Farm Production

Land, labor and capital are considered constraints in traditional analysis of farm economies. To this mix we would like to add innovation and a commitment to land stewardship as factors that positively influence our particular situation. We are poised to expand any one or several of our crops given that a steady market develops. In the meantime, we continue to hedge our bets with a diverse variety of fruits and vegetables from mid-spring to late fall markets. This allows us to spread our most limiting input – labor – over the growing year starting with maple syrup in February and ending with the last napa cabbage and butternut squash in late November.

We currently till 3-4 acres per year, 1-2 acres in intense garden and the other 2 in melons/pumpkins/squash/sweet corn. Our long-term goal is to plant 10-15 of our tillable acreage in U-pick blueberries, and continue vegetable farming.

 

 

 

CROPS

  

Varieties

Current Production

  

Marketing Season

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

Oct.

Vegetables

Broccoli

fall production only

Cabbage

We specialize in red cabbage

Spring & fall crops only, 1500 - 2000 heads

Asian Cabbages

Napa, bok choy & other Asian Varieties

2000 - 2500 per season spring and fall

Carrots

2 bushels per week

Cucumber

Slicing varieties incl. Asian smooth-skinned and burpless

6 - 8 bushels/wk

Garlic

not yet developed as a crop

Green Beans

Ambra, Blue Lake

2-4 bushels/wk

Green onions

100 - 200 bunches per week

Greens

Asian varieties (in Indonesia "bayam") and Jamaican calaloo

We grow a small diverse crop, have not found reliable markets to expand.

Leeks

not yet developed as a crop

Melons

Jackson County melons - recognized branding

Heirloom watermelons, cantaloupes

Onions

small crop - more production for green onions

Peppers

Bell Peppers - One of our top five crops, in production and quality

6 - 8 bushels/wk, more if market develops

Potatoes

Small crop of new potatoes

not yet developed as a large commercial crop

Salad mix

small local crop

Spinach

not yet developed as a crop

Summer squash

Zucchini & Yellow Summer

2 - 5 bushels/wk

Tomatoes

Approx. 8-10 varieties of heirlooms / Jet Star & Better Boy

Set out 300 caged plants last year

Winter Squash

Pumpkins and butternut

Planted one acre last year

Asian Greens

Edamame, Bayam, bitter melon, long beans, kankung etc. (experienced in SE Asian crops)

We grow a small diverse crop, have not found reliable markets to expand.

Rhubarb

Small home use crop

not yet developed as a crop

Hybrid Sweet Corn

Incredible, Bodacious, NK188

Planted 3/4 acre last year in 4 crops.

Open Pollinated Sweet Corn

Golden Bantam

Fruits and Berries:

Blueberries

200 plants in production, 800 planted to date.

Approx. 150 -200 lbs. last year. Crop will continue expansion

Strawberries

Small planting. Will expand

150 - 200 qt.

Black / Red Rasp.

Small planting. Will expand

No crop yet

Fruit:

Peaches

30 trees Red Haven, Early Haven, several others in newer planting

2 years of production on oldest trees, approx.50 bushels in 2006

Apples

30 trees

Not yet commercial production - tart apples

Asian Pears

30 trees

Not yet in commercial production

 

Mushrooms:

Shiitake

20 logs shiitake

We rely on rainfall, usually 5 – 20 lbs. per event.

 

Sweeteners:

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup – 3 – 5 gallons / yr. / 30 – 50 taps

Will expand production - a good local market exists

OTHER

Wild ginseng

I sell individual roots. Dig after Sept 1.

50 – 150 roots per year

Paw-paws (Asimina triloba)

Have a good-producing woods in Jackson County

Depends on year. 2006 crop of 6 bushels market price $2 / lb or $75 / bushel.

Asparagus

Small planting, expanding

 

HERBS

Thyme

Production for home use

Could expand with market

Oregano

Production for home use

Could expand with market

Chives

under consideration

Parsley

under consideration

Cilantro

Marketed locally

250 - 400 bunches @ $1 per year

Basil

Marketed locally

250 - 400 bunches @ $1 per year

Dill

Production for home use

Could expand with market

Rosemary

under consideration

Mint

Production for home use

Could expand with market

Lavender

under consideration

Taragon

under consideration

Chamomile

under consideration