This Week on the Farm

Mother's Day

I think I will always remember this Mother's Day because that is when we began to realize that there was some tree mortality in our 3 year old tart cherry trees. Now, three days later we have checked them carefully and found that there was significant damage. Maybe as much as 80% of the trees. There is a block of young trees that we planted last year next to the block of 3 year old trees that seem just fine.

The damage was probably caused by a severe spring freeze. It is very discouraging because these trees were so beautiful, I spent about three weeks trimming them. That is what makes it so hard to believe, they looked great. Now our number one job is to pull all the dead trees out and replant new ones. We are also getting the markets ready to open up. The strawberry crop will be ready between June 12th-18th if it survives this week. There is a full moon on the 15th and all farmers know you are more susceptible to frost when there is a full moon.

Apples look great and the tart cherry crop has the potential to be big. Well, it's a sunny day so I'm off to help with the planting.

new custom-built forklift; May 2003

Spring Planting

There is nothing prettier than a freshly plowed and smooth field ready to plant. This is what the field behind the US 31 market looks like, but let me tell you, it was a lot of work to get it ready! First we had to plow, rock-pick, and smooth out the field. Then we walk all over the field picking up roots and sticks to clean it up. We throw the roots and sticks all in a big pile in the middle of the field and burn them.

Once the brush is burned and the stones are all picked up we can “mark off the field”. To do this we pull a sub-soiler behind the tractor to make a grid pattern in the soil. This way when we plant the trees they are square and in line. The trees are planted with a tree planter that is pulled behind the tractor. Each tree has to be stomped in by stepping around it to make sure it is firm into the ground. Then each tree needs a white mouse collar put on it.

Maybe a newly planted orchard is the prettiest site there is…the brown dirt with the rows of white mouse collars around each tree square and straight-beautiful!! Other work around the farm is also getting done. We have finished trimming all the apricot and cherry trees here on the M-88 farm. Maybe that’s the prettiest sight, trees all trimmed up, and the orchard grass just starting to grow. We are full of optimism, this is the “big” year! That’s what is great about being a farmer. Every spring is a new year; and it could be the best you have ever had.

contact us
privacy policy
credits