Hello all,
What a refreshing week to farm outside! We were grateful for the bit of rain we got early in the week, and the crews have enjoyed cool mornings and mild afternoons all week. Perfect for the September harvest grind.
As is typical this time of year, we are battling some plant disease that has claimed our first wave of broccoli. While some farmers might lament the challenge of managing plant disease within the Organic paradigm, I am ever eager to develop lasting solutions that are safe for our customers and our ecosystem. A simple curative spray sounds convenient, but a what cost? Regardless of the risks, it also does nothing to address the root cause of disease. As an organic grower, I am determined to grow healthy plants in vibrant soils with robust immune systems that naturally resist plant pathogens. I am also interested in steering the farm ecology in such a way to minimize the presence of plant pathogens in the first place. These are long term solutions but good farming is conscious of the years and decades ahead.
In the meantime, we still have a diverse offering this week, and I am collaborating closely with other industry professionals to ensure our other waves of broccoli make it to yall.
Pictured: a beautiful sunrise over the vegetable fields. If you look closely, you can find farm dog Nina is making her morning rounds in one of the fields.
Best,
Alex
4436903023
smithro@dickinson.edu
