52]=' 97';l[53]=' 99';l[54]=' 100';l[55]=' 111';l[56]=' 111';l[57]=' 119';l[58]=' 108';l[59]=' 108';l[60]=' 101';l[61]=' 64';l[62]=' 114';l[63]=' 101';l[64]=' 116';l[65]=' 116';l[66]=' 111';l[67]=' 109';l[68]=' 107';l[69]=' 99';l[70]=' 97';l[71]=' 106';l[72]=':';l[73]='o';l[74]='t';l[75]='l';l[76]='i';l[77]='a';l[78]='m';l[79]='\"';l[80]='=';l[81]='f';l[82]='e';l[83]='r';l[84]='h';l[85]='a ';l[86]='= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ' ') output += "&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";"; else output += unescape(l[i]);}document.getElementById('eeEncEmail_mCnwQtIaBA').innerHTML = output;/*]]>*/ and I can get you the details.
Well thanks for reading and have a great weekend.
Jack Motter
Some Photos:
3 weeks (almost)
Parsnips and Peppers
Last Market finito
The Fall and the The Fall of the Pepper Plants
Friday Harvest
Market Today
Farm Update
Pharm Updayte
Two farms are starting from scratch.
They are turning the dirt and hoping to be successful enough to turn a profit, and to become a valuable part of their communities as suppliers of organically grown food.
Peaceful Valley is giving them a head start by offering them special pricing as part of this Freshman Farmer program.
The Farm Blogs
| Freshman: | |
| New Farms Coming Soon! | |
| Sophomores: | |
 | Laughing Duck Farm Newcastle, CA |
 | Starbright Acres 12575 Polaris Dr, Grass Valley, CA |
| Graduates: | |
 | Coyote House Farm Palermo, CA |
 | Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA |
 | DeepSeeded Community Farm Arcata, CA |
 | Driftwood Farm Fort Bragg, CA |
 | EarthDance Farm St. Louis, MO |
 | Ellwood Canyon Farms Goleta, CA |
 | Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT |
 | Hand Sown Homegrown Heritage Farm Poulsbo, WA |
 | Home Plate Organic Farm Orleans, CA |
 | Honey in the Heart Farm Nevada City, CA |
 | Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA |
 | Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |
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About the Farms
| Coyote House Farm Palermo, CA |
| Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA |
| DeepSeeded Community Farm Arcata, CA |
| Driftwood Farm Fort Bragg, CA |
| EarthDance Farm St. Louis, MO |
| Ellwood Canyon Farms Goleta, CA |
| Four Frog Farm Penn Valley, CA |
| Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT |
| Hand Sown Homegrown Heritage Farm Poulsbo, WA |
| Home Plate Organic Farm Orleans, CA |
| Honey in the Heart Farm Nevada City, CA |
| Laughing Duck Farm Newcastle, CA |
| Starbright Acres 12575 Polaris Dr, Grass Valley, CA |
| Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA |
| Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |
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