May 19, 2025
Rain, Rain, Go Away?
by Farmer Derek

I'm thrilled to be sitting here on our porch on a sunny and windy evening after receiving four inches of rain over four sunless days. The fields have dried out just enough before the next rain event arrives Wednesday. Thanks to the prolonged water deficit, the ground seems to have slurped up any excess moisture. We were able to get back in the fields today and cultivate/hoe where needed as well as transplant winter squash, lettuce, scallions, herbs, beans, and edamame.

During last week's soggy situation, we were fortunately able to do inside work when it was too wet outside. In two of our tunnels, greens were fully harvested and we were able to lay fabric and transplant the first of the tomatoes. On Friday morning, before the final waterfall, we transplanted all of the outdoor cherry tomatoes. Tomatillos went in the day before.

Overall the fields tolerated the two rounds of heavy rainfall pretty well. Seven or eight years ago waterways were installed to collect and deflect excess water and keep erosion to a minimum. We've also learned and modified over time to orient our fields so they drain into grassed driving lanes. Flash flood type rain events are common so we've had to develop methods of coping.

Let's hope the rain this week is slow and steady!