Sun Versus Rain: A Farmer’s Pros and Cons
Hot! Hot! Hot! Only days ago we were all moaning about the gray glum and rain, and now, look at the world- sunny, blue skies, and dry earth- woohoo! Aside from the emotional, mental and suntan impact the weather has on us farmers, early summer excessive rain or sun can set the course for the rest of the season. Effects of rain Pros: Irrigates the crops for free Helps crop roots get deeply established, which reduces susceptibility to disease and pest pressure later Reduces aphid, flea beetle and other pest pressure Cons: Makes it impossible to...
read moreSummer is Veggie Grilling Time
Summer now seems upon us, the inclement weather of spring is dissipating, and the sun is warming our little patch of earth at the farm. With the change in weather comes summer vegetables of all sorts! Dainty yellow flowers in the squash field have transformed into plump zucchinis, and slender green beans hang delicately near the potato flowers. We have been popping Walla Walla onions out of the field along with fennel with their fragrant, anise-scented fronds. The potatoes are being dug up from their soil slumber, and red beets are rounder...
read moreSounds of the Weekend Farm
This weekend, I had the joy of living on the farm for a few days—and with it, the chance to see it in a way I haven’t before. I like coming to work at Red Dog Farm and look forward to seeing my new friends, working hard, and the always-changing nature of our work. But on the weekend, when everyone goes home, the farm is a familiar but different place. On Saturday morning, I woke up to the sound of the box truck tires clicking up the gravel road for market. In the morning light, with a cup of coffee, I started doing my rounds: checking the...
read moreSummer Veggies are On Their Way
Summertime on the Peninsula is definitely one of the biggest perks of farming in this area. The long sunny days, cooled by ocean breezes and wayward irrigation sprinklers, keep us pretty comfortable around here. Not to say it never gets hot, but certainly not as hot as my home state of Texas. When blistering days do arrive they are usually met with open arms. The chatter in the fields is dominated by the daunting decision of which swimming hole to meet at after work: Irondale Beach? Gibbs Lake? Can’t go wrong. Nothing like an upcoming beach...
read moreBirthday Veggies
Happy June 24th all! Because today is my (Phoenix’s) birthday, I decided to interview the crew about theirs! Question 1: What is your favorite vegetable/fruit that comes out during your birthday month? Question 2: What is your favorite food you like to eat on your birthday? Minotaur (February): Potatoes Year round, but especially on her birthday, Minotaur loves to celebrate with nachos. Shed Fairy (March): Red Cabbage Raab Shed Fairy likes to celebrate with an 85% dark chocolate bar. Lil Shrimp (April): Raab Lil Shrimp loves the mac...
read moreThe Sun Will Return
It seems to be a Pacific Northwest thing to have an impromptu rainy season in June. This doesn’t happen every year, but it does happen. I celebrated my 33nd birthday earlier this month and I can definitely say that I remember having as many cloudy birthdays and sunny ones, being a PNW kid. However, I would never refer to them as dreary. If the sky needs to rain itself out, let it do so. The sun will be back, I promise. What a magnificent thing it is to be witnessing the world changing right now! It may be troubling and painful at times, but...
read moreFinding Solace and Certainty in Summer Mileposts
The farm season is marked by certain annual events- some fun, some challenging, all ephemeral. Some of my most favorite revolve around wildlife- the return of the barn swallows and the first sighting of a toad in the greenhouse. There is the excitement of first crops- first strawberries, raspberries and cucumbers give way to first corn, potatoes and winter squash. There is of course the first frost, an event usually happily seen as a decrease in work since so many warm weather crops turn to toast. Late in the winter, there is the first firing...
read moreDiscovering Garlic Scapes
This January, I moved back to the Olympic Peninsula to work on a ship as a maritime educator with middle school students. As schools started to close in March, I found myself having to look for other employment options. This led me to Red Dog Farm, and a spring spent working closely with the land as opposed to on the water. Over the past couple months, I have gradually started to understand and appreciate the flow of farm work. There are many similarities to working on a ship – long days spent outdoors, close attention paid to weather...
read moreSpring Milestones on the Farm
There are so many exciting things happening on the farm right now. I thought I would take this opportunity to share a little of what the RDF crew has been up to. Each week we reach another significant milestone in the farming season. Last week we prepared the ground and planted our tomatoes and basil. We were all dreaming of BLTs and other summer delights, even though the weather was a little gloomy. The week before, we built two new hoop houses, which are mobile greenhouses we move around the fields from year to year. This year their...
read moreA Condiment of Choice
Because everyone on the farm has a radio, we also all have radio handles. Each year, new crew members choose their handles according to a theme. Last year, the theme was “mythical creatures,” and the year before was “the ocean.” This season is, wait for it . . . . . “condiments.” When I first showed up at Red Dog Farm in March, the list of radio handles on the wall resembled a fantastic bestiary. Now, with the addition of this year’s new crew members on the list, it reads like the sort of cookbook you’d consult if you were trying to...
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