Farm Happenings at Garden of Eve Organic Farm
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Farm Happenings for August 29, 2018

Posted on August 21st, 2018 by Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht

 Spring was cold and wet. Early summer (June and July) was warm and dry. This helped the plants along. The last two weeks have been very wet and very humid. Wet humid weather is perfect for mold to grow - have you seen any mildew around your house or in your clothes? I have.

Because we are organic, we can't spray toxic chemical pesticides - which conventional farmers use to combat these molds/fungi. So unfortunately this means that our crops die faster and yield less when the weather is not optimal. Our favorite crop, tomatoes, is one that is especially susceptible to fungus & diseases.

These recent rains have caused a lot of blemishes and rotting on the tomatoes, as well as "splitting and cracking" which is caused by fast water uptake by the plants. Boo hoo!

But we still have some to give out this week, and two new plantings (crops we planted later, in succession) that are starting to ripen.  Also please remember that our dedicated Field Crew is out working in the heat wave & pouring rain for up to 10 hours per day. We hope you appreciate them as much as we do! 

Here is a report from Farm Trainee Brenda Ninsiima (pictured in the photo above)! Hello, My name is Brenda Ninsiima am 23 years old,  I come from the western part of Uganda famously known as "Ankole " because of its indigenous long horned cattle. I am studying crop production and management at University.

I arrived at Garden Of Eve Organic Farm in the mid-April of this year. Since I got here in the middle of the spring rush, a lot of farm activities were being done simultaneously! We were transplanting, sowing, and weeding, transplanting strawberry plants for next year, as well as Zucchini, Sunflower and Onions.

We did a lot of fertilizing with fish emulsion, which stimulates the growth of vigorous plants and vegetables hence promoting healthy crops which are very nutritious. 

I have liked the farm so much because of the different varieties of vegetables that we grow. Our vegetables are organic and this makes it special because the crops develop natural defense mechanism system and ecological adaptations to solve pests and diseases. 

There’s also a very huge difference in terms of tastes compared to other crops I used to eat before coming here. The other important part is there's no risk of cancer and other health problems when you eat organic produce. 

My routine involves harvesting the vegetables and sunflowers on Tuesday and Friday for the CSA and markets. I have learned a lot in the field about harvesting and fixing the irrigation system. I hope that when I return  to my home country it will be beneficial to my family and the entire community.

When I am harvesting near our mobile chicken coops in the field, a chicken often comes running after me. I sometimes give them just a little piece of cucumber and watermelon as a treat. When I do, hundreds of them will run to grab it because it tastes deliciously different!

On Saturday I work at our on-farm Market, where I receive people at the gate to our Fun Fields. I get to meet all the people coming to see the sunflowers and pick berries. It makes my experience in the states very amazing. 

FRUIT: 4-5 lbs ripe peaches!

FLOWERS: sunflowers and mixed flowers

EGGS: 1 dozen

BREAD: Mie Wheat

CHEESE: pollenbert- one of our favorite cheeses of the season, it's covered with fennel pollen! Strange but tasty! and R&G Cheesemakers Truffle Falls.