Meet this week’s vegetables
Farm thoughts …
Sometimes I am amazed that we used to walk through our days in an almost total state of weather unawareness. Sure, we noticed when it was hot. And, we might have noticed a bit of wind, if it was strong enough to blow off a hat or slap tree branches against a window. But compared to our acute sense of weather now—we were practically oblivious.
Obviously I bring this up because of the recent heat wave (which is just now breaking—I hope—as I write this). Such consistent heat over 100° brings a sense of immediate crisis to the farm. Four days of hot weather becomes almost an overload of worry. Whether the worry is justified in the long-term or not, it is like watching a loved one in the throes of a fever. Even if they come out of it unscathed, the hours spent waiting are difficult.
We saw cabbages wilt and then recover when watered. We watched our butter head lettuces ‘bolt’ (go to seed). We saw the ground literally steam as we hoed. It was a hot weekend.
Diversity as planning
Again, as I write this, it’s a little too early to know what the consequences of this heat wave will be over the next few weeks. But, as with every mini-emergency, I’m sure we’ll survive. Fortunately we have enough farming experience to prepare, as best we can, for the unpredictable. Our way of preparing has been to plant diversely. Maybe one kind of veggie will wilt, but another may thrive. Likewise, maybe one kind of bug will eat one vegetable but not another type.
I suppose this method of planning models itself after the natural world. A diverse ecosystem is better able to survive the ups and downs of weather and disasters—and so is a diverse farm.
We’ve seen some hard times in particular fields. Our trials have been: heat, bugs, and in the tomato field house, blossom end rot. But, despite these setbacks, we have other crops to fill in and make up the difference. In the case of the tomatoes, we’ve planted enough varieties that we know you will receive plenty of beautiful tomatoes still.
And so, even when our thermometer read 105° several days in a row, we could relax somewhat, knowing that we’ve done what we can do.
Another source of optimism
We were also carried through the rough weekend by a discussion we had with Jill, a researcher from Ohio State University. She was part of a research group in town last week as part of a larger study of agricultural areas close to development pressure and the affect of planning and community. We were only one of thirty different individuals and groups they talked with while in town, including other farmers, reporters, and elected officials.
Talking with Jill was great, because we love discussing the issues of planning and our community’s agricultural future. But she also provided us was a fascinating perspective on Yamhill County. She’s visited many counties in similar situations (in terms of development pressure), and Yamhill was one of the first places where she found optimism about agriculture. Unlike other parts of the country, here farmers and non-farmers alike are hopeful about farming’s continued role in our county.
Discussing that optimism (including our own) with Jill reinforced our decision to relocate here as we began our farming career. We were able to give her many concrete reasons why we were excited about being here—strong markets close by; a health, environment, and food conscious community; preservation of farmland; and more.
The study is only in year two of three, but when they have completed they will send us a copy of their findings. We’re looking forward to seeing how the optimism here affects their conclusions.
And, in the meantime, we are glad to be farming here. Heat waves, insects, and such are part of the farming struggle everywhere. But here in Yamhill County we have many advantages that help make that struggle more than worth it. Even with the moments of frustration—between the vegetables and you, our community—we are very happy first-year growers.
Your farmers,
Katie & Casey Kulla
Oakhill Organics
