There are two words that seem to sum up the fall: warm and dry…..
Here at Stearns, we’ve had more to harvest from the fields than ever before. The plants that remain in the fields are continuing to grow and are holding well just as they are. They are doing so well that we were able to offer an additional bonus bag of veggies the week after the last CSA pickup. It was a huge success and we were thrilled to offer more fresh, local produce to our community.
Even though the warm days are nice to work in and they help prolong veggie life, it is definitely having a negative effect on the local insect and perennial plant population. For example, it’s very unusual to see honey bees out foraging so late in the year and it could have a negative impact on their honey reserves that typically help them get through the winter. Since we have had killing frosts, there isn’t anything substantial for bees to forage and yet they are expending the energy to leave their hive and explore.
The dry weather is also a problem that continues to worry farmers. Middlesex County is officially in a level 3 critical drought status. Streams and ponds that usually have water this time of year are bone dry. According to records I kept at the farm, Stearns has gotten about 2 inches of rain since the beginning of August. It worries me too since our recent winters haven’t been particularly snowy either. I can’t believe I’m saying this (as someone who isn’t attached to any snow sport), but I really, really hope it snows a lot this winter!
As the weather becomes more unpredictable and risky for growers, we’ve looked into state and federal grants that assist with providing funding for greenhouses and high tunnels. The more we can grow undercover, the more reliable our growing conditions will be and the easier it will be to adapt to extreme conditions in the fields. This could improve growth of summer crops by reducing pest and disease pressure as well as extending the season by growing earlier and later in the year. We are beginning to work with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) again to get funding for a high tunnel. We have a ways to go before installation, but we hope to plant into it in the 2025 season. We will keep you updated as we go through the process.
Until next time,
Ember
