Wild Things Farm

This time of year is full of mixed feelings; glad to not be rushed by picking and delivering every week, but still pushed to get chores done before really cold weather sets in.  The urgency of picking and packing is gone and most veggie farmers can relax a little--well, as soon as the pumps are weatherized, stakes, posts, and wires are all out of the garden and stored, and garden beds properly "put to bed" for the winter.

This season a few different concepts of winterizing gardens are being explored.  A winter cover crop of winter rye has been planted in the newest strawberry patch to be harvested early next year and cut down and applied as mulch next spring.  Large quantities of leaves are being used both as soil amendments (tilled in) and as mulch in the garden areas to amend soil and suppress weeds.  Black plastic is being used in the blackberry patch to keep weeds at bay, although an effective method of keeping the plastic attached to the ground is yet to be discovered.  The newest addition to the critter patrol, a Catahoula dog named Reuben, likes to crawl under the plastic looking for critters--he pulls the staples out in the meantime and the wind blows the plastic around.....

An orchard including apple, peach, and pear trees is being developed this fall, as well as blueberry plants are being incorporated into the growing areas.  Got to plan for the future!

Stay warm and active!