If you’ve spent any time in Virginia the past month, you know that sunny days have been few and far between. Some of our farmers received between 8 – 11 inches of rainfall in May alone. We know… you would think that rain would be good for crops. But, this much rain has been too much. The fields above are at Harvest Hill Farm, our packing facility in Montpelier, VA. The corner of the field closest to the camera is also the most low-lying. This means that when we were inundated with rain the ample rainfall gathered there. The result? Drowned potatoes. See how the rest of the field is covered in green? The low-lying corner isn’t doing as well because of how much rain we’ve been receiving. Luckily, it’s a relatively small amount of the overall land that Jimmy at Harvest Hill has planted, but it is a perfect example of how farmers are sometimes at the mercy of Mother Nature.
While at Harvest Hill Farm, Jimmy’s potatoes were affected at the beginning of their cycle, rain has a different affect on crops when they’re already started producing. When we visited Westmoreland Produce this week, we were sad to see that the rain had caused lots of the farm’s cauliflower to spoil right on the plant! Cauliflower that has this much water damage can’t be salvaged, which is one of the challenges small local farmers are faced with every season.
Warning, the following image may be disturbing to some berry lovers. The strawberries at Flores Farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, have not been able to survive all of these rainy days. Luckily, because of the weekly support from our Members, Gerado and Omar Flores diversity their crops. That means that when their berries don’t survive, they can still harvest lots of other hardier crops. Phew!
Don’t think that farmers are totally helpless when it comes to the weather though. Those who farm without the aid of greenhouses can combat both too much rain, and not enough. The tomato fields above are also at Harvest Hill Farm. Similarly to the potato fields, any extra rain will run to the low lying part of the field. In this case, that’s a man-made trench that Jimmy dug in the middle of the field. From experience, Jimmy knows that too much rain sitting on the tomato plants will cause root-rot, so he was able to be proactive before the wet weather to help protect the tomatoes plants.
While it hasn’t been an issue yet this season, in the case of draught, farmers usually have some sort of irrigation system or plan in place. Of course, too much rain can cause issues but water is crucial for successful crops. Mother Nature is unpredictable, so it’s lucky that our partners are seasoned farmers who know how about the importance of diversifying their crops, and have the know-how to help their crops flourish.
About Seasonal Roots
Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our neighborhood market managers – who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pastured eggs, grass fed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.