Summer is hot

Casey moving irrigation pipe — a daily farm task this time of year

Yes, summer is finally hot! This week brought on the first [moderate] heat wave of the year, marked by the installation of the kids’ window AC unit (usually it’s in their window in May or June!). Temperatures have risen into the upper 90°s, definitely warm enough for folks to sweat and feel uncomfortable and feel like it is indeed summer!

Even though the temperatures have been mild this year, that hasn’t translated into reduced fire danger in Oregon. Low snow packs and rainfall combined to make an early start to the wildfire season, and we’re well into it now, as folks in other parts of the state can attest to.

Closer to home, we witnessed a brush fire in a field earlier this week, driving past it on our way to pick Rusty up from farm school and then arriving home later that afternoon to see the smoke plume from our farm. Thankfully this one was put out quickly, but it is still startling to realize how vulnerable we can be in our region in this dry season.

We’ve been looking around our place this summer and pondering our own fire safety — what are the risks here and what can we do to mitigate them? Having lots of irrigation water around helps, but we’re still surrounded by fields that get extremely dry in the summer. A few years ago, a tree fell across the power lines at the north end of the property, starting a brush fire when the lines landed on the ground. Again, thankfully that one was extinguished quickly as well, but it still demonstrated that we live with kindling on the ground this time of year.

Just something we’re thinking about around here on the farm as we continue the never-ending process of refining our systems and improving our work and home.

The heat is also bringing on that wave of summer produce! Our table has been heaped with the first fruits of the warmest season. You’ll get to share in that abundance this week as well. Enjoy this week’s vegetables!

Your farmers, Katie & Casey Kulla

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Meet this week’s vegetables:

  • Figs
  • Plums — Yellow and red/purple types
  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Basil
  • Lettuce
  • Salad mix
  • Chard
  • Carrots
  • New potatoes — One of potato varieties this year features a beautiful swirl of creamy and purple skin!
  • Zucchini
  • Onions
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