Category Archives: cover crops

In the Share – Week 21

September 30, 2015cover crops, high tunnel, outstanding in the fieldFarmer Rebecca

KOHLRABI P

SWEET POTATOES F/P

SWEET PEPPERS F/P

TOMATOES F/P

EGGPLANT F/P

HERB CHOICE F Sage, cilantro or dill

GREENS CHOICE F Swiss chard, kale, gai lan, or bok choy

LETTUCE and/or FRISEE F/P The frisee makes a nice little salad.

GARLIC F/P Partial shares get a choice of garlic or herbs.

ROMA GREEN BEANS F The last week of these guys.

NEXT WEEK: Peppers, eggplant, greens, turnips, beets, green tomatoes and sweet potatoes

FARM REPORT:
Autumn is here and we welcome its arrival. After an especially eventful growing season, your farmers are looking forward to a winter rest. But, we are not there yet! Much lovely fall crops must be harvested, brought in for storage or protected outdoors. The high tunnel is ready for its hat to go back on for the wintertime. We planted it full of greens back in early September. It is nice to keep the plastic off of its top and ends for as long as possible to avoid overheating the plants inside, but it needs to be buttoned up before the first frost.

Out in the fields have a nice blanket of various cover crops that Tom sowed in late July. Sorghum Sudan grass, cowpeas, mung beans and oats cover the Spring fields. These plants growing now are next year’s fertility.

Speaking of out in the fields, “Outstanding in the Field” is returning to our farm on October 14th. Chef Ted Habiger from Room 39 in KCMO will be feeding us multiple courses of local delights from our farm and others in the region. Event details and tickets are here.

In the Share – Week 17

September 2, 2015beans, cover crops, flowers, peppersFarmer Rebecca

SWEET PEPPERS F/P Our sweet yellow bells and red horn peppers are ripening nicely in the heat.

PURPLE VIKING POTATOES F/P Last of these fluffy ones. They aren’t as brilliantly pretty purple as when we first dug them, but they still make the best mashed potatoes.

GARLIC F/P Add some garlic to those fluffy taters!

GREEN BEANS F We are going to give the full shares a bigger share and get the partials next week since we were able to give everyone a taste last week.

TOMATOES F/P The late planting of hybrids and Romas are keeping us in tomatoes in September.

SALSA PACK OR OKRA F/P Most of this choice will be salsa packs, with hopefully enough of the other for the okra-lovers.

EGGPLANT F I hope you all enjoy your eggplant. I didn’t grow up eating it much, but I am completely hooked.

HERBS, HOT PEPPERS OR RADISHES F A choice of spicy options.

NEXT WEEK: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, salsa packs, potatoes, beans, radishes and onions.

FARM REPORT:
September is one of my favorite months of the year, closely followed by October, November and December. Yes, I am fully in love with fall and I think I am not alone amongst farmers. The weather is pleasant, the crops are all planted and the weeds are less threatening. It has definitely been nice weather for the bean-pickers.

The past several CSA mornings, we have heard the comment, “I lucked out picking a day in August to come to the farm.” And, its true. If you came in June, you likely got pretty wet and muddy. It all goes to show you just can’t ever tell with Missouri weather.

After waiting for many weeks/months for the ground to settle after all that mud, we managed to plant quite a few cover crops. They are all coming up nicely. Buckwheat is growing where many of the Spring crops were. We planted a few beds with oats and mung beans which is a new combination for us.

If you come out to join in the bean picking, you have the opportunity to pick yourself a free bouquet from the zinnia patch.

In the Share – Week 6

June 18, 2014buckwheat, cover crops, high tunnel, zucchiniFarmer Rebecca

ZUCCHINI F/P A perfect accompaniment to the first day of summer on Saturday. We are trialing several types in various shapes and striations – let us know if you have a favorite.

LETTUCE F Romaine hearts and a few others, but the lettuce season is winding down for the summer.

CABBAGE P It has been a good cabbage harvest this Spring. We should have some more for the next few weeks.

KOHLRABI F/P One for everyone this week and then it is goodbye, sweet ‘rabi, until fall.

SWEET ONIONS F/P The first of the bulbous onions, our sweet Walla Walla

HERB CHOICE F/P Parsley and/or mint

GREENS CHOICE F Swiss chard or kale

CARROTS F The first of the Spring carrots are a mix of orange and yellows. Partial shares will get them next week.

STRAWBERRIES P The last from the patch allows us to “settle up” with the partial shares

SUGARSNAP OR SNOW PEAS F The last from the pea patch.

HAKUREI TURNIPS F These are topped and should keep for a while in your crisper. As with most crops this time of year they keep best in moist, cold conditions. Plastic bags work well to hold in moisture. Roots keep better with their tops removed.

NEXT WEEK: More cabbage, greens, zucchini and carrots. Beets return.

FARM REPORT:
The topic of conversation this week is what can and cannot be done, what is too wet and what needs to be done by hand. The tractor was brought out once or twice in the hopes of mowing or cultivating only to be turned around and returned to the barnyard. It is too wet to do most anything but pull weeds by hand which the farm crew has been doing plenty. Today we finally managed to find a spot that could take a hoe – Hoe-ray!

Our main concern is the 1300 sweet potato slips that are waiting to be planted. The beds they are destined for remain too wet and we are nervously watching the rainy forecast for Thursday. Another day or two of dry weather would give us a chance. Overall, it is nice to have adequate moisture for a change and the crops that are planted are growing well. The white in the photo is the buckwheat cover crop that is blooming which is good for the bees and other pollinators.

On Friday we caught a calm day and removed the plastic off of the top of the high tunnel. The job went smoothly (the harder part is putting it back on!). With some rain on Sunday, the seeded cover crop should be up soon.

In the Share – Week 2

May 21, 2014broccoli, carrots, chickens, cover crops, freeze, potatoes, tomatoesFarmer Rebecca

ASPARAGUS OR BROCCOLI F/P The freeze slowed the asparagus harvest to a non-event, luckily the broccoli is starting to mature.

RED LEAF LETTUCE F/P We love these red ruffley lettuces. Half green & half red they make a beautiful salad all by themselves.

BUTTERHEAD OR ROMAINE HEIRLOOM LETTUCES Full shares get one of each. Partial shares get a choice. The heat is kicking in and we have a lot of lettuce in the field, so we are picking extra this week to keep ahead.

ARUGULA Full shares get both an herb choice and arugula, partial shares choose. Add to your salad for a nice kick.

HERB CHOICE Cilantro, dill, tarragon

BOK CHOY/TAT SOI Add to some fried rice with farm eggs and you have yourself a meal!

GREENS CHOICE Kale, Gail lan, Swiss Chard. Partial shares can also choose the bok choy

GREEN GARLIC the same concept as green onions, the young plants. Use it fresh in salads.

NEXT WEEK: More lettuce, broccoli, greens and herbs.

FARM REPORT: All hell broke loose after we last reported. Two nights of freezing temperatures threatened to stop the harvest when we had barely begun. In preparation, we covered the fields including the strawberries with their flowers and young fruit and the newly transplanted tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cukes and tender herbs.

We thought we were prepared for the forecasted 36 degrees F Friday morning. Unfortunately, it was much colder than that. We registered 32 on our temperature gauge behind the greenhouse. Out in the far field it must have been even colder. Under the row cover the tomatoes were hit hard.

Surprisingly, the plants without mulch fared better, including the peppers, eggplant, squash and cucumbers. The potatoes lost much of their foliage but were better by yesterday. After some time to evaluate, it looks like the damage is temporary and many of the plants will grow back with good health. We have replaced the worst of the tomatoes with extra plants from the greenhouse. We also send much appreciation to the fine folks at Gibbs Road Farm (KC,KS) for giving us extra plants.

Meanwhile, the chickens were oblivious to all the plant drama this week. Instead they are happily exploring their new home in the spring-planted cover crop of oats and peas.

In the Share – Week 19

September 25, 2013cauliflower, cover cropsFarmer Rebecca

CAULIFLOWER OR BROCCOLI (F/P) These plants withstood a lot of heat late into their maturing season, but some are bulking up fairly well. A hearty thank you to the CSA members who got the weeds in check last week! We hope to have both for several more weeks.

TOMATOES (F/P) Today was the last big picking of tomatoes with most of the hybrid reds ripe and the heirlooms dwindling. The paste or Roma tomatoes will keep coming for a while.

LETTUCE (F/P) Mostly green crispheads that can take some summer heat.

KOHLRABI (F/P) We tasted one today and we were happy we did – very tender and juicy was the result.

BEETS (F/P) The beets are going bonkers out there – they grew to a large size while we were occupied on other things. Don’t worry, they are still sweet and tender.

SWEET PEPPERS (F/P) Loads more of these big beauties this week.

GREENS CHOICE (F) Several of our fall greens are sizing up. You’ll have a choice of kale, rapini or broccoli raab, or Swiss Chard.

HERB CHOICE (F/P) Basil, marjoram and thai basil.

ROMA TOMATOES (F)

CHERRY TOMATOES (P)

NEXT WEEK: More tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. Sweet potatoes, cabbage and garlic.

FARM REPORT:

Two and a half inches of rain soaked in well. The soil is loose, full of worms and a pleasure to dig into. A sure sign of fall, we dug the first sweet potatoes on Saturday. They are curing in the greenhouse and should be in the shares next week. Tom has flail-mowed the sorghum sudan cover crop that many of you saw at the farm in the past few weeks. That’s next year’s fertility which will be turned into the soil later this week.

In the Share – Week 11

July 31, 2013cover crops, csa, high tunnel, tomatillos, wash areaFarmer Rebecca

Tomatillos

SALSA PACK (F/P) The lovely tomatillo shines this time of year. Just add a tomato and chop it all up. Or roast it and it’s even better.

TOMATOES (F/P) More reds and pinks this week with a smattering of other colors.

CARROTS (F/P) Big, orange carrots out of cold storage.

GARLIC (F/P) The first garlic of the season: Musik, a hardneck type with big, juicy cloves.

SWEET PEPPERS (F/P) More sweet yellows and purples. Ripe red peppers are coming soon.

EGGPLANT (F/P) Lots more of these beauties. Check Tom’s posts for the past few weeks for recipes.

CHERRY TOMATOES (F) We will get some to the partial shares next week.

BEETS OR CUCUMBERS (F) The last of both for a while.

THAI BASIL, ITALIAN BASIL, SUMMER SAVORY OR HOT PEPPERS (F)

NEXT WEEK: more tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and salsa packs. Potatoes and onions.

FARM REPORT: Rain at last. It had been about two months since the farm had any, so the 1.3 inches that fell on Monday was much appreciated. We got a lot of seeds and transplants in before it came so things are off to a good start for the fall.

flail-mowed sorghum Sudan grass

Tom mowed down the high tunnel’s cover crop of sorghum sudan grass and will soon incorporate it with the spader. The soil will get a month to digest its green dinner before we start planting in September.

During the summer harvest season we spend many hours in the wash and pack area. All of the remodeling we did this past winter is paying off with plenty of cold storage, tables for sorting and sinks for washing. It’s a pleasant place to be during the heat of the day or during a rain storm.

Rebecca and Lauren. Luke with Shawn and Monica. The Rouyers: David, Amelia and Frido.

In the Share – Week Five

June 19, 2013cabbage, cover crops, sweet potatoesFarmer Rebecca

Spring cabbage

BEETS (F) My favorite vegetable is ready for harvest – what could be better? When they are young like these, chop the whole plant – root to leaf – and sautee with some garlic and olive oil. Yumm!

CABBAGE (F/P) Spring cabbages are smaller than those in the fall – perfect for a bowl of cole slaw.

SUGARSNAP PEAS (F/P) Wow, do we have a lot of peas out there. I hope we have lots of pickers this week! Come on out if you need to get in a shift.

LETTUCE (F2/P1) the lettuces are hanging in there, but they’ll be gone soon. Enjoy those salads while you can!

STRAWBERRIES (F/P) A pint for everyone. There are still lots of berries in the patch, but fewer perfect ones for the shares.

SPRING TURNIPS (F) Our second spring planting of turnips is ripe for harvest and they are big beauties!

BROCCOLI (F) The broccoli has continued to produce side shoots, so here’s one more round for the full shares.

ONIONS (P) The onions are starting to bulb up. There will be many more to come.

HERBS (F/P) Mint, herb fennel, Thai basil or a dried herb.

NEXT WEEK: More turnips, lettuce, peas and herbs. Carrots and summer squash.

FARM REPORT: Summer begins on Friday, June 21st and we welcome its arrival. This cool, wet Spring has been a real challenge and we are hoping that Summer brings some warmth and drier weather. Since the first seeds were planted in the fields back in March we have been dodging the rain to get any planting done. Just as the fields begin to dry out rain enters the forecast. Sometimes the ground is still a touch too wet and we plant anyway, slogging through the mud. Other times it is so wet there is no way to work it and we wait.

If we are lucky we can adjust our planting maps and find a drier piece of ground to plant. Such was the case last week when the area slated for the sweet potatoes remained boggy and full of partially-digested rye/vetch cover crop. We love to grow a massive cover crop before the sweet potatoes and the timing usually works out great. Not so this year as the cool, wet soil slowed decomposition and we had no choice but to look for other ground. We found some space that was empty due to the same wet weather that prevented us from planting a cover crop earlier this Spring.

Lucky for us that field was empty or we would have been stuck with 1,000+ sweet potato slips with nowhere to plant them. Instead we fired up the transplanter and in a period of 24 hours we planted all of the sweet potatoes and 750 melon plants. Later that night over an inch of rain fell as the farmers slept peacefully.

2011—Our Eighth Season

March 19, 2013broccoli, community supported agriculture, cover crops, csa, electric tractor, fair share farm, farm aprentice, greenhouse, jonathan justus, justus drugstore, kansas city, outstanding in the field, tomatoesFarmer Rebecca

Impression of Rocky

By 2011 we had experienced eight years of farming in the same spot and seen how the land responds to just about every weather condition. We continued to work on systems that could keep our farm resilient and sustainable for the future.

We were helped along by a principle promoted by Dr. W. Edwards Deming to “improve constantly and forever”… something I had learned in engineering and Rebecca knew inherently. It is an axiom that is in concert with the idea of sustainablility. We felt that we had a firm foundation to now build for the long-term future of Fair Share Farm.

The first couple months of the year were as busy as ever. We had one last area of the house to gut, insulate, re-wire, re-wall, re-window and re-door. We got it mostly done before things got too hectic and are enjoying the fruits of this labor to this day.

Only a memory now

The previous November, Lucas Knutter joined the farm team, house-sitting the apprentice house for the winter and joining us as a full-time apprentice in March. He had just finished a 27-month stint in the Peace Corp working with farmers in Senegal, and returned ready to start a farm of his own. He went straight to work in January, joining us to repair some problem spots on the greenhouse.

It was a great year for the soil. Our Spring plantings went as smooth as ever after a quick cultivating pass with the G.

The Summer cover crop of sudan grass and cow peas grew 7 feet tall and was our best yet. Between the top growth and an extensive root system, the soil was given a feast.

Mowing down the cover crops before turning them under

Weather played its usual good guy/bad guy role, threatening tornados in the Spring, baking us silly in the Summer, and providing for a robust harvest in the Fall. Kim Conrads joined us for the summer right after high school graduation and spent one of her first hours at the farm in our root cellar with the farm crew of CSA members, workers, farmers, a dog and two cats. Luckily no funnel stopped by.

Safe in the root cellar

August 2, a record high.

Among the standouts that year were our record snap pea (400+ lb), tomato (5,600+ lbs) and sweet potato (2,100+ lb) harvests . Other crops did excellent too, as the almost 2.7 lb head of broccoli pictured below can attest.

The tomato share during Week 11

CSA morning in the packing room

Colorful carrots

Head-sized broccoli

Fall share

July 25 was a unique day for us as we hosted Justus Drugstore and Outstanding in the Field for an al fresco dinner on the farm. It is tough to describe in one paragraph what a wonderful event it was. The food was unique and satisfying, the crowd happy and boisterous, and the presentation professional and artful. The whole story is in our July 26 blog.

The long table on a hot Missouri day

By August, Kim had headed to college and we had a new apprentice in Dani Hurst. She was ready to put the homesteading and farming skills she had learned about as a writer for Natural Home magazine into practice. Her energy and good nature was appreciated for the next 1-1/2 years she spent with us.

Dani mulching leeks

Another group that has helped out over the years is my family. The road Rebecca and I took to where we are right now was not a normal one. While no doubt skeptical at first, their love and support for us over the years has been true and real. My brother and five sisters have all done a stint or two at the farm, visited during unique events like OITF, and otherwise used their talents to help us out. It has been a fun family affair.

My brother Bill juicing pears with our great-grandfather’s press

Autumn 2011 was warm and the crops thrived into early winter. The fields were plentiful past the end of our CSA season and for our annual night at the Bad Seed pre-Thanksgiving Market.

October

A rarity for us, the hustle and bustle of running a market table on a busy night is a lot of fun. So is catching up and bartering with all the other vendors, seeing our big city friends and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Fall bounty

Next up…one year ago and a new high tunnel, more record harvests, the drought, OITF II, and back to the present.