Late summer. Truly a time of abundance on the farm. Plants growing for months are starting to produce fruits and fall crops are steadily working towards their late harvest. August brings forth the manifestation of our actions. We bear witness to the culmination of time and effort spent growing food.
This season coincides with impressive monsoon weather. Many afternoons have graced us with cloud cover and showers. These breaks in the heat come as a welcome relief, but can carry with them a sense of stress. Too often storms bring hail or high winds that rip through the garden, causing damage to crops. I recently watched an epic thunderstorm tear across the sky to the north producing golfball size hail. We have been lucky this season to not suffer the wrath of these summer storms.
Our challenges have come in different forms. Pest pressure has been dramatically higher this year. The grasshopper population exploded, severely impacting many of our direct seeded fall crops. Waiting for the sprouts, grasshoppers cut the new plants at soil level leaving nothing but a stem. We have lost several rounds of beets and carrots to their greedy mandibles.
Many crops are thriving through the fast paced weather of Colorado. Summer squash has been more prolific than usual leading our crew to harvest everyday. Cucumbers have hit their stride and are consistently producing. These fruits have yielded many a field snack and lunch over the past few weeks.
As August provides us clarity in our season, I find myself constantly considering what improvements are coming next season. A conundrum because I both want the season to continue and end at the same time. Our persistence and patience has led to gorgeous crops, but I can’t help but want a do over. Thoughts of if only I had done this, or planted more of that, consume my mind, even though next year will likely be completely different.
There is one place on the farm where I find gratitude. Looking southeast from the top of the field the view starts with the Hopi Black Dye Sunflower. Tall and strong, not yet blooming, these plants represent a deep reverence for the people who brought us ancient crops. The sunflowers are being grown in collaboration with my partner and her business Rey Atelier. Beyond the sunflowers is our collards, kale, and chard thriving through the summer heat and providing our farm with consistent income. Behind these are the flowering spikes of lettuce setting seed. 20 varieties, some new and others old favorites, are in full bloom. Lastly our Purple Dragon Carrot seed crop. A biennial, just reaching early seed maturation.
In the evening glow admiring these beds I see past, present, and future coinciding at once. Ancient crops of the past, our daily warriors, and future generations of seed. This is the sweet spot. Where I am able to be present in abundance and plan ahead for our farm’s future. The view won’t last forever. Soon the seeds will be ready to harvest before cold weather settles back on the Front Range. Now is the time to soak it up and enjoy the ever fleeting beauty of seasonal farming.
I hope to see some of you all at our Wednesday Night Market! Also, if you feel inclined to share this or any other posts please do and help us grow our following. Till next time Folks.