Farm News
We strategized our harvesting efforts last week to account for the freezing temps. This week, that meant harvesting all of the crops not in greenhouses in the cold, cold rain on Monday. And then we harvested inside the greenhouses on the colder days. We also have to pay attention to the temps when it comes to CSA deliveries – we don’t want the shares to be in freezing temps for very long. It’s a good idea to pay attention to the hourly temps on CSA pick up days and try to pick up when it’s the warmest, if you’re at all able.
Consistent low freezing temps don’t usually arrive until around MLK Jr. Day. We’re experiencing the these temps now, in early January for the first time. Thankfully, we pur unheated greenhouses to keep things protected, plus row cover inside tunnels and double covers on the low tunnels outside, as well. The cold definitely makes the veggies sweeter (as sugars are their anti-freeze), but after a while, it can stress the plants, so please let us know if you receive poor quality produce (e.g., brown insides of roots – we can’t see this damage when we harvest). We really want to know.
We thank you for your flexibility, understanding, support, and communication in our winter (and all season) farming efforts! Ben and I are also happy we’ve changed the CSA calendar for 2025 such that we will be done with winter CSA by the start of the winter solstice. And even though the winter season will be over sooner, our overall seasons will be longer (we’re going from 10 weeks of spring, 10 weeks of fall, 5 weeks of winter to 14 weeks spring/summer and 12 weeks fall/winter.
We’re looking forward to seeing some snow Friday into Saturday. I hope we all maintain our power, and get to play in the snow. It’s been too long!
P.S. Thanks to all of you Chatham County members who helped me get things organized in preparation for the weather on Friday. Winter farming is quite the adventure!
In Good Heart Farm 