"Mark and I have been doing some deep thinking about draft horse power here. We do not yet have answers, but I’ll share our conclusions to this point, and invite your input. As many readers know, we crafted this farm around the idea of using horses as our primary source of power. … [Read more...] about Essex Farm: Reconsidering Draft Horse Power
CSA
Full and By Farm: Rain at Last!
I ran outside in the pre-dawn darkness yesterday to check the rain gauge. I was greeted with an incredibly gorgeous three inches. Rain gauges aren't particularly tricky to decipher, they are nothing more than a tall, skinny measuring cup on a stick, but I was so disbelieving that … [Read more...] about Full and By Farm: Rain at Last!
Essex Farm: A Perfect Melon
"The cantaloupe melons are coming in, their flesh the color of mangoes, sweet and precious as these last days of summer. I harvested bushels and bushels of them this morning with Lindsay and Amy and Lindsay’s mom, Martha. Lindsay split one in half on the wagon with a harvest … [Read more...] about Essex Farm: A Perfect Melon
Full and By Farm: A Field Wasteland Improved
The hot summer weather last weekend drained our soil of anything resembling moisture once again. We're back to the dry, dusty fields, wilting leaves and daily trips to monitor the spring. We made a rushed effort in the beginning of the week to seed down two of our newly turned … [Read more...] about Full and By Farm: A Field Wasteland Improved
Treating Late Blight
Late Blight is a water mold that infects plants and can devastate a farmer's tomato or potato crops. Knowing how to identify late blight in your garden or field is a crucial skill. It's important to always be aware of the spread of late blight. You can monitor current … [Read more...] about Treating Late Blight