We realize many people who read the monthly newsletters on our blog may not read other posts. If you have, you will know that the Genuine Faux Farmers took some time away from the farm as a matter of personal healing and renewal. If you didn't know that already, then - here's your notice.
Neither Tammy nor I are much for self-promotion, but I think it is now obvious that we were perhaps a bit too much into self-sacrifice. While a trip away is not going to change our fundamental natures, it has brought some awareness that we need to continue to work on balance. Part of that balance is to maintain our own health and happiness. The other part is the realization that if we want to continue to serve and serve well, we need to build in a little more time for reflection, more time for things other than school or the farm, and more time for things that help us feel more complete. If we do that, we will be so much better at the things we do for others.
Weather WythardsIt looks to us like 2019 started out jealous of 2018's notoriety. Let's all just agree to give 2019 its due in hopes that it won't go into the growing season with a chip on its shoulder and feeling like it has something to prove. Note, the difference between the high and low temp for January at the farm is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Wow.
January's Report
High Temp: 49
Low Temp: -29
Lowest Windchill: -53
Rain: 0.28"
Wind: 41 mph from West
Barometer Range: 29.44 - 30.51
Snow: somewhere between 12-15"
Veggie Variety of the Month - Black Krim
It's been cold lately and I am sure you wouldn't like to see us feature snow peas or iceberg lettuce - even if doing so would be in keeping with our propensity for work play and punning. I'll even refrain from selecting a cucumber since the weather was certainly much cooler than one.
So, if you're feeling a bit put out by the cold weather, consider joining us for the 2019 growing season and we promise we'll grow a whole lotta these tasty things!
Song of the Month
I think we'll just fall back on our favorite band and listen to the Choir and "Restore My Soul." Why, because it is appropriate.
Farm News and Announcements
We've managed to get the bulk of the seed orders and supply orders done already, but there is still plenty of planning to do. One big part is going to be working on CSA sign-up and developing all of the promotion materials so we can actually sell some product this coming year. Getting sign-ups and billing done earlier this year will be a critical component to our season since we have bills to pay AND we did take that farmer break.
Rather than get into too much of that right now, I thought I'd share some of the ideas of changes or different things we are looking at doing in 2019 on the Genuine Faux Farm.
Starting a self-perpetuating portion of the hen flock? At present, our model is to buy day old chicks every season to replace half of our laying hen flock. This has been very successful, but we are wondering if we can identify a hen breed that we can let raise some of its own replacements. The trick is to find birds that lay enough eggs to keep cartons full for our sales, are decent at raising their own chicks (with some help) and get big enough that the extra roosters can be processed as meat chickens. We do not expect this to replace the main laying flock any time soon, but we are curious if we can figure this out.
Trying a few new veggie varieties: Every year, we try a few new things. This year is no different, but there are a few bigger changes in the mix. One of them has to do with the watermelons. We admit that this crop is a 'low priority' crop for us. They take a great deal of space in the field AND in the delivery truck. But, we're going to try a bunch of different varieties in 2019 in smaller numbers just to see what might work best for us going forward. We'll also try a batch of new (to us) heirloom tomatoes. Say hello to Dester, Black Sea Man, Halladay's Mortgage Lifter and Iglehart Yellow Cherry. We'll say hello again to Nyagous and see if it likes the high tunnel as much as Paul Robeson and Black Krim do. We loved its taste when we had it several years ago, but it didn't like wet weather.
Getting Some Building Done This Winter/Spring: Before you start to think this is a 'new' thing for us, let us point out that a farm such as ours always has some building and repairing going on. Some of the building is planned and some is ad hoc. Usually, our January plan does not match the actual list by the time we can get to the work. For example, we finished wiring up the brooder room last year (built it the prior year), re-worked the hen room and tore out our kitchen. Ooops. We said building, not tearing up, didn't we? Oh, I suppose we'd better get that kitchen put together. That would be a good thing, wouldn't it?
Rehabilitating Pasture: I think there is a common misconception that pasture is ground you just let animals graze on and otherwise let it be. That could be true at some level if the animals spread out and do not overwhelm the area AND the weather is pretty much normal. Even then, there are some maintenance things you should do to keep the pasture the healthiest it can be. But, what happens after a rough weather year? Well, there are areas that need to be dealt with so the pasture can be productive once again. Since some of these areas have never been populated by the best plants for a pasture (at least not at any time that we have witnessed), this seems like an opportune time to seed in some plants we WANT instead of Giant Ragweed, Canada Thistle and Pigweed.
Increasing Crops We Can Sell, Decreasing Others: This one is worth its own blog post. Maybe it will get one. We intend to increase lettuce production once again and we expect to also increase the onion, carrot and winter squash production. Why? Because we feel we have identified a market to sell these items to. Some crops that will see less space and time on our farm are radishes, pok choi and cucumbers. The last one is a bit sad because this farm can really grow excellent cucumbers. But, if you can't sell them and the CSA is already crying uncle under the load you give them...
Flowers - More Flowers: Go ahead and call me on this one. This is not new. But, we're going to do it anyway. Ha!
Thank you for reading our newsletter. Stay tuned on the blog, our website and email during the next two months as we unveil our 2019 season.
Rob & Tammy
the Genuine Faux Farm
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