Every year my wife and I like to think of a name for the year that is suitable. It might be "A year of plenty", or "A year of....Grasshoppers." I think that 2013 will stick forever in the mind of this farmer as the year I decided I really wanted to farm. My first three years of farming could be thus named: Year 1: "The year of ignorance and drought!" Year 2: "The Second year of Drought!" Year 3: "The Year of the Grasshopper" (although some of our CSA Members will likely remember it as the year of Peppers, since they weren't wiped out by the hoppers). However, I prefer to think of 2013 as a year of immense blessings. It has been a year where I have learned to roll with the punches. The punches came fast and furious and at times I felt farming was kind of like boxing Muhammad Ali. It wasn't pretty. Overall, our crop losses this season were in the neighborhood of 75%. We have researched and found many ways to overcome those things that caused serious problems on the farm, and are looking forward to meeting them head on next season! Running a CSA with 120+ members could run anyone into the ground, but I love this life, and I love the support of our members who make it possible.
A few weeks ago I visited with a veteran farmer about all of our difficulties this season. I don't remember all of the things we discussed, but one single line in the whole conversation sticks in my mind: "Don't give up." This was a year where we started out with everything going great. We overplanted crops to assure an abundant harvest for an enlarged CSA. The new seedling greenhouse was filled to overflowing with beautiful seedlings. All was well until an April that kept a bear hug on winter, and an all-night ice/hail storm that buried our entire month of early plantings under two inches of frozen ice. We recovered from this shock only to witness the worst plague of grasshoppers that anyone around here has ever seen wipe out over 1/3 of our crops. Yet, we persevered, and now we are coming to the end of the CSA season.
As I reflect on this year, I have learned a lot about farming and overcoming difficulties. So many of our CSA members have encouraged us to keep fighting. (Maybe they really understand how difficult it is to grown organic produce here in Southern Kansas!) I have to admit I have dreamed about wetter climates with wind protection and no grasshoppers, but my home is here in Kansas. We have some big changes in store for how we market our produce and run our CSA. These changes are designed to greatly mitigate risk for CSA members. More on that to come soon.
Solving the Problems of this Growing Season
This season we experienced a plethora of problems, which were often beyond our control. Whether it was grasshoppers or hail we often sat dumbfounded as we watched weeks of hard work, and your food, disappear almost overnight. Here is what we will do about it next season.
Problem 1: Grasshoppers
1. In order to keep our greenhouses (high tunnels) free of grasshoppers and other unwanted creatures, we will put up metal screen over all openings. This year we put up fiberglass screen, and the grasshoppers ate it. No, I'm not kidding. We replanted our newest high tunnel four times, and just now have crops growing there.
2. We will spread a huge quantity of a safe biological insecticide called NOLO bait on our property and surrounding area. It spreads a grasshopper disease when grasshoppers eat the bait.
3. Poultry: We discovered that by fencing in the chickens around the greenhouse like feathered guards, we could keep almost all the hoppers out of our high tunnels. We will add more poultry to control populations as well. Guineas look to be a good option, as well.
4. Splitting certain crops up so that they are planted in different areas to prevent total losses.
Problem 2: Unseasonably cold Spring
1. Next year we will be drastically increasing our growing season by using high and low tunnels. These tunnels create a "comfortable" environment for our crops to grow in by trapping the sun's rays under plastic. This creates a miniature tropical environment. This will drastically increase our ability to grow early in the season.
Problem 3: Hail/Ice
1. Hail and ice were devastating to our early spring crops. The low and high tunnels also protect from all but gigantic hail, and high tunnels can prevent even some damage from gigantic hail. The plastic provides a physical barrier to the hail and ice. If we had used low tunnels this season, we would have had very little if any early season losses.
Problem 4: Various Pests
1. It was our first year this season on one plot of land, and we had to learn the hard way about certain pests. Flea beetles were a particular problem, and even organic insecticides did little to affect their voracious appetites. We will use physical insect barriers over sensitive crops next season. If you've never seen these insect barriers before, they fit over the crops like the low, plastic tunnels that we are going to use for warmth, but they are made of a more cloth-like material instead.
2. Deer: We also had problems with deer in our sweet potato patch. We plan to put pigs and a guard dog in the trees that deer typically shelter in. That should deter them dramatically.
What I really want to do is look at the year in review and all the good things that happened this year:
A few weeks ago I visited with a veteran farmer about all of our difficulties this season. I don't remember all of the things we discussed, but one single line in the whole conversation sticks in my mind: "Don't give up." This was a year where we started out with everything going great. We overplanted crops to assure an abundant harvest for an enlarged CSA. The new seedling greenhouse was filled to overflowing with beautiful seedlings. All was well until an April that kept a bear hug on winter, and an all-night ice/hail storm that buried our entire month of early plantings under two inches of frozen ice. We recovered from this shock only to witness the worst plague of grasshoppers that anyone around here has ever seen wipe out over 1/3 of our crops. Yet, we persevered, and now we are coming to the end of the CSA season.
As I reflect on this year, I have learned a lot about farming and overcoming difficulties. So many of our CSA members have encouraged us to keep fighting. (Maybe they really understand how difficult it is to grown organic produce here in Southern Kansas!) I have to admit I have dreamed about wetter climates with wind protection and no grasshoppers, but my home is here in Kansas. We have some big changes in store for how we market our produce and run our CSA. These changes are designed to greatly mitigate risk for CSA members. More on that to come soon.
Solving the Problems of this Growing Season
This season we experienced a plethora of problems, which were often beyond our control. Whether it was grasshoppers or hail we often sat dumbfounded as we watched weeks of hard work, and your food, disappear almost overnight. Here is what we will do about it next season.
Problem 1: Grasshoppers
1. In order to keep our greenhouses (high tunnels) free of grasshoppers and other unwanted creatures, we will put up metal screen over all openings. This year we put up fiberglass screen, and the grasshoppers ate it. No, I'm not kidding. We replanted our newest high tunnel four times, and just now have crops growing there.
2. We will spread a huge quantity of a safe biological insecticide called NOLO bait on our property and surrounding area. It spreads a grasshopper disease when grasshoppers eat the bait.
3. Poultry: We discovered that by fencing in the chickens around the greenhouse like feathered guards, we could keep almost all the hoppers out of our high tunnels. We will add more poultry to control populations as well. Guineas look to be a good option, as well.
4. Splitting certain crops up so that they are planted in different areas to prevent total losses.
Problem 2: Unseasonably cold Spring
1. Next year we will be drastically increasing our growing season by using high and low tunnels. These tunnels create a "comfortable" environment for our crops to grow in by trapping the sun's rays under plastic. This creates a miniature tropical environment. This will drastically increase our ability to grow early in the season.
Problem 3: Hail/Ice
1. Hail and ice were devastating to our early spring crops. The low and high tunnels also protect from all but gigantic hail, and high tunnels can prevent even some damage from gigantic hail. The plastic provides a physical barrier to the hail and ice. If we had used low tunnels this season, we would have had very little if any early season losses.
Problem 4: Various Pests
1. It was our first year this season on one plot of land, and we had to learn the hard way about certain pests. Flea beetles were a particular problem, and even organic insecticides did little to affect their voracious appetites. We will use physical insect barriers over sensitive crops next season. If you've never seen these insect barriers before, they fit over the crops like the low, plastic tunnels that we are going to use for warmth, but they are made of a more cloth-like material instead.
2. Deer: We also had problems with deer in our sweet potato patch. We plan to put pigs and a guard dog in the trees that deer typically shelter in. That should deter them dramatically.
What I really want to do is look at the year in review and all the good things that happened this year:
2013: A Year of Blessings
One of the early editions to the farm this season was the seed starting greenhouse complete with wood burning stove. This little lean-to building was home to more than 10,000 seedlings in the early months of spring and late winter months.
We acquired six new beehives on the farm. The two in the picture were given for free in response to a Craigslist ad I had placed. We hope to have honey for sale next season!
Snow...lots and lots of snow. After the terrible drought of 2012 this was the first sign that we just might have a year without drought. Thirty inches of snow in just 10 days.
We planted 2000 strawberries, 15 fruit trees, 100 raspberry canes, 5 blackberry bushes, 5 currant bushes, 10 elderberry bushes....
We are only sure that the 5 blackberry canes and two peach trees survived the invasion of grasshoppers.
Next year we will plant even more! You can't keep a good farmer down!
We are only sure that the 5 blackberry canes and two peach trees survived the invasion of grasshoppers.
Next year we will plant even more! You can't keep a good farmer down!
April 23, 2013....A day which will live in infamy for the Ford and Truelove Families
We received a severe thunderstorm/hail storm/ice storm that lasted pretty much the entire night. After the first couple of hours, I just went to sleep. Mary woke several times in the night and heard the hail/sleet.
This caused a massive delay in our CSA, and really changed the whole season.
We received a severe thunderstorm/hail storm/ice storm that lasted pretty much the entire night. After the first couple of hours, I just went to sleep. Mary woke several times in the night and heard the hail/sleet.
This caused a massive delay in our CSA, and really changed the whole season.
Our answer to early season ice and hail!
This is first of two high tunnels we put up this year, allowing for 4000 sq. ft. of growing space.
We will also purchase many low tunnels next season, which are miniature versions of the high tunnels. This will protect from hail, bugs and critters, and cooler-than-average weather.
This is first of two high tunnels we put up this year, allowing for 4000 sq. ft. of growing space.
We will also purchase many low tunnels next season, which are miniature versions of the high tunnels. This will protect from hail, bugs and critters, and cooler-than-average weather.
High Tunnel number two.
This high tunnel was purchased with a grant from the NRCS. We had friends and family come for a high tunnel raising day, reminiscent of the old barn raisings that used to be so prevalent in farming country.
This high tunnel was purchased with a grant from the NRCS. We had friends and family come for a high tunnel raising day, reminiscent of the old barn raisings that used to be so prevalent in farming country.
A Farmer has to have fun sometimes!
Regrowth following the hail and ice.
Further regrowth! Hope springs eternal!
In June Casey and Amanda Truelove became co-owners and co-operators of Fiat Farms LLC. It has been a joy to have them on this journey.
The best news we had the whole growing season! Mary is pregnant...and its a BOY!
And the worst news we had all season.
Next year we will be spreading large quantities of a biological (and organic) insecticide around the farm called NOLO bait. It is just wheat germ inoculated with the locust disease Nosema Locustae . It has helped in the past, so we will spread it liberally. We also might allow a few...hundred...more poultry onto the farm. :)
Next year we will be spreading large quantities of a biological (and organic) insecticide around the farm called NOLO bait. It is just wheat germ inoculated with the locust disease Nosema Locustae . It has helped in the past, so we will spread it liberally. We also might allow a few...hundred...more poultry onto the farm. :)
Nonetheless, God provides.
Here is a beautiful Pruden's Purple Tomato from one of our new high tunnels. Yes, it is as big as it looks!
Here is a beautiful Pruden's Purple Tomato from one of our new high tunnels. Yes, it is as big as it looks!
A few beautiful summer squash and Armenian cucumbers in July.
A diversity of produce from a CSA drop off in August.
If there is one single crop that grew outstandingly well this season it was peppers. Here is a near record breaking specimen.
A meal of salmon topped with red peppers on a bed of shredded zucchini with Kevin's honey lemon basil sauce...epic!
Community Supported Agriculture. Thank you to all of those who have supported us this year and in past years. We hope we will see you in the coming growing season! Look forward to some major changes coming for the farm soon. It will be a whole new way to do a CSA!