Today topped out over 80 degrees. Later this week it’s supposed to get close to 90 a few days. These summer temperatures aside, fall is certainly in the air. And our farm is a little bit of a hot mess right now. We desperately need to start clearing out beds, tilling in crops, and tidying this place up. Weeds have absolutely kicked our butts this year. We didn’t know it, but we never stood a chance. “Next year will be different.” That’s our current mantra. I think one of our strengths is our willingness/passion/unending desire to learn, and this year has not disappointed on that front. With a few minor investments and a redistribution of labor, we’re going to make those weeds wish they were never born. But unfortunately for us, our inability to keep them under control this year will result in increased weed pressure for years to come. Learnin’ ain’t free, ya’ll.
Today we cleaned up and re-organized the shed. You know, the shed that we’ve somehow FILLED UP in less than two years with…stuff. We also spent some time harvesting popcorn and trying to rip out a few beds. We’re getting there, but there is a lot to do before winter hits. For the first time since I’ve known her, Audra said yesterday that she’s ready for winter, and I quote, “So I’m not so $%&#ing sweaty all the time.” Today she was wearing my old Carhartt hat backwards and a pink John Deere t-shirt that Linc got her for her birthday this year. The girl is officially country.
Our farm dream continues to morph and shift as we reluctantly realize our naiveté, reassess our priorities, and determine what actually makes us a little money in exchange for all that $%&#ing sweat. Next year WILL be different, but even we aren’t entirely sure how. That’s what winter is for. As we crack open all the bounty that we canned and froze this summer, we’ll be poring over seed catalogs, reading up on other small growers, attending conferences to learn from others’ experiences, and spending more time than we’ll ever admit just talking about what the heck we’re going to do with this place. Or, more truthfully, what this place is going to do with us.