September 2013
As the arrival of our littlest farmer nears, we have kept busy harvesting up a storm during these mild fall days. We enjoyed the annual Sweet Top Farm CSA Member Tour and Potluck on the first day of fall and loved getting the chance to connect with many of our members as well as enjoy many delicious dishes at the potluck.
August 2013
As the cool temperatures continued through the month, we started to wonder if green tomatoes were the best we would have this season. It really wasn't until the end of August when there was an entire week of 90+ degrees and high 70s at night that we started to see tomatoes, peppers, and melons ripen. Yet, the fruit was about as shocked as the people, and the scorching sun caused sunscald on several of the first round of tomatoes and peppers. It seems as though the heat came a little later than the average farmer would like, and with very little precipitation this entire month, everything is DRY! Even with irrigation, the plants look like they would enjoy a nice steady rain.
Among other happenings this month, we harvested loads of flowers for a mid August wedding. It was really fun to be able to create numerous bouquets with the best of what was available, and we, as well as the bride, were really happy with the outcome. Check out some of Mother Nature's beauty in the photos below.
Among other happenings this month, we harvested loads of flowers for a mid August wedding. It was really fun to be able to create numerous bouquets with the best of what was available, and we, as well as the bride, were really happy with the outcome. Check out some of Mother Nature's beauty in the photos below.
July 2013
Summer finally arrived at the beginning of the month with hot days and warm nights and oh, a full week of sunshine! We were finally able to make some good progress weeding, planting, trellising tomatoes, and watching things grow quickly. After such a long spring, temperatures in the 90's are a-okay. Megan's parents arrived in time for some very busy days on the farm and did their part to help weed, plant, and harvest for the CSA. Additional help from our worker shares and member volunteers has been great, especially with tedious hand-weeding and putting thousands of fall transplants in the ground.
Our excitement about the suitable weather was muffled as temperatures cooled down. A few days of cooler weather is fine, but a couple weeks!? With very little precipitation, we have been doing continuous rounds of irrigation each week and are seeing some nice growth on the fall plantings of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Melons, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are slow to ripen but should make for a nice harvest towards the end of August.
Our excitement about the suitable weather was muffled as temperatures cooled down. A few days of cooler weather is fine, but a couple weeks!? With very little precipitation, we have been doing continuous rounds of irrigation each week and are seeing some nice growth on the fall plantings of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Melons, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are slow to ripen but should make for a nice harvest towards the end of August.
June 2013
What a month! June tends to be one of the busiest times for farmers. Not only is there plenty of planting to be done, but the first harvests and weeding all coincide. Add to that days of rain separated by only a couple of sunshine, and work tends to get squeezed into a short window of time. While there was no major damage to the crops beyond some leaf tearing from the June 21st storms, the already saturated soils and threat of more rain left us wondering if the sun would ever return for an extended stay.
Belle has proven to be worth her weight in gold (and she is a big girl!) on cultivation days. We are able to cover quite a bit of ground in a short period of time. Weeds love the wet weather and are growing...well, like weeds. Whatever we can do to minimize their impact on the vegetable plants during the short breaks in weather is important. Beyond the use of hands and hoes, our sweet horse is helping get the job done
Belle has proven to be worth her weight in gold (and she is a big girl!) on cultivation days. We are able to cover quite a bit of ground in a short period of time. Weeds love the wet weather and are growing...well, like weeds. Whatever we can do to minimize their impact on the vegetable plants during the short breaks in weather is important. Beyond the use of hands and hoes, our sweet horse is helping get the job done
Beebop-a-Reebop Rhubarb Pie
May 2013
Rain, mud, muck, YUCK! It has been an incredibly wet month with very few warm, sunny days. What started as 12" of snow on May 1st and 2nd continued as rain for the rest of the month, totaling over 5 inches. Any chance we got, we were in the field prepping beds and planting as fast as possible before the next rainy day. Spring crops including lettuce, bok choy, scallions, arugula, and kohlrabi are in the ground and ready for the sun to shine and the ground to heat up to spark faster growth.
Excitement came to Sweet Top Farm on May 7th when the newest addition arrived: a shiny blue 1968 Ford 3000 tractor. It runs great for a 45 year old tractor, and the smaller tires and wider spacing are ideal for our vegetable beds. Don't worry, Belle has not been demoted to around the clock grazing, although she likely would not mind. |
On May 16th and 17th, we were able to plant this season's potatoes, kale, spring broccoli, onions, and leeks. Finally, it felt like spring had sprung, but the rain that followed totaled over 3 inches, saturating soil that had not quite dried out from prior precipitation. The weeds, on the other hand, loved the rain. Since we couldn't get into the fields with the tractor or with Belle, we headed out with hoes and hands, eager to get ahead on cultivation. Then, more rain...
"Wouldn't this be a great time for a piece of rhubarb pie?" asks Garrison Keillor from Prairie Home Companion. "One little thing can revive a guy, and that is a piece of rhubarb pie. Serve it up, nice and hot, maybe things aren't as bad as you thought." And that is just what we did! |
What month is it?
April 2013
Snow in April? Okay, maybe a dusting, but multiple storms had our farm clocks wondering what time of year it really is. While the weather outside was frightful, the greenhouse remained delightful. Despite the lingering wintertime temperatures, we stuck to the planting schedule thinking the warm weather couldn't stay away for much longer. And we thought we were right. The last weekend in April was BEAUTIFUL! We finally uncovered the garlic to see little leaves starting to poke through the still cold soil. With the southern winds, the small ponds in the fields started to dry up. Some of the lighter and higher ground dried up enough for Adam to prep a few beds, and on the last day of April, Megan seeded sugar snap peas, spinach, and arugula. And then along came Winter Storm Achilles...take a look at this comparison between 2012 and 2013.
April 14, 2012
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April 20, 2013
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April 27, 2013
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May 2, 2013 WHAT!?
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Let the Season Begin!
March 2013
Not much beats working in a warm greenhouse on a cold, blustery day in March. The act of planting seeds and the smell of wet soil screams spring even when it's snowing outside. Onions, leeks, and scallions brighten cloudy days with their green blades poking up through the potting soil. Rainbow chard and gold and red beets may be small but their color is something to smile about. Kale, broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce are quickly growing their first true leaves, and we daydream about the first spring salads. Snow in the fields is slowly melting now, and we will welcome the coming weeks of warmer weather.
Are you daydreaming about fresh vegetables also? We still have CSA shares available. Click here for more information: CSA
Are you daydreaming about fresh vegetables also? We still have CSA shares available. Click here for more information: CSA