Posted in Hitting Paydirt
The "dirt" at Burns Best Farm is getting a bit colder, but not before Farmer Mike got a couple of cover crops planted this weekend. His research led him to plant Winter Rye and Austrian Winter Pea this fall, and he sowed all the garden areas, both previously planted and newly plowed. Our farm plan has us adding new ground to what we cultivated this year and since everything we turn up is brand new to any type of crop, the green manures will add much in the way of nutrition this winter for better results next season.
For the first time, I am growing potatoes, and I'm very late in the season ordering my seed potatoes. I'm also late in planting, but that's a story for my own blog. Most of the more prominent (to me, at least) seed potato sources are already sold out of every variety I wanted to grow. My luck changed when I ran across Wood Prairie Farm in northern Maine. The Gerritsen family, children included, have what looks like a neat family business operating off their farm. The commitment to organic potatoes is strong, and I placed my order today for three early-yielding varieties: Yukon Gold, Caribe, and Onaway. I'll let you know how the shipment arrives. Excitement is abundant here this morning as we anticipate the delivery!
I am committed to buying from other families who are already successfully doing what our own family is aiming to do: work a piece of land and make a living from our hard work by growing and making foods that are nutritious and of value to those people who cannot grow their own. While we do buy some seed from the prominent organic seed suppliers, I am actively searching out those businesses where my order helps a family sustain themselves on their land. If you know of such a business, send me the link. It's important for those of us who think family farming is valuable and something to be encouraged to "put our money where our mouth is."
Wish me luck on these late potatoes. I hope this is not an exercise in futility.......but I'm sure the seeds will be great!
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Denise Burns is the wife of Mike and the mother of Cooper, William, and Eston. Their family farm website is Burns Best Farm and she blogs here at Homestead Blogger at blog by the same name. She is praying for sprouted potatoes in the new church homeschool garden, and if this project happens to pop into your head at a random time, she's asking you to pray for successful growth as well.
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