The Time Gap between blog 1 and 2 is Reflective of the Intensity of this Experience Thus Far...

This Sunday began week 12 of our 21 week season.  We’re a little over half way though the CSA.  We appreciate all your appreciation and enthusiasm thus far.  Below is a little reflection on the experience for us.

The learning curve has been huge for us thus far as first time farm operators.  As one can imagine, there is a major difference between working on an established, mature farm with seasonally experienced farmers as decision makers and tilling up ground and creating growing soil at a production scale out of overgrown, vacant land.  This challenge increases when the amount of time one has to prepare soil for planting is non-existant. 

Ideally, if one wants to plant seeds in the spring on new soil for large production purposes, the field is plowed the previous year, and time is given for the roots that are overturned to dry out in the sun, die, and decompose. The partially intact roots that remain in the soil can either fight hard for another chance at life or die from impact of the till.  The defeated roots decompose in the soil and air fills the space where the roots previous rested.  The tilled soil on top is breathing anew from the break-up of soil compaction, and the aeration continues even further down into the spaces the now decomposed roots formerly occupied.  This added soil aeration is important as it catalyzes the decomposition of organic matter, oxidizes soil minerals thus increasing their bioavailability to the growing plant, and facilitates proper function of soil microorganisms - the true continuous workers on the farm.  Ideally, soil is not re-tilled successively for a variety of reasons, but rather maintained.  After the soil is given a few weeks or even months to fully breathe, a fall cover crop is planted to naturally amend any needs the future crop land may require and to protect the loose soil from erosion.  For instance, if tomatoes are planned for a particular field the following season, vetch (a sprawling plant) could be planted to reduce future weed pressure, increase plant biomass for soil incorporation, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and reduce winter runoff. 

Because of some unfortunate circumstances, we did not arrive onto our current growing soil until mid-May.  With time being limited, we were unable to give the soil proper breathing time after tilling before transplanting into the soil.  The plants had the disadvantage of limited space for root growth because the root masses from pre-existing weeds need months to compost into the soil.  Additionally, we no longer had our greenhouse to for early season growing as promised.

Honestly, this was quite a stressful change for us.  In good faith, CSA members invested in us, and we had promised our best intentions to provide produce.  At the time of this offering our understanding of the soil we were working with was already nutrient-balanced and prepared for planting.  This all changed, of course, when we moved into our Goodrich/Grand Blanc location and had NO IDEA what the pH of the soil was or its nutrient content.  

Even though there has been some disappointments because of soil nutrient deficiencies in certain fields (melons, winter squash, corn, early beans, etc), overall we’ve been incredibly satisfied with the Veggies we’ve produced thus far with the challenges we’ve had to work with.  And, in case we haven’t said it enough, THANK YOU for your understanding at the beginning of the season when the complete change of farm location was announced.  We have learned soooooo much through experimentation this first year and just through the act of experiencing.  We are grateful to be able to carry this knowledge with us for progressive years.    

SO, I’m running low on time…again, sending this out a little incomplete in thought, but getting it out is the important part.  There’s way more to say, as always.  Until the next time, experiment and know that those little green husked things in your shares are called Tomatillos. Use in salsa with cilantro, onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes for some wonderful nourishment and detoxification.

Also, know that our tomatoes are being struck by the fungus blight that’s been perpetuated by the big box stores.  More of that to come in next newsletter...