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Greetings!
 There just doesn't seem to be any transition time between the seasons this year. Within days we went from trying to keep crops cool to capturing the daytime heat that will extend our crops into the fall and winter months. We have planted our cover crops on the main fields and seeded winter greens in the smaller plots and hoop houses. Shiitake mushrooms have popped up with last week's rain and the cooler temperatures. We will have a few mushrooms for you at market this week in addition to our tender baby lettuce, Malabar spinach, arugula, peppers, and baby cilantro. We will also bring herbs and Colorado Yarrow (see below). All are USDA certified organic of course!
The cooler days and nights bring a slower pace to the farm. We aren't rushing to get chores completed before the heat of the day. Less watering is needed in the greenhouse and the weeds are taking a break for the most part. It's time to catch up on paperwork, review the lessons learned this year and plan for next. There has even been time to work on our newsletter and website. Long-time newsletter readers may notice the fresh newsletter format. If you have joined us recently and would like to see what we've been up this year, please visit our archives. |
| Oh Dear! Deer!
I think the most often asked question this year was, "How do I keep deer out of my garden". If I had the definitive answer to that question, cash flow would not be an issue! Deer deterrence falls into one of three categories: 1)repellents, 2) barriers and 3) surrender. There are commercial repellents such as coyote and other predator's urine, and stinky formulas designed to send deer to another buffet. Homemade repellents include human urine (apparently from meat eating males only-vegetarians not effective) and citrus scented soap hanging from trees. A repellent is a short-term strategy - the deer become accustomed to the smell and the repellents loose their effectiveness after a rain.
Barriers offer a long-term, more effective solution but can be expensive. Deer proof fencing needs
Heritage Garden at the Museum of the Waxhaws |
to be 12 feet high to block leaping deer (or slanted at a 45-degree angle to take advantage of their lack of depth perception) and may not fit with the backyard landscape. However I recently saw an attractive fencing solution using local, native materials at the Museum of the Waxhaws Heritage Garden in Waxhaw, NC. Although time-consuming to construct, this woven wood fencing option is a work of art in the garden.
If surrender is your option, you are not alone. Many of our customers find that shopping at the Farmer's Market and enjoying the backyard wildlife allows everyone to eat local.
Woven Fence at the Museum of the Waxhaws |
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Learn & Grow Farm School goes online
Many of you that have expressed an interest in our Learn & Grow classes have also told me that a drive to the farm is not always possible due to the distance or time. I hear you! Starting Thursday, Oct. 14th, Windcrest Farm's Learn & Grow classes will offer live, online interative classes in addition to and in combination with our on-farm classes. As a former corporate trainer, I have conducted hundreds of hours of online training, so our new virtual classroom is familiar ground for me. I am excited to use this setting to share practical information and experience with you.
Our first class, "Food & Product Labeling - What Does "Organic" Mean?" begins at 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 14th. How a product is labeled gives consumers valuable information on how a product was produced and what it does and does not contain. This course explains the term "organic" and other terms used on our food and consumer products such as USDA Organic, Certified Naturally Grown, OMRI, natural, free-range, and grass-fed, and others.This one hour class is FREE, but registration is required.
Our next online class, Seed Saving will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21st at 8:00 pm. By saving seed we develop seed that is accustomed to our climate, soil and pest pressures, save money on seed costs, preserve the genetic diversity of our crops, keep the number of seed varieties from disappearing at the current alarming rate, assure that seed is available from sources other than corporations whose main interest is in owning and selling seed, and keep a basic life survival skill alive. Learn the essential items to keep in mind if you want to save viable seed that grows plants true to the characteristics of the parent plant. This one hour online class is $15.00. Click here to register.
Over the next coming weeks and months, more classes and discussion sessions will be added to the calendar. If there is a particular topic you are interested in, please let me know. I am also available for personalized sessions - your time, your topic.
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Grow your own fertilizer & weed control
Crimson Clover Cover Crop at Windcrest Farm |
Planting cover, green manure and catch crops is one of the primary fertility and soil management tools available to the organic farmer and gardener. Fall is the time to plant overwintering crops that provide the following benefits:
- Prevent nutrient and soil loss from erosion
- Soil or ecosystem improvement
- Increase nitrogen (N) input
- Suppress weeds and disease
Cover Crops are mainly used to prevent soil erosion by covering soil with living plants. Green Manure crops are grown mainly to be turned under for soil improvement. Catch Crops are used to "catch" nutrients left after harvest of a vegetable crop and prevent leaching. One planting can serve all three purposes!
In the fall, we plant a combination of Crimson Clover (to provide nitrogen for next season's crop),Winter Rye (for weed suppression and increasing soil tilth) and Tillage Radish (excellent at breaking up compacted soil, controlling soilborne pests and pathogens, and suppressing weeds) on the fields that will rest and rebuild for spring. As an added benefit, these crops brighten the winter landscape with a lovely green color when everything else is brown!
Any size garden can benefit from a cover crop. Our Fall Cover Crop Combo of Crimson Clover, Winter Rye and Tillage Radish seed, plus inoculant to help fix nitrogen, covers 625 square feet for $6.00. If you need seed for a larger area you can use our online Cover Crop Seed Calculator in MS Excel format to calculate seed amounts your garden space or contact us and we will help you put together the amount of seed you need.
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Plant now to attract beneficial & pollinating insects next spring
The deep colors of Colorado Yarrow attract butterflies and benefical insects |
Fall is a great time to plant perennial herbs and flowers that attract beneficial and pollinating insects in the spring. Most of us are familiar with beneficials such as ladybugs and praying mantises, and pollinators such as honey bees. But there are hundreds of other insects that can work for you in the garden. Creating a welcoming habitat will help you stack the cards in your favor against damaging insects and insure a good harvest.
One of the most attractive and maintenance-free perennials for the garden is Colorado Yarrow. This variety of yarrow has finely cut leaves, and blooms all summer in colors of deep red, rose, yellow, apricot and white. Cut yarrow flowers have a long vase life and when dried, they retain their beautiful colors. Butterflies also like yarrow.
Yarrow is fairly drought tolerant, loves the intense summer sun and grows to 18 to 24 inches in height. We will have Colorado Yarrow available at the Matthews Farmer's Market this Saturday. |
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We hope to see you at market this week!
Sincerly,
Mary Roberts
Windcrest Farm |
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When one teaches, two learn.
- Robert Half |
| Windcrest Farm
Monroe, North Carolina 28112
704.764.7746
All photos taken at Windcrest Farm unless otherwise noted. |
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