Farm News – September 15, 2025
Hello Everyone! So, the drought conditions continue, with no relief in sight. We continue to deal with this challenge as best we can. We are in the process of planting winter cover crops on many acres where crops have been harvested, which creates additional complications. First, we must turn under the plant residue from the crop and any weeds that have grown, so that it can begin to rot and break down. Unfortunately, without moisture the decomposition process comes to a halt because the microbes that do the work need water. When the soil is mere powder on the surface, dragging the disc harrow across the fields raises clouds of dust, and we watch the best part of our soil (the fines) blow away.
At present we are planting oats and winter peas. The oats grow quickly in the fall, but are winter-killed in January, giving us a place to plant early spring crops. If we plant the oats in October, they do not have time to grow much and hence cannot do their job of protecting the soil from the winter winds and adding organic matter. For this reason, we do not have the luxury of waiting for rain. Even after we succeed in sowing the seeds, they may not sprout without moisture, and we might need to move the overhead irrigation around the fields. If you are still with me, congratulations you have completed “Cover Cropping 1.0”. Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz, I just wanted to fill you in on what we are up against!
Meanwhile, the broccoli continues to head up and cauliflower has begun as well. These will be in rotation over the next two weeks. The greens are making their reprise in the form of arugula.
The share will be: arugula, beans, colored peppers, zucchini, broccoli or cauliflower, red onions, rainbow carrots, sweet corn, red fingerling potatoes, tomatoes, and choice of an herb (cilantro, dill, basil). Premium shares will also include edamame soybeans and shishito peppers. There will be hot peppers as an “extra.”
The fruit share will be Gala apples and Hardy kiwi berries. The mushroom share will be blue oysters. No flowers this week.
Buen provecho! Farmer John
