In April and May of this year it was too wet to plant and our popcorn was delayed until June 3rd (6 weeks later than average and 4 weeks later than last year). I was beginning to wonder if this would be a repeat of 2019, when it rained through until July. No corn was planted that year and our bean production was nothing to brag about.
Through July and August, we had less than an inch total which, along with the summer heat, severely stressed everything including our market crops. I had to haul water - we don't have a well or electricity onsite. I have to pump water from the homestead and deliver using a 12 volt pump and batteries. There was no way I could keep up in order to water everything, so I left much to nature and hoped for the best.
I've lived through deluges such as hit Kentucky and Texas this summer and if nature would have shared a little of that with us, I would have been grateful but that wasn't to be our fate this year.
This past weekend was our first inch of rain in a day since June.
Better late than never, I guess.
But on the brighter side...
We have our first apple production on trees planted a few years ago. A couple of trees didn't survive winter but those were replaced. Now, if I can just get the pH balanced...
The aronia harvest was early because of the dry summer with production and sales that exceeded previous years despite our annual fight against Japanese beetles. The first batch of 2022 wine is currently fermenting as I write. (Strictly for private medicinal purposes only, of course.)
Our farmers market produce did well but I still have hopes for the popcorn which have 2-3 weeks until harvest. I'm guessing it won't beat last year's yields which brought repeat customers and rave reviews.
We still have beans to harvest and dry (navy, kidney and green beans for seed). This is my work for this week until a roofing project that came my way gets started.
The farm has occupied more of my time this year and I've pushed off other projects but fall is approaching and I have prep work before winter.
As Robert Frost wrote: "Miles to go before I sleep"
