August focuses mostly on harvesting and maintenance. We will be dodging thunderstorms to get the last of the second cutting of hay done, and either sold or in the barn. We do need the rain to get the grass to grow but it takes a span of 3 dry days to cure the hay.
Hop harvest will also start in early August depending on the variety of hop. Typically, the aroma hops are ready before the higher acid bittering hops. Harvesting the hops entails cutting each individual string at the top and bottom, and then transporting them to the hop picker. It is important to get them to the picker as soon as possible and not have them sitting in the hot sun so this really takes a team of folks. Once to the picker the strings are attached to a mechanism that pulls them through the picking teeth which strips off the leaves and cones. This mix is then taken to the sorter which uses a combination of blown air and gravity to separate the cones from the leaf matter. At this point the hops that are to be used in a wet hop beer are taken directly to the brewery to be added to the brew. The cones that are to be preserved are taken to the ‘oast’ or hop dryer where forced warm air dries them until they reach 8-10% moisture (This can be a challenge in humid Maryland weather!). They are then either pelletized or vacuum sealed and frozen.
Watch the Mercantile for other farm products. Sweet corn is coming in and the tomatoes, cucumber, and melons will continue to ripen.
Other things that are ongoing are monitoring the sheep and managing the weeds. The ram lambs will need to be separated from the ewe lambs this month (boys will be boys!). Some of our biggest weed challenges are thistles, Johnson Grass, and Mare’s Tail – all of which are considered noxious weeds in Maryland which means we are required by law to manage them. This is done primarily by mowing to prevent them going to seed.
This month will also see the annual farm clean-up leading up to our Brewfest in September!