Hello customers:
I have included some photos of the lettuce to support questions in the year end survey (part 2, section on lettuces). Google forms is too stingy to allow me to send the form by email with the photos, so I was obliged to place them here for your reference. I am only too glad to be using google forms for the very last time this year, and probably EVER!
Here are the types of lettuce that I have specific questions for:
The next post - a post in progress...
In mid summer, several events led me to the conclusion that there would need to be some significant changes to the farm if it was going to continue to grow and be a successful business.In previous years, I had been pretty good at identifying little efficiencies - so good, in fact, that each year my customer base grew, some tasks (such as harvest and delivery) continued to take about the same amount of time to complete.
Other improvements, particularly to the infrastructure (nursery, storage, irrigation, etc.) also allowed the farm to continue growing.
However, the rate of growth was very slow, and many of my business plan targets were falling behind.
Also, it was becoming obvious that the field was taking up more time than was reasonable. The industry standard for operating a small scale mixed produce farm is one professional farmer for every 2.5 acres under till. I was putting more time than I could afford into the field, working less than half the amount. Clearly, something had to change.
I brainstormed many possibilities and drew up a list - everything from how I was going to continue operating the farm on a daily basis to how I would change our roster of crops, different models of delivery, and anything else I could think of.During our camping trip, while I tended the camp fire in the evening as it burned down to coals, I stared into the embers and considered all of my options for change and the projects I wanted to commit time to.
Projects:
Hoop house: Long-term, my goal is to take the farm further into the fall season. Ultimately, I want to be able to serve up salad greens, lettuce, and spinach for the Christmas market.Several techniques have been adapted by local small scale farms to make portable hoop houses that are affordable enough to make the effort worthwhile and easy enough for two people to build.
The portable houses have the additional benefit of being used to start the growing season early - heirloom tomatoes available in mid June!
Time to try my own. Arrangements have been made with Dick for a suitable site on the farm, and the plans and materials have all been sourced.
Back when I was spending more time playing and writing music (was that my youth?!?!), a long stroll would often untangle a logistical knot or bridge an awkward gap between a verse and a chorus.
A lot of ideas came out of our camping trip.
Hiring:
Howmany times have I suggested that two people can do the same task as one in one third of the time? Certainly, there are many tasks on te farm where a second pair of hands can make the chores go much quicker.
Also, ther have been many occasions where I needed to be doing two things at once. The result was usually a rushed job, and sometimes it showed in the quality of the produce.
I confess to have been somewhat wary of taking on an employee or two. After a lot of thinking (and walking) I came to the frealsisation that when I first put out my first advertisement, I had the same kind of "what if" fear. Ands I was reminded about the nuberof times I said "...running away from what if's are no way to achieve goals..."
I've known all along that eventually I would need an employee or two. Now must be the time.