This week has been all about cherries... 

(Jim helping out the gardening team - with a little help from Blue)

 

The sour cherries came in a little early, and have come in abundance with almost 80 pounds picked so far.  We are currently about halfway through on just the first pick, so there are a lot more to go. We had the Rappahanock high school horticulture class out for a tour and they helped us pick for an hour, and this morning the folks from the kitchen were out in the trees as well.  All the delicious fruit is then brought in, pitted and made into amazing tarts and pies. Lots of work for all involved but well worth it.

It was great to have the kids out yesterday, seeing teenagers interested in gardening/farming always makes me happy.  There are many factors contributing to the decline in agriculture in America, but one is that there are too few young people getting into farming to replace all those that are ageing out of the business. Fortunately there are more and more folks getting interested in agriculture as a career, and the more we support our local growers, the more viable a career it will become.

As I was spraying fish fertilizer at 5:30 am (after working till almost 8 the night before) it occurred to me (as it has many times) how much dedication and passion it takes to run even a small farm successfully.  Plants always need something; water, fertilizer, or help with the pests and weeds, they never take the day off. It could be100 degrees or cold and raining but the “to do” list is never finished. That being said, I do take the occasional afternoon to myself, and of course I have the winter months to relax and recharge, you have to find balance where you can.  Agriculture is not a career choice, it is a lifestyle choice, and there are great benefits to be found as well. You get to be outside playing in the dirt all day (and at least in Virginia, it seems that most days are nice weather), my dog (the previously mentioned Blue) comes to work with me, and I get to eat better, fresher food than most people I know.  For me the decision to be a farmer was a no brainer, there is nothing better than going home at night with the feeling of accomplishment I get from growing food for people.

So, this week, besides all the cherry picking, we have also planted watermelons, winter squash, gourds and more cutting flowers. I pruned and trellised all of the tomatoes. The rainbow carrots, salsify and scorzonera have popped up, and the fava bean pods are finally forming. We are harvesting the last of the pac choi and radishes, as well as turnips, strawberries, peas, beets, broccoli, fennel, kohlrabi, frisee, lettuce, swiss chard, summer squash, squash blossoms and herbs. Next week will be more hot weather and of course more cherries!!!