Author: Bryan Housel

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 29, 2013

Hi Folks,
With this week’s delivery we will have reached the mid-point of the season. I am quite content with what we have been able to provide you thus far, and I hope that all of you have been happy with your shares. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 22, 2013

Hi Folks,
The weather has been copacetic: not to hot, a bit chilly at night perhaps, but all in all not bad for mid-August. It seems we will return to more typical August heat for a few days this week, but nothing too extreme. We’ll be hoping for a little rain sometime soon and there isn’t much forecast for the next ten days.  I am planting lots of seeds now as well as setting out thousands of transplants, so some moisture would be helpful. But dry is better than wet for the tomatoes and we can always employ the overhead irrigation for helping the seeds to sprout. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 15, 2013

Hi Folks,
We received some very heavy rain this past week which has been very helpful for the rooting of the thousands of seedlings we have been transplanting and the germination of the hundreds of thousands of seeds I have recently planted. Spinach, arugula and radishes are already sprouting! (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 8, 2013

Hi Folks,
It’s been a glorious week of weather with mild temps, plenty of sun and just enough rain. It’s very unusual for early August to have such moderate daytime temperatures and chilly nights; it feels more like early September. It’s been very comfortable for me and the workers out in the field, but I suspect the heat loving crops are not quite as happy. Fortunately we got the melons in early and they have benefited from the July heat; we have the sweetest and most delicious melons ever and they are ripening prolifically. Tomatoes, as well, are ripening rapidly and you will see a larger quantity in this week’s share and even more by next week. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 1, 2013

Hi Folks, We’ve been enjoying wonderful weather this past week and have gotten about 2 ½ inches of rain during that time. The rain was much appreciated as we were a bit on the dry side. I’ve been on a tear lately (figuratively and literally) plowing up large sections of field in preparation for our fall planting push. We were able to get some cauliflower and broccoli plants set out ahead of Sunday’s rain which will be a great benefit in helping them take root. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – July 25, 2013

Hello Everyone, So we survived last week’s heat wave and it appears that we may be through the worst of the heat for this season. On Saturday we received a quarter inch of rain in a tremendous downpour that lasted about 15 minutes. This was helpful for speeding germination of a field that I recently planted in cukes, beans, beets, and summer squash. Our soils dry out fairly quickly, so even after all the rain in June we are already in need of precipitation. We have a decent chance of receiving some rain from scattered thunderstorms over the next two days. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – July 18, 2013

Hi Folks, We’re having a heat wave! I always try to look on the bright side; I’d like to say that while the heat won’t be good for some crops it will benefit others. The truth is that this much heat is not good for any living thing. Even heat loving crops like peppers, eggplant and melons shut down photosynthesis above 90 degrees. (more…)