Autumn on the Farm
After a very wet and cool September, October's weather has been beautiful to get work done on the farm. The mornings are cold and a dense fog encases us in cool dampness but by noon, the sun appears, the day warms and it is a pleasure to work out in. The colors are changing all around us too.
The tunnels are being prepped for new seedlings with the old refuse being hauled out to a compost pile and the new compost being brought in to improve soil tilth and fertilization.
The beds are also being re-mineralized with calcium, humates, soft rock phosphate, and gypsum as our soil is lacking enough minerals. It is carefully being weighed and measured for adequate inputs to our soil without being wasteful or skimpy.
In this hoop house we are going to try and overwinter a partial bed of lisianthus which is on the right hand side. The remaining two rows are being planted with our ranunculus corms. They have been in a pre-sprout bag for a couple of weeks and are raring to grow. We probably should have brought them out a week ago but there were others commitments.
Drip tape lines have been pulled, netting has been picked up and some of the beds have been cover-cropped for the winter and the seeds have germinated and are growing.
We have also begun tucking in various more spring bulbs around the property for color and spring freshness. Tulips of purples, pinks, and white went in to the barrels along the driveway.
Lots more projects and work is yet to be done, another compost pile to be moved, more bulbs to be planted, dahlias to dig, anemones to be planted, grass to be mowed, and the general cleaning and removal of foliage around the farm. Hopefully we can continue to work in the sunshine of a beautiful October day in Oregon.
“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”
William Cullen Bryant
