Start of Season 2013

Another season is underway at Steed Farms.  I know you probably thought that this was just another dead blog.  Well, at least not yet.  My Irish cousin Gavin would be really upset if I didn't post.  Here's to you Gavin for keeping the pressure on me!

Summer went well at the farm.  The covercrops did splendidly well with all the rain we had.  This should have been a great year for some experimental rice I tried in a low spot we have just to see what would happen. Amazingly, the low spot never filled with water even after the rains.  The weeds competed with the rice but it still produced.  However when I picked it almost every single rice grain was stung by stinkbugs and had turned black or dark brown.  So rice doesn't seem like a future candidate at the farm unless we go conventional and start spraying heavy.

We rotated out to the field nearest the road this year and it seems like it will produce pretty well.  I am trying to rotate fields on a four year rotation.  That should give the ground some time to recover before we plant back.  Right now we have the space to be able to do that.  In this new field there are a bunch of perennial weeds (purple nutsedge and bermuda grass) that will cause tons of problems for our yields.  I've already had to plant around some of the worst sections of the field.

The tomatoes are started in the greenhouse and we will be planting the peppers and eggplants shortly.  We are starting some more herbs in three gallon pots.  My sons just helped fill the pots for African blue basil (a perennial), Vietnamese cilantro, and Mexican tarragon.  I am looking to propagate more rosemary next.

Every year is so unique for production.  This year we have almost zero yellow squash producing, minimal cucumbers, and the zucchini are light as well.  The "greens" types are doing well.  I tried patty pan squash this year and it looks decent.  The yields are a little low but might be a crop for the future.  We will see.

It was great to see everyone at the pick up this last Saturday; old and new faces alike.  We appreciate all the local support for our farming and we hope everyone will enjoy the fresh, naturally grown produce.  I'll try to get some pictures for the next post.