The time to start ordering and planning for next year is already upon us, so I’ve been reviewing my records to assess this year’s successes and failures. We’ve grown lots of new things and some of them were real winners that we definitely plan to grow again. A few were not so great, but I […]
New varieties worth a look Read More »
It’s been a record year for powdery mildew on our farm, requiring us to spray repeatedly with baking soda, milk, and neem oil. Luckily, we have a terrific new sprayer called the Rocket Spray. It’s a battery-powered sprayer that rolls on wheels, cart-style, or can be adapted for use as a backpack sprayer. In the
Battery-powered sprayer is a pleasure to use Read More »
Nohl van Wyck is a master of shock and awe. From the time you enter his 6.5-meter high, 2.5-hectare greenhouse (about 6.1 acres), the tall Dutchman not only wants to educate you, he wants to dazzle you by unveiling the wonders of Holland’s glasshouse technology and industry.Sweeping his long arm over a vast sea of
An American innocent abroad Read More »
“Hey, man, where are my squash blossoms?” There was desperation in the voice on the other end of the line. But Drew always sounds desperate, even on good days. He can’t help it – he’s a chef. They have classes for this sort of thing in culinary school, but that’s another story. It’s the end
Set your alarm clock if you want to sell squash blossoms Read More »
We enjoy your publication very much. Our family farm is very much into producing for the local market. We grow produce for a CSA and last year we supplied 140 members for 33 weeks — even during a major drought in our area. We also attend two farmers markets weekly. Not only do we raise
Letters from the readers: National animal ID Read More »
I wanted to reply to the question about how to store row cover when not in use. I am the assistant manager at Charlestown Cooperative Farm in Phoenixville, PA, and a past intern came up with this great system. We have the row cover rolled up on PVC pipe and it stands upright along the
Letters from the readers: Storing row cover Read More »
Reading Tracy Frisch’s article about the low tunnels at Tobacco Road farm, I had all sorts of ideas about how we might get more use out of our hoops, though I was a bit skeptical as to whether Conncticut could really be as warm as she was making it out to be. And then, in
Letters from the readers: Watch those homonyms Read More »
Solar pump article Nice article. I thought I’d pass on two things that seem to work for us. Rather than use a battery to store power between the panels and the pump, we pump into a large (2,000 gallon) tank at the top of our hill. It gives us 15 PSI at most
Letters from the readers: Solar pump article Read More »
Real Food markets Thanks for the mention of Real Food markets (June 2006). I don’t know if you have space to publish a reply, but this is what I’d like people to understand about producer-only farmers’ markets and other kinds of markets. When I was director of (New York’s) Greenmarket, there was no local produce
Letters from the readers: Real Food markets Read More »
Setting prices It was disturbing to see Diane Green’s comment at the end of her letter stating that it is not appropriate to set prices between vendors and went on to insinuate that it was price fixing and illegal. Why it’s not illegal to set prices: Agricultural products have a long history of low prices
Letters from the readers: Setting prices Read More »
