Whitsend Market Garden

Update December 31st:

I  ordered my seed potatoes last night.  As always, we have ordered from Ellenberger Farm in Coe Hill.

Conversation with Henry adds new insight into growing potatoes successfully.  After describing my results with the russet potatoes this past season, he suggested that the new beds low fertility was a probable factor in the tuber size.

Based on some of his suggestions, I have purchased a small quantity of fingerling potatoes. The variety is called 'Linser Delicatesse.  With a name like that, they must be good.

Happy new year, everyone!

Bob

Hey Everyone:

Our 2015 review and survey is now sent out to our customers.  Results will be posted on the “2015 survey” page as they come in.

I intend to open the new season on January 1^st.  See “How to purchase a Share” page for details, including prices, payment options, and payment schedule.

New produce for 2016:

Gold beets (request from last year), kusa (Something I’ve been looking for since starting the farm), single serving size butternut squash for soup, pie, and stew,  broccoli sprouts (successfully trialed last season).

Other changes for 2016:

Earlier harvest start.  The first harvest is the week of Tuesday May 31st and Friday June 3rd.

Space to plant more tomato plants, so harvest quantity will probably increase;

I anticipate providing pork this season, I am sourcing my piglets now.

It’s been a while since I had an opportunity to write.  Fall and spring are the busiest times of the year here at Whitsend, so there is usually a period of radio silence while the ground work is laid for the next season.

I missed my opportunity to take some pictures of the field in it's preparation state.  Now that the snow is falling, the field will not reveal the state of the beds until next April or so.

I have been able to accomplish quite a lot the past few weeks, thanks in large part to the very cooperative weather.

Back in November, construction of the new shed started.  It took much longer than intended.

Now that it is up and functioning, it is making a big difference.   

For the first time in five years, I have a place to keep the gardening tools and most of the field equipment organised in a place that has ample room to move about.  No more wasted time moving ten objects to reach one.

The next project is the all weather nursery.  Many of our crops are started from seed in our indoor nursery.  Some of these crops are started in late February and early March, so the nursery needs to be small enough to heat efficiently.  

After mid March, the next round of seeding starts, and more nursery space is required. 

The design for the new nursery had to take a couple of factors into account.

One is the amount of space available.  I am at the limit of what I can put in the barn, so the new nursery needs to be located outside. 

The second is the amount of lights to keep the plants growing.  The cost of power is already significant, so I need to use sunlight. 

Mid March is when the need for nursery space is greatest.  The temperature is moderating at this time of year, but the nightly lows and cold snaps are still require significant protection for the plants. 

So the new nursery is located outside and built with insulated walls.  The clear covering is layered to trap and retain heat.  

This creates some new design issues to work around.  Too warm, and the nursery will cook the plants on the warmest says (not to mention being too hot to use during mid summer).  So a means of venting needs to be built in.

The biggest challenge are the insulated walls and doors, these need to be constructed in such a way as to keep the insulation dry.  As this project progresses, you’ll find out how I am working around this…

As for the rest of the farm, the field is in good enough shape to start the 2016 season with a few more customers than last season.  I have already had some expressions of interest.

Talk to you all very soon...