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2012 CSA Crop Forecast
I hesitate to even call something a forecast, as it's clear that none of us has any idea what to expect of the weather anymore. What I can tell you though is that, if the current weather patterns continue, we should have a very abundant CSA season ahead. Of the 20 acres of crops planned for the year, we have 15 acres filled, with spring brassicas, potatoes planted 1 month earlier than last year, large plantings of broccoli and onions, and an assortment of other crops. The recently transplanted crops look none too happy, due to these cold nights, but with 60 degree evenings and rain in the near term, we should see strong improvements. The weather has looked so good in the 10 day, that we've planted out all of our early summer squash and cucumbers today. That's a bit risky, but if frost eaks out a comeback, row cover will keep everything alive.
The high tunnels are filled with what should be the makings of your very first shares: tatsoi, scallions, lettuce, and other crops are tightly packed in. Adding spring herbs, asparagus, and some small roots to the mix, and we've got a CSA season! By the end of 2012, we will have put up another large hoophouse, allowing us an even better, and likely earlier spring season in 2013. As the spring crops come out of these tunnels, hot season crops like tomatoes and peppers move in, taking much more appreciative advantage of the humidity and heat underneath this plastic covering.
It's amazing how different this year has set itself up from 2011. Everything this year has run from a written plan, whereas last year we only had time rely on the plan in my head. We're ahead of the weeds, early, if not on time with the plantings, fertilized appropriately, and blessed with new staff members that have stepped up and really contributed great efforts, and solid results.
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