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The Farming Year

With several facilities to provide shelter from the Ohio winter, we are able to tend crops throughout the year. But that’s just one of the jobs that keep our small-scale farm running. Here’s an overview.

Winter

November-January

  • Water transplants and check over winter crops daily.
  • Check storage crops weekly, discarding old or rotten items.
  • Clean and organize barn, glass house, little barn and basement to be ready for coming season.
  • Check propane levels weekly.
  • Make sure heaters in glass house, hoop house and little barn are on and set.
  • Service all vehicles and equipment.
  • Develop crop plan for next season.
  • Order seeds and materials for next season.
  • Inventory and clean tools.
  • Brainstorm and plan on how to improve on past year.

Spring

February-May

  • Begin seeding transplants.
  • Check propane levels weekly.
  • Check storage crops weekly, discarding old or rotten items.
  • Make sure heaters in glass house, hoop house and little barn are on and set.
  • Mow down asparagus and mulch beds.
  • Start prepping/amending fields.
  • Water transplants and crops as needed.
  • Vent or heat houses as needed.
  • Cover tender crops if frost is expected.
  • Begin setting up irrigation.

Summer

June-September

  • Vent houses when needed.
  • Close houses when extreme weather is expected.
  • Make sure all heaters are off.
  • Direct seed/plant transplants.
  • Harvest crops when ready.
  • Large harvests, potatoes, onions, garlic and watermelons.
  • Check fields and crops daily, watering when needed.
  • Mow/weedwhip around fields weekly.
  • Monitor for pests, spraying when needed.
  • Cultivate.
  • Check transplants morning, midday and end of workday.

Fall

October-December

  • Large harvests, winter squash and storage crops.
  • Cover crop or tarp finished fields.
  • Monitor weather and heat or vent houses as needed.
  • Check fields and crops daily, watering when needed.
  • Mow down finished crops.
  • Take soil samples.
  • Start taking down and putting away irrigation.
  • Cover tender crops if frost is expected.
  • Check transplants morning, midday and end of workday.