Sometimes you need to truly “take” time off. I mean grab it by the handles and throw it in the trunk, tires peeling out, as you race away. I was amazed how quickly I unplugged from obsessing over work and am hopeful to maintain that mentality.
The subtle rest around the 4th of July is notably different as the wheels grind on into the thick of summer. Time narrows later in the season and getting away for a couple days is a remarkable feat.
Right before leaving, in between thunderstorms, I was able to sow about half a mile of fall/winter carrots. Planted into the heat of summer, these seedlings will hopefully be sprouting in the next few days and grow into a nice crop. Carrots are a reminder that the season’s light is winding down and if not planted in time will fail to yield.
Our remaining field crops for this market season will be planted this month. Beets are next followed promptly by turnips, daikon radishes, lettuce, chicories, napa cabbage, cilantro, and more. These crops are usually planted directly in the soil with a push seeder however we are trying some transplants as well.
With every workable bed planted the race is on to get garlic harvested and free up space. If all goes to plan, garlic will stored in the barn to cure next week. The beds will be prepped, and planted the week after. I am looking forward to using a new undercutter to lift the garlic from the soil, allowing the crew to easily pull heads from the soil. From my test pulls this crop is set to be one of our best.
Coinciding with the hopeful plantings of fall, summer has yielded its first fruits. Tomatoes are coming in along with summer squash, basil, and cucumbers. These crops benefit from daily harvesting to maintain production. This is a great month to fertilize plantings of summer crops before they enter the glory of August. Mainly under drip irrigation, we can inject organic fertilizer directly through the irrigation system to feed tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and peppers.
You could say the farm is in the swing of things. Our returning crew has been keeping up with the twists and turns, watching the farm for a few days while I disappear. Good labor is something a business cannot skimp on and I feel very fortunate to have the current team. July puts farmers to the test, but knowing we have a crew of veterans makes me confident in this seasonal push.
We have some exciting events coming up on the farm to look forward to. On July 20th at 5:30 we are hosting a concert on the farm featuring Wintermusic, an ambient rock band. Tickets are available at the door on a donation basis for the artists.
In collaboration with the Poudre Food Partnership we will be hosting a Farm Hop on August 2nd from 4-6pm. This will feature a farm tour plus networking time to connect with local food advocates. We are working on getting a food truck for the event so stay posted!