Weather Patterns of Doom!

The weather patterns this Spring have been challenging, we will readily admit it.  Perhaps we have been spoiled by the early Springs we've had the past several years?  Either way, don't let the title scare you too much.  Things do tend to even out over the season (do you hear me Mother Nature?). 

However, we feel it is important to let everyone know how the weather is changing how we can do things on the farm this Spring.

1.  All of the early season crops are going to be late.
The ground was too wet and cold, then we had one day where small areas of the farm were dry enough and the soil was warm enough.  We slapped a few things in.  Then, we got 4 inches of rain (and snow).  Now we have another 1+ inch of rain.  Simply put, we can't get into the fields to plant the seeds for things like arugula, spinach, mustard, radish, etc.  We'll plant them when it is dry enough.  Or, in some cases, we may skip them and go right to the next succession.

2. Wet ground should NOT be worked.
We try not to be tempted to work ground when it is too wet.  If we do, the result are rock hard clumps of soil that REALLY hurt if you crawl on them.  They make it hard to plant seed or transplants.  Simply put - rock hard clumps = bad.

3. Once the ground dries out, it will be non-stop craziness at the farm.
It is hard to list what has NOT been planted.  Instead, we can tell you that some lettuce, kohlrabi, pok choi, kale and swiss chard transplants made it into the ground.  Short rows of seeded radish, arugula and mustard also went in.  Nothing else has gone into the ground at this time.  It's going to be nuts.  Let's hope it's a good kind of nuts.

4. We've got trays and trays and trays....
The seedling trays are stacking up and the space for them is getting very crowded.  And, the trick is keeping them healthy, getting all of the tomatoes, etc potted and being ready for the big planting push.

5. Late planting = late CSA start.
Here's the upshot of all of this.  If we can't get the crops in, then we can't get crops to harvest for you.  Again, don't worry, we'll get there.  Nature has decided our plans had a flaw and we need to adjust, that is all. 
The things our CSA members need to know are these - you will get 20 weeks of produce AND we'll keep you informed as to when week 1 will be.  We'll delay an official announcement until it is abundantly clear a delay cannot be avoided.

6. No one in our area has planted corn or soybeans - it's not just us.
I suppose I might start wondering if I'm just not reading things right.  But, even the "anxious to plant as early as possible" corn/soybean growers in our area have yet to put any seed in the ground.  But, we have an advantage in this case because we grow crops with all sorts of weather requirements and many with shorter growth windows. 

7. Watching forecasts with mixed amusement and horror.
The upcoming NOAA forecast for Tripoli has a chance of morning FROST on Sunday.  That is NOT cool.  Our apple trees are finally beginning to bloom.  Then, Tuesday has a high of 85.  Go figure.  Wunderground shows a low of 32 Sunday AM and a high of 88 on Tuesday.  We're currently selecting the Intellicast predictions since they don't have frost listed and their high on Tuesday is 80.  Go Intellicast Goooooo!

8. The detriment of social media to farmers (or just these farmers)
 We see what some of the folk to our South are doing - and what some with lighter soil (that dries out faster) are doing and we get a bit more anxious.  We have to keep saying to ourselves, "if they lived here, it would be the same for them...."  There is a reason we fared better in drought than many other farms....and it is some of the same reasons this weather is harder for us.

9. Building some raised beds.
It looks like we're going to expend some energy and funds and build some raised beds in an effort to get some "drier" ground to work sooner.  It's all part of trying to be as resilient as we can be on behalf of those who eat our produce. We'll do as much of this as is feasible on short notice (it was not in the 2013 plan).

10. The irony of watering.
Plants in trays - they must get watered daily or every other day.  Plants in pots that reside in cold frames...must get watered.  Plants in the high tunnel, need watering.  We can't quite explain how it feels to be diligently spending quantities of time watering plants while it is pouring rain.