Being a Market Farmer
Our stand at the Pine Bush Market on a Saturday in October
This year we had an unexpected opportunity to participate in two local farmers markets, Walden and Pine Bush. Back in April, Jocelyn was furloughed due to COVD-19, and as a result, had more time to devote to farm activities. We took the challenge in stride and dove right into retail farming sales, not really knowing what we were doing, but knowing at the least, this was a great opportunity not to be missed.
During the months of April and early May, we began seeding a variety of vegetables in the basement on heat mats and under grow lights. In May when the weather warmed up we transitioned those seedlings to our newly built hoop house, and eventually those seeds went into the ground. We also experimented with growing microgreens, as we knew we needed a “quick crop” that would have consistent yields and allow for fluctuations in production volume if necessary.
The market season has come with both its challenges and rewards. One of the biggest challenge, of course, was the difficulty of finding enough hours in the day to accomplish all the tasks on the list. Farming is very labor intensive, and anyone who thinks farming is easy has most likely not tried it themselves. We run a very diversified farm, which means we not only spend our efforts in the garden, but we also have multiple species of livestock that require our attention - egg layers, meat birds, ducks, goats, and cattle. Finding a sweet balance between all these enterprises is still something we are working on.
A challenge we faced specific to produce production was pests - we do not use chemical sprays or pesticides, and while customers appreciate that, they still expect produce that looks pristine as if sprayed with pesticides. We have a few ideas for the next growing season and are very optimistic! Another challenge we faced was having too much to harvest at once. Planting too many seeds at once, rather than practicing succession planting, is a rookie mistake we are definitely guilty of. Next year, we will be more diligent about succession planting so that we have a manageable amount of produce to harvest continually through the crop’s growing season.
The market season also came with many great rewards. There is nothing like being able to grow food and provide a product that is a direct result of your time, attention, and commitment. Being able to offer that product to people who appreciate that work is an amazing feeling. We have met so many wonderful people at the markets, and are full of gratitude for our loyal customers and the support from the community.
As farmland is becoming more valuable with buildings on it than livestock, crops, or produce, we are facing a dangerous future when land will become increasingly scarce. We appreciate everyone who has supported us through our efforts to persevere our farm and this lifestyle! We are looking forward to more growth and exciting opportunities in the season to come!