September Picture This

We've got a new(ish) batch of photos, so we thought we'd share on the blog.  Someone noted that most of our photos do not have people in them.  Hm.  They're right.  But, usually the human is on the other side of the camera.

First stop - the raised beds over by the cold frame area of the farm.  These were put up this Spring in an attempt to address the wet weather.  There has been success on that front.  Currently, swiss chard resides in bed #1.  The picture below shows Bright Lights Swiss Chard just prior to cutting for a CSA distribution. 

Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Tommy Toe cherry tomato

The second photo shows some of the ripening Tommy Toe cherry tomatoes in the third raised bed.  Traditionally, we plant a cherry tomato somewhere closer to the house so Tammy can easily pick a snack before heading in to work in the morning.

We had it in our plan to begin trying to maintain a flock of Sussex chickens.  These birds could be good for both eggs and meat.  So, the idea was to process all but one rooster and keep the hens.  Sadly, the supplier couldn't get us very many - and they came later than we expected.

Sussex chicks

The result - we have a few chicks in the garage.  They are, of course, now bigger than this picture and about ready to go outside.  We were sent a mix of birds, so it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Blue sky over the new chick home

The ducks went to the "park," so, now we have a building open for the chicks.  We just moved them Saturday as part of the Tom Sawyer Day.  They like running around in the grass.  They also figured out how to get out, but not back in again.  Arg.

Then, there is the volunteer watermelon that took off in the area where we had meat birds this Spring.  If only our field watermelon had done this.

volunteer watermelon

Broccoli rows with a kohlrabi row in between

Gypsy broccoli

We're pleased with our broccoli this year.  Our early batch didn't go in because of the wet weather.  But, we made the late batch a much bigger planting - and the results have been favorable.  Also useful has been the new cultivation tool we purchased this Spring for the tractor.
Those rows look pretty good!

It looks like Gypsy and Belstar will be our varieties of choice for as long as they are available.

Snow Crown Cauliflower

Another winner is Snow Crown cauliflower.  The purple is a natural response to plant stress.  We think it makes them look good.  And, their taste is always quite good.










We are participating in a cover crop study this year.  What you see below is a field with several different cover crops (buckwheat, clover, millet, field pea, etc).  The purpose is to find cover crops that help reduce weeds, improve the soil and establish quickly to do their good work quickly in between early and late vegetable crops.

Various cover crops in one of our plots

Buckwheat seedlings

Some of the very warm September weather was hard on some of our workers.  We caught them napping on the job during the heat of the day.  We can't say that we blame them overly much.  And, we also have to admit that their work schedule, such as it is, is pretty flexible anyway.


Sandman climbed a ladder in the truck barn and found a nice place to try and conserve energy.  Mrrranda found a spot in the garage.

They look almost too comfortable.

The high tunnel has been wonderful this year.  We're certain that this season would not have been nearly as strong for our CSA Farm Share program without it.  There are about 30 tomatoes in the high tunnel, with a focus on snack sized tomatoes.  And these have performed well.  One new introduction was Peach Blow Sutton, which grows a bit bigger than most of our snack tomatoes.

Peach Blow Sutton tomato

High tunnel in early September

Area West of high tunnel

And, for those who do not know, the high tunnel moves once a year.  It will move to the West plot this Fall and will cover crops we just started in the ground.  The photo above shows the tilled ground and the transplants.  The seeds are now germinating in the rows that appear to have nothing in them.  We're not anxious to move the tunnel, but we know we have to have something planted if we want veg in late October and November.  Maybe even December!

Tomatoes went into the field very late this season.  One of our earliest producers is typically Italian Heirloom (rated at 70 days from transplant).  Our first sizable pick of these was September 5 this year.  Most years, they are going full bore by August 5.

Italian Heirloom tomato

Fortex pole bean

And, finally, we replanted our pole beans when the first crop died due to the water.  We didn't expect much, but we have been rewarded thus far.

Fortex is an excellent pole bean that has done reasonably well for us.  We've determined that they don't like some types of trellis as much as others.  So, we get some beans *and* we get a little more knowledge for next year.

Bumblebee on a gazinia

We've also been seeing more of the bumblebee on our farm lately.  They get a little sluggish in the colder weather.   So, they are also easier to photo!  The flowers, on the other hand, are pretty easy to photo in any season as long as there isn't wind.