I don’t know about you, but we’re feeling itchy to mix things up a bit over here in farmlandia. Stir the pot. Reinvent. Evolve. Give the farm plan a “glow up” (as the kids say). An extreme makeover! Or even just a little one. Something to get the blood pumping, the heart racing, the hips shaking. Yes, as usual, the metaphors are going on too long, but you know what I mean! We have ideas to get us enthused about farming a 16th year that we think you might like to apply to keep your gardening or farming fresh, too
For one, we’re planning more farm trials than ever. Instead of just growing one cool looking grape tomato, honeydew melon, or snapdragon, we’re going to grow a dozen or more (you could even just do two or three). We’ll then put on our metaphorical lab coats to discuss the attributes and flaws of each. This is a quick way to learn if you need to change how you’re growing a crop (improve the soil, increase spacing, etc.) or if there’s simply a more optimal variety for your conditions. Sometimes it’s not you, it’s the variety you chose. Isn’t that a relief?
Two, we’re going to grow some out of the box crops we’ve never grown before. Last year, we tended two giant pumpkins that quickly became precious members of our family and the hottest ticket on our farm tours. This year, we have our eyes on growing celtuce (aka stem lettuce), turmeric, and cucamelons- all for the first time. Uncommon things you could cultivate from our seeds include yellow watermelon, Chinese Pink cutting celery, quinoa (it’s shockingly happy in the PNW) or ground cherries (the kids in your life will thank you).
Three, we’re going to build some infrastructure to make our work more pleasurable. Exhibit one- a root washer. Yah… so… we should’ve done that 15 years ago, but still – it will be mighty welcome after washing tens of thousands of roots without one! Worm bins, cloches, arches, trellises, raised beds or new pathways, are all ways you could add to your growing capacity and gardening good vibes.
Whatever we all do, let’s make this growing thing enjoyable. Tending produce and flowers for ourselves and community is not only utilitarian, but is also an honor and the deepest of joys when we set ourselves up to make it so.