Here we are aproaching December and life on the farm remains busy as ever for this time of year. Inventory and sales are stronger than normal and our weelky deliveries have been very consistent. Things will begin to slow down as a few of the commercial accounts we deliver to begin to close down for the winter.
Salad green production has been a highlight. A combination of mild fall weather, good timing and hardy variety choices has given us some of the nicest greens I have ever seen. The trick to growing through the fall and into the winter is to have good timing in the sowing and pick varieties that can withstand the colder tempratures. The idea is to get the greens to harvest size prior to the lower light and freezing tempratues set in. We grow the majority of our winter greens outdoors due to fact that we simply don't have enough space in the greenhouses to meet our harvest demand. So the other consideration is to plant to the needs of your expected harvest. Winter greens are for the most part a one time harvest crop. Generally speaking, six weeks on either side of the winter solstice you will see only minute if any regrowth at all. Other times of the year we may expect to get two or more cuts from one sowing. That said, we sometimes may get a second cut in mid February but normally the greens are so weather stressed at that point they will just bolt as soon as the weather turns. So the reality is that we are simply holding and harvesting crops this time of year as opposed to actually growing anything. This year we are seeing some growth. I would say a little more than normal. Certainly not enough to sustain multible harvests.
All good things come to an end? at least in the context of this subject anyway. We are just about at the end of those nice greens. I have backup successions in the greenhouses and we are actually still transplanting into newly prepped greenhouse beds as I write this. Some of this may be harvestable in the next month but for the most part, the greens that are just going in will be harvested in February. The challenge with the greenhouse's is having enough space to grow the quantity we need. We could wipe the greens out in just a couple of harvests. We just have to make it through December. We take January and the first part of February off. This is when I write seed orders and finalize the over all farm plan. We are back at full speed by mid Feb resuming commercial deliveries (hopefully!?) and mostly sowing flats for transplant and gathering our supplies for the upcomong season. So out of an entire year we are producing and delivering for all but six weeks! Not to shabby.
While I was looking up an item for this article I came across a couple of interesting factoids. At this time of year as the sun rides low in the sky the suns rays have to travel twice as far to penetrate the earths atmosphere. I did not know that. Also if you get a chance, google the Greek goddess persephoni. As we are in the persephoni months it is an interesting read. Another interesting factoid came from KUOW"S weather guy Cliff Mass. Puget sound's foul weather climax is pretty much right now. Historically this is when we would see the worst weather of the year and then things would generally be on the upswing. I've lived in the PNW many years and I was not aware of this. Interesting and inspirational. Kind of like when the days actually start getting longer again and it stops getting dark at 4:30.
Today is the 1st of December It is snowing and all is well in my world.
Keep well,
Farmer John
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Thanksgiving.... my favorite holiday. I celebrate not with the traditions of the original meaning but with my own personal feelings for all that I have to be thankful for. My life revolves around growing the best food available and using those ingredients to eat well and seasonaly. It's the basis of my existence. Thanksgiving is a special time for me and this year is no different. I have so much to give thanks for. Being healthy first and foremost. Having a loving and beautiful family. Good friends and being able to live a life with intent that provides me with a sense of self worth and accomplishment. I am indeed living the "good life" Simple as that.
This years fall crops have been the best I have ever grown. Thanks to some kind weather, good planning, accumulated knowledge and perhaps a little luck. The harvest's just keep coming and we have had a higher demand for product than in years past. There is so much talk about eating local and seasonaly these days and I think more people are giving it real consideration and thought and are taking action accordingly. I'm hoping this is a trend we will see continue.
I am a market farmer. I rely on people to buy food from us. I also am a believer that the world would be a better place if we had more home gardeners. This is a good time of year to start planning your own garden. I talk of this often and some people say "if everyone had a home garden you would'nt be able to make a living" I do not believe this is true. This last week perhaps proves my point. There are just a handfull of farmers in our county. Of course we have many items that overlap but often we all have our own specialty crops. Most of us buy or trade crops from each other on a regular basis. It's just about impossible to grow everything so it's nice when you can get something you don't have from one of your fellow farmers or community members. I think the same if we had more gardners. It would simply increase the variety and diversity of local products available to us all as well as ramp up the excitement about local food. So I don't view it as competition but rather see it as a positive for the eat local movement in general.
T-Day menu: Here is what's for dinner at our house. We are making an effort to put as many things on the table as possible that we grew or purchased from one of our local farms.
Free Range turkey
mashed potatoes with calvados gravy
sauted baby braising greens
broccoli with ming tsai's chili aioli
beet salad with walnuts and feta served over fresh fall arugula
wood fired braised brussel's sprouts with warm bacon vinagrete
carmelized baby golden beets
corn niblets
winter squash sweet pie
corn bread stuffing with pork sausage
garden fresh salad
cranberry sauce
For dessert?
Sidney Coffelts pie berry pie with fresh whipped cream
Charly Robinsons minced meat pie
Katie Blaines lemon tart
I have a very short shopping list. Just a few staple items, some citrus fruit, cranberries and libations. The turkey was ordered from Homegrown Market, The brussel's sprouts came from Blue Moon Produce on Waldron Island and the corn...well.... uhh...mmmm dare I say Costco. well, at least it is organic and hey, I'm not a fanatic. I shop there on a regular basis for staple and bulk items. My point here to put the emphasis on making use of as many local items as possible within reason, not to live by it without budging.
I wish you all the best and a safe and festive holiday season.
Keep well,
Farmer John
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We were hit with the first big windstorm of the season this weekend. Came in late Sunday and lasted mosted of the day on Monday. We did OK. Could have been worse. Just a little damage to the greenhouse doors. The doors are the weak link. The wind always seems to bang them around a bit. This time there was a litte damage to some of the metal framing. It was actually bent! I don't know how hard it was blowing but Bellingham had a 94 MPH gust and it felt like we had a couple in the 70's to me. I can normally tell. That's about the time the house starts to shudder. Maybe we could just call it good with that one eh? I hate the wind. I hate the noise it makes, It makes me cranky.
Ironically the wind and weather ebated as quickly as it arrived and we had a lovely afternoon. I was able to bring in the delayed greens harvest avoiding an early morning scramble for today. All in all I cannot complain about the weather at all. It's been pretty darn nice. The greens sure have appreciated it and they are looking lovely. I harvested 40lbs yesteday in no time at all. It's such a pleasure when it's all working right. It's been a prosporous shoulder season here at the Rock. Making up and exceeding our short fall from the wet spring.
It aint over yet folks! One more market this Saturday the 17th at The Oddfellows Hall from 10:00 till 2:00. We'll have salad greens, potatoes, lovely braising greens, beets, turnips, kale, cabbage, broccoli, parsley and a few other misc items. Gift certificates and t shirts will also be available. Hope to see you there. Last market was a huge success I'm hoping for a good turn out this week too!
Here we go again! The first seed catalog just arrived in the mail this weekend. This is good and bad. The one we received happened to be from our main supplier Johnny's so it was well appreciated. However that means we'll be getting barraged here shortly with seed catalogs and garden supply junk from all over the place. I use about three suppliers for about 99% of our seed and supplies. So unfortunately the remainder of the catalogs with their sexy descriptions and eroctic vegetable photos wind up in my circular file.
I do look forward to catalogs though. It seems to be a never ending shot in the arm for getting excited about next year. No matter what,there is always next year. So as I bitch about too much rain, not enough rain, cold, hot, wet, dry, wind, no money, etc, etc. Know that I still and always will love what I do. It just keeps getting better every year.
I'll leave it at that friends. Next year will be better.
Keep on,
Farmer John
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By speaking up and being persistent our farmers market manager has finally gotten the attention of our county commisioners. The site on which we hold our market is administered by the San Juan County parks board. In the last couple of years they have increased our rent by 50%. Numerous appeals have always resulted in the same response. "The rent will increase and there's nothing you can say that will change our mind" Finally the matter was discussed in a recent council meeting. With the facts being presented we now seem to have the firm support of a couple of council members. They have asserted that the vendor fees should be framed as a community undertaking not "as a park board-farmers market dispute" In Fact, council member Gene Knapp was quoted as saying "Id be happy to see the entire burden taken off the farmers" This is the forward thinking type of actoin the farmers need right now. Lately there has been so much talk of the importance of keeping local agriculture a viable force in the county yet little action has been seen. If the county and the economic development comminity truly want to have more local agriculture business in the county we need to have a whole lot more action being taken to make it a reality.
The response that many might have is why can't the farmers carry their own weight? We can! I don't think any of us are looking for a free ride. I for one am happy to pay a fair price for the privelage to use the village green to market our wares. But lets not forget an important factor here. The Orcas farmers market is a big draw to get folks, locals and tourist's alike into the core of the village. They may come to the farmers market to buy fresh, locally grown produce or shop with some of our local crafters or perhaps bring their children for story hour but they also spend money elsewhere in the community at the same time. Our market has become quite a vibrant event. It adds character and charm to our village. It's a place where you can meet friends, make new friends, buy real food thats been grown in a sustainable manner, listen to live music our perhaps obtain a special item, gift or souvenir of you visit to Orcas. Young folk, old folk, wealthy folk, poor folk, city folk, country folk. We all fit in at the farmers market and share in our diversity as a community. Yes, I am happy to be a part of the market and I'm more than happy to pay but can we please not be gouged by the parks board? Just because there is now a public restroom and a stage should'nt mean that the farmers market should have to shoulder the majority of the burdern of the parks boards financial crisis. The board should be happy they have a solid anchor tennant in which they make a moderate profit on a consistent basis that benefits the entire county. Most folks are unware that the San Juan farmers market pays no rent for their space in the parking lot of the courthouse. Makes no sense to me? The parks board response to this is there is no maintenance or restroom. Guess what? People are going to use the restroom whether there is a farmers market market or not. I can understand the other maintenance issues. I as everyone else in the market is happy we don't have to set up in a parking lot.
All of this said, it appears that we are being heard. This is politics in action. If enough people speak up and bring the issues to the table, we all have a voice. It's what makes this country great. On a personal note, it gives me hope in our community. Our council seems to be listening and willing to take action and that's exactly what we need right now. ACTION.
Farmer John
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With the help of a gracious group of volunteers, we were able to complete our potato harvest. Just in time to beat the rain. Thanks to the helpers I was also able to clear the fields of irrigation lines, till and plant the field with our fall cover crop blend. So for the most part it's one more field of four that has been put to rest for winter. It's a good feeling. These last few days I have been feeling quite overwhelmed. So much to do for just one person. The work accomplished in just three hours yesterday would have taken me four whole days plus by myself. Nothing like completing a big project to keep your spirits and energy up to carry on. Although there is still a tremendous amount of work to complete I feel as though I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. By the end of this week we should be back on schedule.
The fall rains and foul wather is setting in a little earlier than normal this year. I'm a little concerned our fall plantings of greens will not make it unless we get a few sunny days. We'll just have to wait and see. I have alot of broccoli thats just forming heads too. I've got my fingers crossed it'll make it here in the next couple of weeks. We have two more farmers markest and I'm hoping to impress everyone with a large variety of locally grown goods. Part of my hope is financial. We could really use the extra income. The other part is just proving to the public just how special of a place we reside in to be able to grow such a wide variety this late into the season. We may even still have fresh tomatoes for that market on the 27th. Would'nt that be someting?
Regardless, between myself and the other farmers, I think most of you will be impressed by our displays.
The last couple of days in the Seattle PI, there has been a report on Farm to cafeteria in the city. It was a good report putting to light some of the challenges both sides have in making a project like this work. Of course there was no mention of what is happening here but it has led me further evaluate farm to cafeteria on Orcas. The biggest point that comes to mind is how unique of a situation we are involved in. We are just one small school district therefor we can be nimble and flexible. We have a new food services director who is totally committed to making it work. We have a fund raising team and a very genorous community that is funding the project. We also have a good group of dedicated farmers. I predict other districts will be looking at our success here in the near future. We are in the process of creating a very unique program that mutually benefits our entire community. We have a long way to go but each year we are getting better. As demand and funding grow hopefully so will the commitment of the farmers and the district. The next componet we need to focus on is community education and student interaction and awareness. There needs to be a student education program incorporated some how. With time and commitment it will happen.
The next few days look like rain. I'll be in the greenhouses cleaning out old beds of tomatoes and putting in winter greens.
Keep well,
John
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