Hi Everyone,
In this (short!) update:
1. The big flood: how did it impact the farm? Will it happen again?
Summer Session is almost upon us. We are so excited to get started this year! As always, we have a lot of crops in the ground, and it's time for us to start getting them to you!
This year our first pick-up day will be next Tuesday, June 16th. From that day on, we're on our regular schedule. Our days of pick-up here at the farm are Tuesday (noon to six), Wednesday (noon to four), Friday (noon to six), and Saturday (ten to two). Deliveries are on Wednesday, so our first delivery will be Wednesday, June 17th.
For those of you coming to the farm, please remember to bring scissors for doing u-pick, and a container for bringing your food home. It is best to bring some kind of ice-box or cooler, especially on warm days.
Farm School for kids and the new Farm School for adults will both start the week of July 7th.
2. What's going on at the farm?
Oh have we been busy! Well, you know that. But it has been an extraordinarily busy spring for us. Wendy and I are finishing our new home, which has taken more time than we expected (especially for Wendy). We also have resolved ourselves to piping water through our fields for the cows, which has also been a large undertaking. Beyond that, herd maintenance, compost building, making hay, and irrigation have been a lot of work this spring, along with some political issues that always seem to heat up with when spring arrives!
Irrigation isn't a normal part of our spring routine, but neither is a three week (and still counting) stretch of warm, dry weather! We had four successive days in the 90s, and many in the high 80s. So, out came the pumps and pipes. We usually don't do that until July, but we were very glad to have it at our disposal for this warm, dry late spring. What makes it really hard is that we are transplanting a lot of plants at the time, and as transplants they just don't have the root structure to withstand the heat. It didn't take a lot of water, but we did have to hit everything.
It’s been a good spring -- certainly the best we've seen in a few years. The plants have responded to the warmth, the sunshine and the irrigation. We're off to a great start with a lot of our crops. The dry weather has also made weed control a little easier, as we've been able to get on the fields all spring for weeding, whereas usually there are rainy times that we just can't get any weeding done at all. So all-in-all, we feel like we're off to a great start.
3. If you haven't signed up yet...
No, it's not too late. We really like to get applications early, and we appreciate those of you who have been able to do that. But in this economically topsy-turvy year, nothing is quite normal. So if you've been waiting to see what your situation would be for the summer, you can still get in for the Summer Session. We also are willing to look at creative payment plans, so send us a note if you would like to do that (jubileefarm@hotmail.com).
4. BD Field Day this Saturday
One of the many things that occupy us is our continued commitment to biodynamic farming. This Saturday we are hosting a field day on biodynamic farming techniques which is being sponsored by WSU. It is good for us that we have faculty at WSU that, like us, believe in the value of BD farming, and have joined with the Washington State BD group to put on this Field Day. I have included below the advertisement about the day that went out on the various ag list servers.
Erick and Wendy
News from Tilth Producers of Washington
Tilth Producers of Washington promotes ecologically sound, economically viable and socially equitable farming practices that improve the health of our communities and natural environment.
Like organic farming, biodynamic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and emphasizes building soil with compost and manures, controlling pests naturally, and rotating and diversifying crops and livestock. However, the most fundamental aspect of the biodynamic approach is its emphasis on the self-contained farm, capable of meeting its own nutrient needs without off-site inputs thus helping keep costs down.
On Saturday, June 13, Washington State University Extension will present a Biodynamic Field Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jubilee Biodynamic Farm in Carnation to discuss the principles and practicalities of developing a profitable biodynamic farm. Jubilee Farm is located at 229 W. Snoqualmie River Road N.E. in Carnation. Specific directions are available at www.jubileefarm.org/directions.html. WSU Snohomish, King and Pierce County Extension programs are sponsoring the event.
One WSU study has found that biodynamic farming systems generally have better soil quality and equal or higher net returns per acre than their conventional counterparts. Another WSU study found that biodynamically treated composts produced higher temperatures, matured faster, and had higher nitrate content than control compost piles inoculated with field soil.
The field day will help participants gain an overall understanding of biodynamics and how to apply basic biodynamic practices. Addressed from a bottom-line perspective, areas covered will include the core principles of biodynamic farming and land stewardship coupled with some hands-on creation and application of biodynamic preparations while learning the fundamentals of how they work in soil development and composting. Attendees also will take home a small bag of preparation 500, a biodynamic humus-building field spray concentrate.
Participants should be prepared for all weather and field conditions and should wear farm/garden clothes and footwear. Bring hat, rain gear, and a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
Barry Lia and Erick Haakensen are the instructors for the workshop.
Lia is education director with the S&S Center for Sustainable Agriculture and has been practicing biodynamic husbandry for over 15 years. He has led workshops introducing biodynamics in many venues. He coordinates the Washington Biodynamic Group, is regional coordinator for the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program, works on local biodynamic farms, and consults in biodynamic farming and gardening.
Haakensen started farming in 1989. Jubilee Farm was certified organic in 2002 and has been transitioning into biodynamic farming for the last four years. He believes that education is one of the primary missions of the diverse 400-member community supported agriculture farm that he owns and manages with wife, Wendy.
Cost for the workshop is $45 per farm or couple with early bird registration until June 5, and $55 after that date. To register, download the form at www.snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/biodynamic.pdf and mail with your check, or contact Karie Christensen at 425/357-6039 or by e-mail at klchristen@cahnrs.wsu.edu.
For more information on the field day, contact Andrew Corbin at 425/357-6012 or e-mail corbina@wsu.edu, or Chris Benedict, 253/798-7028, e-mail chrisbenedict@wsu.edu.