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The Impact of Early Spring Rains of 2006 By
Lee Duhl A few weeks into the 2006 Farmers' Market season some of us sensed a mild undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the produce being offered. We were met with comments such as: "The kale doesn't look so great this season," and "The lettuce is so late this year! Why?" Over the past year our research has told us that market patrons don't mind spending a bit more for fresh, native product, but when many of the customary items weren't as robust or appealing as usual, customers weren't buying. Shoppers may have temporarily lost sight of the fact that the elements and other adverse growing conditions can be devastating to farmers, those in our own neighborhood included. We'd like to provide some insight as to how the long rainy stretch this past May impacted some of our market vendors. "We are in the agricultural business and must plan for the extreme," says Guy McKay of Butterbrook Organic Farm in Acton. "New England is not noted for its friendly growing seasons." One must think creatively to survive from both growing and business standpoints. McKay has reflected hard on this year's growing season. He is always thinking about what new, additional crops will be viable to ensure that, after harvest time, funds will be available to meet expenses. This season may mark another year of reduced product from his fields. To offset the losses from the lower, later yields, prices may need to be altered slightly. Farm payments are still due even if the weather doesn't cooperate. As a means of maintaining a steady yield Butterbrook has diversified in a number of ways. They have begun planting crops at varying elevations, and even using covers for the crops when the weather is particularly inclement. This season meant leaning on these measures to a greater extent than in the past. But, with that with extra effort come higher labor and operating costs. "Buying native Massachusetts is so important to all of us for so many reasons." McKay firmly believes the need to connect with community is essential to the future in both the short and long term for our native food supply. Even when the season gets off to a slow start we need to stand by our local growers! Suliman Karmara, Farm & Marketing Cooperative Coordinator of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (also known as the World Peas Agricultural Coop) detailed the experiences of some of the members of the cooperative when the rains became an issue. The farmers cultivate a wide range of crops, including radishes, long, beans, Asian cucumbers and lettuce. They have also experimented with growing peanuts. Karmara is quick to point out that bad weather isn't always the only problem farmers face. In addition to heavy rain as an impediment to growth, insects and even ground squirrels have been the culprits! For one group in particular, pea tendrils are an important crop. A delicate offering with a very limited growth window, they are in great demand by some of Boston's finer restaurants. The rains completely wiped out not one, but two entire crops. With pea tendrils, it doesn't make sense to try to plant mid-summer. Costs for the initial plantings are borne by the farmers themselves, so when the product is gone, they stand to sustain a significant loss. As members of the cooperative in this instance, however, they were offered assistance by the organization. Drawing family members into the fields and working overtime, they planted for a third time and eventually a reduced, later yield was realized. When asked overall what challenges the rain presented at The HerbFARMacy in Salisbury, MA, Rita Wollmering says: "It was challenging on two fronts for us - our greenhouses and our fields. Here in Salisbury, we received 27 inches of rain in 30 days. We used snow shovels to try to get water out of our greenhouses and some areas in our fields were big puddles." "But, we work with what Mother Nature gives us," continues Wollmering. And we try to take a sustainable approach to our lives as to not contribute to global warming. Being a certified organic farm is certainly part of that, but there's a bigger picture that also needs to be addressed by all of us." Primarily, the rains delayed the planting of the fields in Salisbury, so the upside is that the HerbFARMacy will still be able to offer their famous heirloom vegetables, antique flowers and herbs, albeit a few weeks later than usual. Wollmering sums up the hearty outlook of the New England Farmer. "The winter provides quiet time to reflect, analyze and make decisions. Farmers are a resilient lot. We'll continue to cultivate our dream to be outstanding in our field!" The Lexington Farmers' Market encourages you to continue to support our local farmers, and all of our vendors, as they strive to bring the freshest and finest products to town each Tuesday afternoon! XXX Lee Duhl is a second year LFM volunteer and owner of Fleur de Lee Designs, a custom floral design studio in Lexington. She can be reached at lee@fleurdeleedesigns.com. The Lexington Farmers' Market runs each Tuesday afternoon through the end of October from 2:00 to 6:30 PM, rain or shine, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Fletcher Avenues in Lexington Center. For more information visit: http://www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org |
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