Winter holiday wreaths have been a side venture of our farm for many years. They add color, interest, and value to our late season markets. And, after most of the food crops have been gathered into the cooler or root cellar, making wreaths is an enjoyable way to spend the cold, low light days of […]
Dried flower wreaths for year-round sales and reduced waste Read More »
The south-central United States is a region historically characterized by erratic weather. Dry Arctic air sweeps down the plains to collide with warm, humid Gulf air. Hail, straight-line winds, flooding, drought, and even tornadoes are a part of life, including farm life. It is notoriously challenging to predict the weather here. People in Oklahoma like to quote native son
How farmers in the south-central U.S. are adapting to a changing climate Read More »
How to ensure customers have good experiences on your farm One sunny fall day, laughter and happy chatter filled the air at our Oregon farm, Oakhill Organics. Bluegrass musicians played on our farmhouse’s covered porch, and my husband Casey took customers on tours through our fields. Between the music and tours, people were invited to
Hosting on-farm events Read More »
One of the keystones of organic growing methods is crop rotation. On a market farm growing many different crops, it can be a real puzzle to figure out effective rotations. Over the past couple decades I’ve worked on a number of market farms and set up rotations for numerous conditions. I’ve also modified rotations as
The why and how of crop rotation planning Read More »
I wrote about the mysteries and complexities of soil microbiology and why it’s vital to care for the incalculable number of microbes below our feet in “Soil: A living, breathing ecosystem” in the January 2022 GFM. An entire ecosystem exists within the soil and is in constant flux — eating, breathing, communicating, and adapting to
Improving soil biology: Cover crops, compost and inoculants Read More »
