Here we are. On the cusp of the hottest days of the year. For a farm, this can be a tenuous and fragile time. At Gracie’s Farm, we spend a marathon of time getting the ground ready for the sprint of a growing season. Our sixty or so days without frost are a precious and coveted time for us. It is the time when a majority of our crops become prolific and the literal fruits of our labor are a delicious reward.
One may think that those sixty days of frost-free growing come with a cruise control mentality. The worry of last frost has passed, and now we just allow mother nature to carry us through until the first frost once again in September. However, in a high mountain desert, that cruise control gear is disabled. Farming in these climates is never really on cruise. We deal with environmental challenges and curveballs throughout the entire growing season. And this heat wave is a very clear reminder of this farm’s need for resilience and adaptability.
With a killing freeze not yet three weeks ago, and temperatures exceeding the high 90s this week, the farm’s vulnerabilities to mother nature are a clear reminder that we are not in charge. We will do our best to adapt, to protect our food and nurture our soil. And we will use our skills and innovation to farm efficiently and effectively, while also preserving the health and wellbeing of our staff, while they work so hard to keep the farm running and our baskets full of produce.
This is a reminder to all of us that the food produced by small farms is precious. It comes to us via the hard work and commitment of the farmers that grow it. It often has gone through so many challenges to get to our plates. And when we do get to sit down with our families and friends and share in a farm-fresh meal, know that the produce you are enjoying is filled with the love and dedication of the farmers that grow it.
And with that, I’d like to take a moment to thank my amazing team of farmers. They are a brilliant group of young women who are committed to making a difference in the food we eat. I am grateful to you all - Thank you Dominique, Gracelyn, Mary and Jacee. You are all amazing.
Stay cool, and find the shade...
Events upcoming on the farm:
July 16th - Please join us for the next Farm Dinner. A crowd favorite: Garlic! There are a few seats remaining, so please get your tickets now. It is sure to be a beautiful, unique and fantastic meal!
July 25th - Queen Bees Dinner featuring women in the food and farming industries (More to come on this next week!)
Farm Stand is open Fridays from 4 pm - 6 pm with the summer’s bounty in full swing!
**Lastly, we have opened an online store to allow for more flexibility in buying produce from the farm. Orders will be open from Saturday to Tuesday evening, with pick up at the farm on Wednesdays from 12 pm - 4 pm. The store can be found here
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