Planning for Spring

Planning for Spring

People often wonder what we do in the winter so here we go. Right after produce season, Greg(my dad) and I ( Angela) jump into selling seed and other inputs for next years’ row crops. We sell NC+ corn, soybean, and sorghum seed and Streamline Ag inputs. I am on clean up duty. This entails stripping plants off trellises and hauling them out of the tunnels, pulling up posts, taking apart trellises, picking up plastic mulch, picking up hoses, cleaning and putting away all the containers, planting cover crop, roto-tilling, vacuuming out truck cabs, moving all the equipment from the back of the trucks indoors, stacking bins for outside storage, moving fertilizer pumps inside, shutting down coolers, shredding, disking, and getting the farm snow ready.

tomato plant in small hand shovel
farm owners Greg and Kathy

My mom, Kathy, helps me by watching my 2 year old daughter. Greg helps me out when and where he can. Usually by mid to late September he is custom harvesting row crops. When harvest is complete, Greg moves to repairing equipment and oil changes. We attend meetings for NC+ and Streamline to see what’s new and discuss the previous season. Thanksgiving is spent enjoying too much yummy food and the company of our family.

After Thanksgiving, we respond to inquiries about strawberry machines and asparagus carts. I begin the years book work. The boys have their Christmas programs for school and church. We enjoy celebrating Christmas with our family followed by New Year’s.

Greg goes over the sweet corn seed and data for that order. We talk about what needs to be cut or added to our produce line up. What worked, what didn’t and what we should try is also discussed. Supplies are ordered for the upcoming season, things like drip tape, plastic mulch, plastic trays, soil mix, fertilizers, and drip tape fittings. Once the seed order comes in, which is about the second week of January, we start our first planting of tomatoes. I attended pesticide training to renew my applicator’s license this winter. This is our winter which is broken up by snow days,
sick days, and Dr. appointments. So there you have it.

Winter is also the time to prepare for the CSA program. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a weekly subscription of fresh, locally-grown produce. We offer two 10-week terms and two share sizes. Our Full Share is great for families of four, and a Partial is about right for couples or families with picky eaters.

It’s a great way to eat healthy and support your local farms! Sign up for our program starts soon, so watch our socials for more information coming soon!

box of produce
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