Back to farm profile
Farm Happenings at Hillcrest Farms
Farm Happenings for March 1, 2023
Today we enter the third week of the year above the minimum 10 hours of daylight needed to generate meaningful photosynthesis and slowly, I see signs of change. Since we start most of our food crops from seed, I have several stages of growth to manage. The Onions are ready for their first1 read more »
Farm Happenings for February 22, 2023
We have a lot of different Lettuce, Spinach and other Greens in the high tunnels, hoping to get them out before the warm weather fruiting crops like Tomatoes, Peppers Cucumbers, etc. get transplanted there. I need this harvest for the next 6 weeks to carry over to the Spring transplanted crops that1 read more »
Farm Happenings for February 15, 2023
The 2023 growing season has begun! By the end of this week #7, The main Tomato and Pepper Crops will be planted, the early Tomatoes will be potted up, the "Shoulder Compliments" like Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Hakurei Salad Turnips, and Kohlrabi will be in, and we'll be headed into week #8 to wrap t1 read more »
Farm Happenings for February 8, 2023
The first week in February is mainly a maintenance week, as photosynthesis slowly begins for most plant life. The early Tomato plants are developing their first true leaves under artificial light and we'll transplant them to bigger pots in a couple of weeks and introduce them to natural1 read more »
Farm Happenings for February 1, 2023
Only about nine more minutes per day of Daylight until we pass the 10 hours required for plant growth and regeneration. Every year we run short of fresh greens as we wait for the new crops to begin their slow agonizing progress!
There is a process called the Enterprise Budget, that analyzes1 read more »
Farm Happenings for January 25, 2023
Roughly two weeks from now our latitude will reach 10 hours of daylight. At that point photosynthesis will slowly begin as our transplants "wake up" and begin to grow. Some early crops can tolerate cold soil, and most of those are either started in the nursery, or already transplanted in my t1 read more »
Farm Happenings for January 18, 2023
Years ago a good friend and very wise man warned me that growing great chemical-free food is an addiction. He is right, and year after year I get the fever in mid January! In order to "scratch the itch" we'll start the week planting flats of Onions, Baby Leaf Lettuces, Spinach, and Asian Mild Salad1 read more »
Farm Happenings for January 11, 2023
It's back to work in the Hoop Houses and it sure feels good! I am hoping for a little sunshine today that will allow temps to rise to near 60 degrees and make the harvests a bit more enjoyable.
We plumbed a small area in the nursery and installed a modest propane heater that will keep1 read more »
Farm Happenings for December 14, 2022
Today we'll see 9:06 hours of daylight, with the shortest day of light 10 days away. We grow varieties of green crops in the winter that can produce less than the generally accepted norm of 10 hours, but not nine! We will harvest from existing inventory until mid January, when photo1 read more »
About the farm
A four season, chemical free grower in southern Michigan. We use protected culture and outdoor cultivation to provide market fresh produce to our customers 12 months/ year.
Go to farm profile