From The Back Fence
Barbee Farms' Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 4 May 2010
Spring is Good!
Summer temperatures in May make you wonder just how hot July and August might be! Barbee Farms has a habit of trying to “push the seasons.” This spring our focus was not as much to be early as watching what seems to be 10 different weather forecasts, reading the farmer’s almanac, and just plain waiting. Until recently, temperatures have been seasonal and rain has fallen at times necessary for plants to flourish. We waited until after blackberries winter to set many of the outside crops. (The older generation use to call the last cold snap of the year “Blackberry Winter,” because this usually occurred when the blackberries were in bloom.) This saved us a lot of extra time covering and uncovering tender plants and replacing those damaged by cold and frost.
This spring has been exceptionally good for fruit trees and early cole crops. Peach and apple trees both set heavy crops which can be a double edged sword. Is more really better? If the entire crop is left to mature, the fruit will be smaller. There is also a risk for limbs to break and permanently damage the trees. We have thinned peaches twice trying to ensure quality. I don’t think there is anyone who enjoys peaches better than we do here at the farm, so to purposefully pull off peaches is hard to do.
Yes, spring is good! Looking forward to a great season.
Sincerely,
Tommy, Anna, and Brent Barbee
Conservation Efforts
Earth Day was April 22. How did you celebrate? The whole concept of caring for the world we live in should be an everyday habit. Barbee Farms recently completed some paperwork on our conservation efforts. We are very proud of our efforts and would like to share some of these items with you.
Barbee Farms currently have Farm Land Management Plans and Forestry Plans on file with the NRCS. This includes terracing and planted waterways for water runoff management. Crop rotation schedules. Following no-till practices where a second crop is planted directly behind the first without the fields being tilled to avoid erosion. Wildlife easements and planted food plots maintain habitats for animals and insects. The use of narrow-row planting (two rows planted close together) and drip irrigation help in conserving the amount of water necessary for plant growth and reduce water loss from runoff and evaporation. Our watering system is extensive and even includes timers to regulate water usage. We conduct soil sample analysis on a regular basis to determine deficiencies and needs for improving soil quality. Biodegradable plastic mulch is currently being tested for its effectiveness. All other plastic mulch and drip tape are recycled through local recycling centers. Let’s not forget…compost! This is added as a soil amendment throughout the year. The list continues on and on.
As you can see, Barbee Farms has an extensive list that we are quite proud of. This is one way we measure our commitment to farming. Anyone who makes a living off the land will/should never completely strip the soil of all its value. Earth Day 2010 has come and gone but we should all be mindful throughout the year of the impact we have on our environment.
Tommy's View
I guess the first thing that I need to do is apologize for the delay in the newsletter for this month. As I stated in an earlier edition, farmwork comes first! We have a commitment to our CSA customers, our farmers market customers, our farm stand customers, and our chefs that use our products, to produce the best fruits and vegetables that we can, as our number one priority. This, along with food safety, is where the majority of my time will be spent for the next 6 to 8 months. We have the potential right now to produce the most, the largest variety, the freshest, the highest quality local food in Cabarrus County. We are extremely proud of this fact, but a lot of hard work has gone into this season. Please accept my apologies for the delay in the newsletter, but rest assured that my time is being spent to satisfy our customers, throughout the year.
Thanks!
Tommy |
