The never ending drought...

Hello everyone! Julie here.

Hope you're finding ways to stay cool in this sustained heatwave. As I'm sure you're all aware, we find ourselves in a fire ban, a camping ban, and some of us are on water restrictions in order to help reduce the inevitable shortages. These bans and restrictions have put a strain on our leisure time for sure, but also have become a daily part of our discussions as we sweat our way through peak harvest season. We are very conscious of our water use, as agriculture has a high demand for water, so I thought I'd share with you what kinds of strategies we’re using, and how it affects the crops we grow and share with you.

From the beginning of the growing season, water is a key element in our production. Each crop has its own unique water needs, and these needs change as the plant germinates, grows and eventually produces fruit. Carrots, for example, can take up to 3 weeks to germinate if conditions are not ideal. To aid in their germination, row covers are placed over seedlings to help keep the moisture in the soil, as drip irrigation is laid on top of the planted seeds. This has been incredibly helpful in allowing the seeds to find enough moisture to germinate. Without such efforts, germination would be spotty at best, and nonexistent at worst.

The tomatoes look okay from the outside but are actually suffering from botrytis, a fungal disease.

Once plants have germinated, reliable and consistent water inputs are needed to help plants reach maturity. Root vegetable crops, like turnips and radish, may germinate fine, but if water becomes scarce, formation of roots may become distorted. Crops like onions can split, or create double bulbs, which decreases shelf life. Potatoes struggle with inadequate tuber development and can cause splitting. 

As the plants grow and begin producing fruit, low water levels can affect fruit production. Leafy vegetables like kale, chard, and lettuce struggle to develop large leaves. Drought can produce tough, inedible leaves, and make the plants generally smaller. Tomatoes for example, are prone to blossom end rot, which is characterized by brown, rotting tips of the fruits. Caused by plants inability to access enough calcium in the soil, if it is too dry. On top of this, water-stressed plants become more prone to insects and disease, as they lack the ability to defend themselves while in a state of shock.

All of these issues are part of our strategy to be mindful of our water use, while monitoring each crop and its water needs. I mentioned row covers to help reduce water loss on direct seeded crops, and we thankfully have a lovely greenhouse for seedlings, so we can make sure they all get a strong start. Once in the ground, drip irrigation helps us apply water directly to the roots of crops so we can measure the quantity of water, and the length of time each crop gets watered, with as little waste as possible. As we weed, all biomass is typically left in the rows between crops as mulch to help hold moisture in exposed soils, and closer to the crops. Washing and packing is also a water-intensive part of the process, so we are very conscious of reusing water, when we can, while maintaining cleanliness standards. We turn off any dripping taps at the pump to ensure we aren't wasting anything.

Every farmer will tell you that the health and yield of their crops is the most important part of their job, but there are so many factors we consider, daily, to be able to supply you with as many vegetables as we can, even during the toughest parts of the season. Dealing with soil quality, pest management, water conservation, weed suppression, and the health and safety of our team are things that arent often discussed, but are equally as important to our ability to function as a farm. We love what we do, and we know how much you all appreciate the time and effort we put into growing.