Winter is Coming
How are things going at the farm? Well here is an update from our production manager Lucas.
“In the first week or so of the month, we worked on transitioning our high tunnels into winter production. This is a process of tilling the ground, adding amendments, and reforming beds. With the soil prepared, several large plantings of spinach, baby lettuce, and arugula have been sown. They are just starting to germinate. Some smaller plantings of mustards, radishes, and head lettuce have been sown and transplanted. With temperatures dropping, most of our crops require more intensive management to encourage growth and guard against low overnight temperatures. A large part of each day is taken up with placing and removing fabric row covers and adjusting high tunnel side curtains. We have also been working hard to make sure we get as much of our outdoor growing space sown with cover crops as possible.”
We also don’t want to forget that our production team received an additional member this past month. We brought on-board Alec Dulee-Kinsolving as a full-time employee. He brings a great attitude and a passion for growing plants to our production crew.
Community Outreach
Alderson Elementary visited the farm! We saw 200 kids throughout the day. We gave them a tour of the farm, while others planted lettuce seeds, and had craft time by building the awesome scarecrows we now have around the farm. Kindergarten through 5th grade students, plus teachers, came to learn more about food, farming, and building a viable economy and community around local food. We hope the kids will never forget what they learned here at the farm and will always remember the hard work that goes into fresh local produce. Have you seen their scarecrow handy work as you’ve driven by?
Also, our seed saving class/seed swap was a great way to show community members around the farm for a scavenger hunt for seeds. We grabbed some peppers, cantaloupes, tomatoes, eggplants, and other things growing on the farm and talked about how to save their seeds. We also shared all of our older seeds, so that the participants could take home and try their hand at planting some interesting varieties of flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Farming Education
We now have an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about food and farming. Come join our Volunteer Internship and learn alongside our crew as we grow food for WV. Interested in the food hub side of our operations? You can learn everything from how to grow the food, to how we sell the food and where it goes. From production, to aggregation, to distribution, come see and learn with us. The Internship is unpaid but you will leave home with the produce you help to grow. If you or someone you know is interested call 304–573–4242.
