Autumn and Reflections

Autumn is here, and two days later we've had our first frost. We still have some sweet potatoes in the ground, so the next couple days we'll be digging them like crazy to get them all out and in crates to start the curing process in the hoop house. Leaves on trees around the farm are beginning to turn, and each morning we can see our breath on the air as the cold nips our noses. It is a beautiful season we are heading into, full of reflection on the busy summer months as we bring many things to a close on the farm. However, there are always new beginnings as we plant in the hoop houses for the winter—kale, chard, spinach, brassica salad mix, radishes, turnips, and lettuce. The fields are getting cleaned out, and following that we slowly move the chickens in their portable coop and fencing through the fields to clean up and add some natural fertilizer. Later this fall they'll start laying. The turn of seasons is what keeps us farmers sane, gives us a sense of rhythm in our lives, and brings us closer to the land which sustains us.

-Shannon

Digging sweet potatoes

Nikola Tesla (left) aka Tesla and Eleanor Roosevelt aka Rosie, our new farm cats and dutiful mousers.

Last succession of corn being harvested.

Pavilion for distribution and market going up near the front of the farm.

Now Selling at Howell Farmers Market

Come find us at Howell Farmers Market on Sundays, 9am to 2pm. The market is in downtown Howell, just off Grand River and Michigan Ave. It's a great market with plenty of local farmers and crafts. This was our first week attending, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere, as well as all the new folks we met. Next week (Sunday the 19th) is the last day Howell Melon Fest, a big event in downtown Howell from 9am to 5pm. We'll be there with plenty of our delicious and unique heirloom tomatoes!

Hot Summer Days

We've all heard enough about this heat, so I'll only say it once and then be done with it: Dang, it's hot out there!

With all of our plants and seeds in for the fall crops, we're into the thick of things with weeding and harvesting. We've just finished running all the drip irrigation for the corn (a job we did not expect to have to do, but lack of rainfall made it a necessity), and rescued one of our fields from weedy invaders. With a lot of extra hands on the farm due to numerous volunteers and some more hired help, we've been getting a lot done. Both Joannee and myself are so thankful for all the folks who have put their time and effort into the farm! There's nothing like farming as a community.

At the end of June, we attended Horse Progress Days in Clare, a day dedicated to the latest and greatest in traditional horse-powered farming methods and equipment. It was a great day, very informative and fun, with fantastic Amish food. As we hope to one day include horses on the farm, much of what we learned was very applicable to our future plans at Stone Coop. Here are a few pictures from the day:

-Shannon