Oh boy, here goes the farmer! This season in our large greenhouse, we have done pinpoint micro and macro nutrient assessments through the use of some cool new technology called a sap test. It has been used extensively in other countries, but in the US it’s just beginning to gain popularity. We believe that plants which have all their nutrient requirements met will thrive in the soil, feeding a biological system which further perpetuates health, both for us and for the soil. This year we spent $200 on sap testing in the greenhouse along with some water soluble micronutrients (molybdenum, calcium, copper, and zinc) which cost us a few hundred dollars, resulting in yields outpacing last years yields of cucumbers and tomatoes by a factor of 3. Wow. All that goodness though does eventually come to an end and this week I am sad to say that our cucumber yields are forecasted to be half of previous weeks, but in prior years the plants would have been dead 2 months ago. I’m so excited about further implementing this across the rest of the farm next season!
Due to flooding and labor shortage, this fall we are buying in some products from other local Organic producers to meet some of the shortfall we expect in these last few weeks of the season. This week we have delicious apples and winter squash from Earth First Organic Farm located in Berrien Center. We hope to be able to get some of their delicious fresh apple cider in a few weeks for you as well. As always, if we buy in anything from other farms it’ll always be organic and we will let you know.
Have you tried our free range Organic chicken eggs? Sorry to those of you who come pickup on the farm, inevitability a hen or three will have flown over the fence to find what they think is greener pastures. Our chickens always have access to green pasture, shade, and fresh water. We move them frequently (they have mobile coops and fencing) and they do a great job at crop clean up. Right now they are eating the weeds out of the cover crop walkways between our blackberry plants (hope to have tasty blackberries for you next year again!). By spoiling them this way, we think that we produce the best eggs around! Enjoy!
PS. Thirty more ewe Icelandic sheep came to the farm this week, which means we will have plenty of wool products and pasture raised and finished lamb available next fall! I guess we are shepherds, chicken farmers, vegetable growers, apiarists, and busy, lol.
