Not getting bigger… just following up on our earlier attempt at expansion.
In June, when we rented the tractor, we figured we’d better get our money’s worth for the full day. We tilled up an area that ended up being larger than we were able to deal with this season. So, we had to revisit the +/- quarter acre outside of the existing garden that we tilled during the summer. It isn’t quite complete, but nearly is. Matt started installing the deer fencing, while I used our Glaser wheel hoe to break up clods and loosen weeds for easy removal. Then, I seeded with a cover crop, Peaceful Valley’s soil builder mix, which we used last year and had good success with. We’ll leave it under cover crop this winter, then amend with finished compost (sourced locally) in the spring.
The chickens we raised this summer are now old enough to be housed with the existing flock… with one exception. One of the chicks turned out to be a very handsome (golden-laced wyandotte) rooster. Although he’s fine with us, he was too aggressive with the hens, so as a trial we put him in with the goats - where he seems to be getting along fine. For now, until we decide what to do, the “bachelors” will all hang out together.
I had a good first day with the CSA. Ten members showed up at the farm and picked up shares last monday and I have 14 people signed up for next week. I was happy with the produce and I hope the members are happily eating it. Contents included 1 bunch carrots, 1 bunch chiogga beat, 1 bunch turnip, 10oz sugar snap peas, 1 bag green lettuce, 1 bag red lettuce, 1 bunch kale, 1 bunch chard, 1 red onion, 1 purple kohlrabi, 1 green garlic, 1 pound broccoli/caulilower, 1 bunch culinary sage.
The Farmers market I’ve been attending is slowly getting better…...
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The field is looking good, with the last week of sun and warmer weather stuff is really starting to grow. I have been busy taking care of everything I have growing, keeping pests at bay, as well as planting new crops.
The next two weeks I will be planting more warm weather crops….. tomatoes, squash, beans, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, melons….. as well as more lettuce, carrots, beets, radish, turnips, onions, leeks, chard, kale, and mustard greens. I direct seed the squash, beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, radish and turnips and the rest are from transplants that I started last month. I am fortunate to have Oscar Carmona and Jeff Kramer of Healing Grounds Nursery (completely organic and a very unique wholesale nursery, check them out at healinggroundsnusery.com) literally right next to my field. Oscar is a great guy and has been big help to my cause. He is currently allowing me to use space in one of his greenhouses to do my starts.
As far as field pests go the weeds are definitely number one, gophers in a close second, and beetles really picking up the pace. My remedies include lots of hoeing (I’ve been borrowing a Glaser wheel hoe which is amazing), consistent gopher traps (cinch traps), and the a vacuum that I’ve been sucking up cucumber beetle with (craftsman shop vac). Nothing works perfect but my remedies are slowly improving and with a bit of luck I feel confident I can keep things under control so that plants are healthy and still producing come harvest time.
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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.
| Freshman: | |
| New Farms Coming Soon! | |
| Sophomores: | |
![]() | Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA |
![]() | Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT |
![]() | Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |
| Graduates: | |
![]() | Coyote House Farm Palermo, 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 |
![]() | 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 |
| 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 |
| Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA |
| Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |