Heart of the Season of Growing

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1719945770615{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Welcome to the start of the heart of the season! July and August are typically some of the most productive times for Central Oregon farmers; we’re starting to see the warmer-weather produce like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, and livestock are out and about in pasture. Behind the scenes on farms and ranches a lot is going on at this time of year in addition to harvest, animal care and processing, and showing up to farmers markets. As a consumer, you may have noticed that the weather has been temperamental these last few months. Within the span of a week, high desert temperatures have fluctuated between below-freezing to above 90 degrees - sometimes all on the same day! Scorching daytime temperatures can be followed by cool nights, causing stress and losses to crops. This also requires careful monitoring of weather conditions, requiring early morning and late night hours to weather-prep. Some animals, like hogs, are also especially sensitive to extreme temperatures, requiring temperature control systems in place. While the threat of frost can happen at any time of the year, early summer is especially prone to these kinds of challenges. This year, it’s been an especially challenging start to the growing season![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="28452" img_size="full" alignment="center" style="vc_box_rounded" css=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1719945755686{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]We’ve also heard stories of machinery and equipment failures and infrastructure breaking down; infested and trashed compost; undelivered irrigation water; unexpected expenses and bills; predators for smaller livestock; and gopher and other rodent infestations taking down entire rows of crops, possibly damaging irrigation systems and causing hazardous conditions for livestock in pasture. Here at HDFFA, you may have noticed that our volunteer opportunities for on-farm gleaning were fewer than in past years in June, reflecting the larger picture of farming in Central Oregon. The longer-lasting cold may have delayed early harvests, but don’t worry, soon enough we’ll be sending out plenty more volunteer requests for gleans. If you don’t receive our volunteer emails, sign up here: hdffa.org/volunteerThis time of year, we are all chomping at the bit for nutritious fresh veggies and direct access to our local meats; it can be disappointing when we arrive at the farmers market late and only see a few options of vegetables and for the cucumbers to be sold out, or if your CSA variety has been offering similar produce since it started in May. However, soon we can look forward to the seasonal offerings we’ve been waiting for. Check the seasonality chart for more information and for what to expect as summer’s warm days come upon us.As Megan Kellner-Rode, co-owner of Boundless Farmstead wrote in a recent social media post that living in Central Oregon is like you “enter an unwritten contract of weathering the highs and lows of this place. Of enjoying the beauty of the high desert and also the harshness of it… please be gentle with us farmers. The season of abundance is coming, just a bit more slowly this year.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="28450" img_size="full" alignment="center" style="vc_box_rounded" css=""][/vc_column][/vc_row]