A year ago, we were managing saturated soil and plants that were rotting from near record-setting levels of rain. This year, this week, we are strategizing about how to best use the limited amount of irrigation water we have during this drought we are in. We no longer have enough water to irrigate everywhere. We use two wells that both flow at very few gallons per minute, and we draw from a neighbor's pond. The pond is lower and drier than we have ever seen it. Obviously, we can't draw from it until it is completely dry. Thus, we are going to stop watering certain crops that are nearing the end of their life anyway. (Think summer crops that have been with us for months now, such as Okra, our Flowers for cutting, some of the Sweet Peppers, Eggplants, etc.) We are prioritizing water for the newer crops and baby plants that we have just transplanted. (Think all of our Salad and cooking greens, plus root vegetables, Cabbages, Broccoli, etc.) What a difference a year can make! We are harvesting a lot of good food, despite the drought status, so there's no need to worry. We just like to keep Farm Share members informed about the challenges and status of the plants you have invested in.
**Special note: Please be sure to always leave your empty green box at the pick up site after you collect your food. If you have someone out of the ordinary pick up for you on any given week, please, please be sure to give them these instructions. This summer we had exactly the number of green boxes we need, yet we've had a number of them disappear in the past few weeks. Yikes! If anyone has one lying around in their garage, please return it to us as soon as you can. Thanks for being part of a great system!
Enjoy your options this week! Fall weather will arrive, soon, we hope!
-Janet & Dan
