| |
Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture |
Spring is in the air! While the fields hibernate, we slow down on the farm.
Greg and I cut back in our work time to two or three days a week, and short
days at that. Our main form of exercise consists of digging out the greenhouse
after heavy snowfalls. As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise above
freezing, our work schedule starts to accelerate again. By mid-April we will
be up to full time again. Ammie will have wound up her work for NOFA-NY so she
can join Greg and me on the farm. I am as happy to get back out to the fields
as I was to escape them in December!
A lot of winter farm work looks more like an office job. We review all our crop
notes from the previous season to evaluate what grew well and what poorly, and
then plan our rotations. We pour over seed catalogues, make field plans, and
order seeds. Our seed bill this year is a little smaller than last year because
of the seed saving we were able to do. Filling out our annual organic certification
application takes up many hours. With the Core decision to expand to 200 shares,
we needed to calculate carefully how many beds of each crop we will have to
grow for an adequate supply. We have set aside eight beds for the asparagus
plants we started in 1999. By growing onions three rows to a bed, instead of
two, and mulching them, we can grow more but still save space.
We plan to begin distribution on May 18, two weeks earlier than in previous
years, by using a hoop house. Like a green house, but without a heater, the
hoop house will be 22 feet wide by 96 feet long with trickle irrigation. Just
a big piece of heavy plastic stretched over metal hoops, the hoop house protects
the crops from wind and warms up the soil enough to extend the season. We will
plant it with lettuce, spinach, oriental greens, arugula and cilantro. Those
first two weeks, we should also have garlic greens, chives, oregano, rhubarb,
radishes and water cress grown outside. As soon as we harvest the early hoop
house crops, we will replace them with greenhouse started eggplants, cucumbers,
basil, and peppers so that they will also be earlier than usual.
Another important winter job is recruiting interns. We list our two openings
with the Northeast Willing Workers on Organic Farms program and with Alternative
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas. We require a farm visit for all applicants
so that we can spend some time getting to know them. This year, we have had
several good applicants, and more continue to apply. So far, we have made a
commitment to one man, Melvin “Bud” Ross. Bud comes to us with a solid
background in greenhouse work, landscaping and extensive reading in organic
agriculture. His family lives near the farm, so part of his pay will be in the
form of a share for his parents’ household. If all goes well, in a year
or two, Bud may be providing some of his own crops to the GVOCSA.
Our other big winter activity is learning more about farming. This winter, Greg
attended a 3-day workshop in advanced organic vegetable production. He came
home bubbling with new ideas. We both participated in the Northeast Organic
Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
conference on “Taking Charge of Our Seed Supply,” where we learned
a lot about this complex and essential part of food production. I ran around
a bit too much giving workshops and presentations in Illinois, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York. I also attended the annual meeting of
the National Campaign for Sustainable
Agriculture. This dynamic gathering of 100 representatives from 80 farming,
farmworker, consumer, church and environmental organizations from all over the
country worked on a policy agenda for this year and started designing new initiatives
for the 2002 Farm Bill. I have been co-chairing the Campaign organic committee
with Michael Sligh of the Rural Advancement Foundation
International, the non-profit which has been responsible for informing the
public about the Terminator Technology. At an awards ceremony, the Campaign
honored Michael and me for our work on this committee. My plaque reads: “To
Elizabeth Henderson In Recognition and Appreciation for Her Outstanding Leadership
as Issue Committee Chair - Uncompromising Dedication to and Effectiveness at
Uniting Diverse Interests In Support of Small Farmers.” I feel truly honored
to be singled out among so many outstanding contributors to the movement for
a sustainable food system.
The heavier snow fall this winter, while more trouble to drive through and shovel
away, makes the water situation better this spring than it was last year. Greg,
Ammie, Helen, Bud, and I are looking forward to another good year of growing
food for your tables. We truly appreciate your continuing support for our farming!
Please join us, if you are free, for a dance around the May Pole and a potluck
supper, Sunday, April 30, from 2-6 pm at Peacework Organic Farm. Help us dance
in the new season and assure fertility and abundance!
Copyright © GVOCSA 1999. All rights reserved.