We enjoyed a very mild winter this year on the farm. There was very little precipitation, and we were able to get a lot of projects done here at our place and for other people. Unfortunately, the nice weather, late frost, and lack of moisture have caused some problems in our food production.
Last year, our farm had a surplus of almost everything we produced, except for potatoes and sweet corn. When we get extra food, we preserve as much as we can in case the next year is not as good. This year is a different story, our potatoes are big, beautiful, and were ready early and our sweet corn looks better than ever, but several other crops aren’t doing as well. This spring, a late frost took out most of our pear, apple, and cherry blossoms and the strawberries and mulberries haven’t been as productive. Thankfully, we still have over 100 bags of sliced apples safely stored in the freezer from last year’s harvest along with other fruits that were abundant last year. Since we grow most of our food, we have learned to eat what does well on the farm in its season. We preserve the rest for the winter or save it for a lean year ahead.
Mild weather has also brought more pests to our farm than I have ever noticed before. After hand-picking hundreds of potato bugs in the spring, we now face a massive wave of cabbage moths, cucumber beetles, and Japanese beetles. Every morning starts the same way: I pick cucumber beetles off our vines while Annika catches and kills as many cabbage moths as she can. I told the kids I would pay them 50 cents per moth, and Annika has caught up to 40 in thirty minutes. I wasn’t expecting that she could catch so many so quickly! We want to protect our bees and good insects, so we avoid chemical and natural sprays. Instead, we rely entirely on hand-picking and letting our ducks and guineas roam the fields. To boost our natural defense, we are currently hatching as many of these helpful birds as we can.
Thankfully, the late spring rain nourished our crops, and a lot of our food supply is doing incredibly well. Instead of fretting over what might be missing, I am reminded to count my blessings. I am endlessly thankful for this season’s yield and the work we have been given, proving once again that we are always given exactly what we need, and more.