With July meres days away things on the farm are going to be heating up both figuratively and literally this week. In Middlefield our nursery is overflowing with transplants that desperately need to get into the ground. Unfortunately temps in the 90’s and even hitting 100 does present significant challenges to successfully transplanting. Familiar territory for us as it may be, weighing out the downfalls and benefits of acting now to get things in the ground or waiting out the weather so conditions are more favorable. The reality is we will more than likely develop a mixed approach to this dilemma. A few sections of transplants will go in, but not all of them. Enough so we can manage them properly using overhead irrigation to keep temps tolerable and ensure survival. We certainly won’t plant everything for one because its a bit of an all your eggs in one basket scenario but also simply because it’s too much to manage properly and patience and restraint must be practiced.
Of course transplanting is really the only farm work which will be significantly effected by the heat. Unfortunately for us with boots on the ground the never ending list of farm tasks ominously waits no matter what the temps are. At least for some tasks like weeding and cultivating the strong sun and hot temps help ensure the weeds dry out quickly and die after we’ve worked a bed. And of course as one could imagine this late in June after a few days of precipitation there is no shortage of weeding to be done. But of course every task will be that much more laborious in the sweet Summer heat of July. Let’s just say we will be keeping our water bottles close and our sun hats closer.
Another thing that doesn’t stop no matter what the weather, is the need for Good Food. And that’s a big part of why we do what we do and will be out there this week cultivating, sowing seeds and bringing in the harvest. Oh and that harvest, you of course can find it this weekend on farm and at all of the markets. Even with the 4th of July holiday all markets and the farm shop will be operating on schedule and business as usual July 3rd 4th and 5th. The one exception to this being this Friday in Madison. The town of Madison is holding in a concert on the green this Friday so we are temporarily moving the market to Academy field which is just on the other side of the playground next to town hall. It is difficult to know what parking around the green where the market usually is will be like with the concert, however there will be parking in the Academy field lot as well, as other lots on Bradley road. The market will run as scheduled from 3-6 however some vendors will be remaining a few more hours while the concert goes on. Activities around the concert begin at 6pm so in addition to the market a fun night a celebrating could be in store. Whether you are just coming to the market to shop or considering enjoying all the town’s festivities that night we hope to see you there.
Have a Great Week