Transitions

This year is certainly a transition for us all. Preparing ourselves for the “new normal” as folks now say, or just accepting that we now live in a brand new world even when we weren’t ready or wanting to change.

For us at the farm, the changes are daily. All three of us are used to smaller spaces, personally and professionally. Myself, growing up with three sisters didn’t leave much space at home or with our parents, who were pulled in many directions.

As growers, the same is true. Learning and growing in an urban setting made space critical in planning. Not one corner or property fence wasted, walking paths were measured by averaging the hip width of me and my business partner (and not out of vanity!). Growing in community gardens, with small squares making up the quilt of a one-lot-garden. Starting exactly the number of plants it took to feed yourself inside your tiny city apartment, hardening off seedlings on the front porch while waving to neighbors.

Here in Richmond, we are feeling the intensity of the “expanse.” And we are growing only a total of one acre! But comparing to the past, that is 300 percent larger than what we’ve sustained ourselves on for years. It’s a bit intimidating. 

This space issue proves to introduce all sorts of challenges: seed purchasing in packs vs. bulk, intercropping vs. monocropping decisions for row planting, what tools we use to seed and plant. HOW TO USE TRACTORS vs. should we use tractors. Trellising needs to grow upwards vs. not needing to grow up because our plants have the space to crawl and thrive.

Touching the seeds, soil and leaves are all part of what has drawn us to agriculture, and seeing these new little spaces open up between us and our food is a silly thing to ponder considering we now sleep on the same property that we farm.

Most recently we are managing our hoophouse space, as it is 75 percent full of starts almost ready to hop into the field. One change we made was transitioning half of our seeding from cell flats to large crates. This decision was spurred by Gary, farm owner/mentor/genius.

It saves us money, avoiding purchasing extra plastic for seed flats and using aged field compost as a seed starting medium. It saves us water, crates having much deeper soil depths and holding onto moisture for intermittent watering as opposed to 2-3x daily in the tropic temps that rise in our hoop. And it also allows us to still touch the plants.

Starting seeds in densely planted rows supports the small seedlings, and then they are transplanted into new crates with space to grow, harden off and get planted in the field. 

No need to go into the embarrassing details that encompassed our first day of direct seeding in the field, but if you can imagine two sets of soft city hands forgoing metal implements and pressing individual seeds into the soil with wishes of good luck, you’ll have an accurate picture.

As we learn more about this land and the efficiency of our energy in larger spaces, we are shifting gears into a new version of farming. We are immensely grateful for this space to learn, stretch our limbs and — most importantly — grow more food for you.