FARM NOTES

Check out our blog, http://www.oneacrefarmgirl.blogspot.com for weekly (hopefully!) posts of the goings-on at the Farm!!

End of 2009 Season Notes:  Thanks to all our members for what we think was a very successful inaugural year!  Here are pictures taken by Derek of his weekly half-share this season.  Please note that some items were "extras" purchased by One Acre Farm and provided to its members although not grown on our farm (i.e. corn, peaches, and coffee).  

Week of June 11th                        Week of June 18th                     Week of June 25th

Week of July 2nd                            Week of July 9th                         Week of July 16th

Week of July 23rd                            Week of July 30th                        Week of August 6th 

Week of August 13th                         Week of August 20th                    Week of August 27th

Week of September 3rd                    Week of September 10th                Week of September 17th

Week of September 24th                    Week of October 1st                    Week of October 8th

Week of October 15th                        Week of October 22nd

Week of June 22, 2009:  Things at the farm are growing, slowly, but they are growing nonetheless.  This week, the deer ate all the strawberries for the season, which is not as big  a deal as it sounds because there wasn't enough to go around -- the first year of strawberries are never as plentiful as subsequent years.  

I have been asked to give a general idea of what is going to be in the upcoming distributions so that you can plan what to get and what not to get at the grocery store/farmer's market.  I do not like to over-promise and under-deliver, so what I can tell you is what is getting ready to be harvested.  In the next month, we should see: new potatoes, carrots, more lettuce, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, maybe regular tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatillos, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers (they are very slow this year to do all the rain in the spring).  

I am hoping the sun will shine so that these things get growing, everything is in the ground for the season, we just need some time and some sun.  I hope you are enjoying this experience as much as I am.  

Weeks of April 28, 2009 through May 11, 2009: Things have sure been busy around the farm these last couple of weeks, especially now that the rain has stopped.  We have begun planting our summer items, starting with Tomatoes, Strawberries, and Peppers and are planning on planting summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers along with some other things soon.  Most of you are probably asking, when is our first pick up date.  It will be June 9^th for the Potomac folks and June 11^th for those in Capitol Hill.  The window for pickup is 4-7pm.  If, however, you cannot make that time but plan on picking up, call me and we will make a bag and put it aside for you before we go. 

Some pictures below show how we started some of the plants before we put them into the ground.  You can see we used recycled windows that we got from Community Forklift, “a nonprofit thrift store that seeks to ‘lift up communities’ by making repairs affordable, reducing waste, and creating green-collar jobs.  At their huge warehouse, you can: shop for reclaimed building materials up to 80% below big-box prices and donate unused building materials to receive a tax deduction.”  Check them out at www.communityforklift.com. 

Week of March 8, 2009: Farmer Mike has been busy composting throughout the winter and has been turning the compost regularly.  The greenhouse are being constructed today so advanced planting can begin for certain crops.  Plowing the fields will soon be underway!  Farmer Mike is broadening his search for land to purchase or 'lease to own' in the upper Montgomery County area.  If you know someone who is interested in selling or leasing land, please share his or her contact information!  With the weather turning warmer (finally!), if you'd like to come walk the farm with Farmer Mike, please send an email and we can arrange a visit.

Week of December 29, 2008:  One Acre Farm placed its seed order for the 2009 growing season!  A sampling of the seeds ordered include (in no particular order):  Summer squash, Snap Beans, Zucchini, Vine tomatoes, Cabbage, Brussel sprouts, Beets, White Cauliflower, Purple Cauliflower, Orange Cauliflower, Easter Egg Radishes, Red Radishes, Turnips, Spaghetti Squash, Pumpkins, Spinach, Savoyed-Leaf Spinach, Delicata Squash, Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Patty-Pan Squash, Broccoli, Broccoli Raab, Cucumbers, Asian Greens, Lettuces (red romaine, green romaine), Swiss Chard, Carrots, Savoy Cabbage, Kale, Sweet Onions, Bunching Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Eggplants, Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, and multiple varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes.

Week of December 8, 2008:  One Acre Farm launches its website and is seeking Members.  Michael is scheduled to speak at the Future Harvest conference in Frederick, Maryland on January 17, 2009 regarding his experiences as a first-year farmer.

Send mail to michael@oneacrefarm.com with questions or comments about this web site.