The leaves on the walnut trees are already starting to drift down and we look forward to the first day of Fall, and finally cooler weather! And hopefully some more rain!
September on the farm is a time to wrap up harvests and start preparations for next growing season. The potatoes have all been dug and sorted. The harvest was plentiful, and the potatoes are good sized due to more spring rain than last year. We had almost no issue with scab this year due to adjusting the soil pH based on soil test recommendations and planting a resistant variety. Beds are being tilled to plant fall / winter crops including turnips, onions, and kale.
Still coming is the much-anticipated harvest of the unique Monocacy hop. The bines are currently loaded with baby cones. It is a much later hop and probably won’t be ready until late September or mid-October. Plans are underway for some wet hopped casks.
The second cutting of hay is done. Hayfields were much more productive this year due to the spring rains. We will have to see if we are able to get a third cutting. One of the driest Augusts on record has really set the grass growth back. Once the hay is all off the fields those that need to be treated for weeds will be sprayed. This is only one of several approaches we utilize in controlling weeds. Most importantly is timely mowing as this returns the vegetative matter to the soil and can prevent the formation of seed heads on the weeds thus limiting their spread. We also try to be very particular about the hay we feed our livestock, so they are eating hay with the lowest weed seed content. This helps to reduce the number of seeds that are put back on the fields through manure. And then there are the birds….While we enjoy our birds they do contribute to a lot of weed spread.
Lambs are really starting to grow up. The boys have been separated from all the girls as they are quite capable of breeding even though they are not yet a year old. We will soon be sitting down to determine which ewes to breed to which rams around the end of October. Fall shearing is planned for early October. This will provide time for them to grow back enough fleece to be comfortable in the cold weather.
Fall is coming to the Mercantile as well. Local apples are in – heritage varieties from Distillery Lane Farm. Look for pumpkins, straw bales, and corn shocks towards the end of September. And mulled cider.