Water

In February and March as we start up greenhouses, soil temperature, water temperature, and water amounts becomes a constant topic of conversation. Our green house tropical fruits (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers) best grow when soil temps are above 60 degrees and water amounts are adequate to encourage intake of soil nutrients. As the tomatoes mature and increase in size we monitor water amounts, increasing or decreasing as necessary. We can control more in our greenhouses!

Transitioning from greenhouse growing to our gardens can be challenging, especially considering the water table at the farm lurks awfully close to ground surface. As snow melts or spring rains come through, we are constantly adjusting the plan to ensure our crops are grown in the best location, taking time-in-the-ground, irrigation capabilities, soil nutrients, and interplanting into consideration. Sometimes we are unable to plant specific gardens or even specific beds to due the ground being too saturated.

In the summer of 2022, we faced a draught, and our crops required watering constantly. Sprinklers moved from garden to garden and timers reminded us to move and then turn the sprinklers on again. 2023 and now 2024 seem to be the opposite.

Water is a critical component of photosynthesis, ensuring plants get the energy and glucose they need to grow.

Water acts as a solvent that dissolves essential nutrients and minerals in the soil, making them available for uptake by plant roots. Including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients.

Water helps regulate the temperature of plants through the process of transpiration. As water evaporates from the surface of leaves, it cools the plant, preventing overheating and allowing the plant to continue to grow and mature even in increased heat.

Water also helps maintain healthy soil structure.

Too much water though can be a problem. The storm on July 11th dropped significant amounts of water, causing partial flooding in one field where we lost carrots and beets. In a few locations soil continues to be more saturated than desired, and the effects of the rain have yet to be seen, at least it isn’t immediate. We did lose the bridge going over to the PYO flower garden and hope to replace it this coming week.

We need water, can’t function without water, however too much water has been tough. Two of our neighboring farms are some of the many that were tragically impacted by the storm.

The recent flooding had a tragic and season ending impact on two local farms based in Barnet Vermont. You can read about specifics in this recent article by VT Digger.

Before purchasing and starting Cross Farm in Barnet VT, Zach worked at Meadowstone for quite a few years. His Organic Lamb, Poultry, and Pork operation was tragically impacted by the recent flooding. You can donate to help his farm here.

Joe’s Brook Farm has been an integral part of the food system in the north country over the last 10 years. Their organic strawberries and produce are enjoyed by many, they to sustained extensive damage and crop loss. You can donate to them here.

Torrential rain causing flooding is not new to the area, however having two flooding events on July 11th 2023 and then July 11th 2024 seems unusual.

It was the fall when many of our crops were already in storage and our growing capacity was much less than what it is now, however this article posted in our office stands to remind us of the power of nature. Zach, of Cross Farm, who was an employee of MSF at the time, is pictured with Sam and Anthony Petriccione (past employee) during a flooding event at the farm back in October of 2010.

Flowers

The bountiful, beautiful, bright, fragrant colors of the flower gardens are beginning to emerge bringing bouquets and specifically the PYO Flower Add-on of the CSA.

For more information on our flowers, check out the tour sign out by the PYO flower garden! You can also check out the video on our flowers below.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm to choose your share on the day you chose when you signed up, so either Monday or Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

If you signed up for an add-on, don’t forget to pickup your Coffee, Eggs, and Pork sausage.

The PYO and Bouquet flower CSA also starts up this week, so blooms are in your future!

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

Full shares receives 12 choices

Small shares receives 8 choices.

WANT SOME RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Jessie, Ani, Wyatt, and Claira)