Kale’s New Friend- Snow

Farm News

This week, our last remaining overwintering kale had a surprise visit from its friend snow. We had over six wonderful inches of white, magical snow blanket the farm—maybe a Chinese New Year gift? Schools had two snow days, which made it more real. Folks stayed home off of icy roads and enjoyed a little solitude and inward, cozy time. The pipes at the farm unfortunately did freeze, but luckily Ziggy was able to thaw them before any breakage occurred.

Our farm cats were about the only footprints visible the first day, but as we ventured deep into the fields, we were greeted by many wildlife prints and stories to unfold. Feathers told of the coyotes’ breakfast.

We can only hope that the aphid eggs and spotted cucumber beetles fall prey to the colder temperatures, making their spring and summer hatches less burdensome to our tender crops. I was reading that aphid eggs can survive up to -42 degrees F, which seems like an outrageous possibility. It’s hard to think about hot, sunny summer days, but they will arrive in no time, and the beauty of this chill will be a distant memory.

We have been gathering in the warmer processing station that is a whopping 40 degrees F, which feels quite tropical compared to the teens and wind outside. We will process the last of the cabbages and sunchokes and start to switch over to a new season of prepping the greenhouses and barn. Just as our hands and feet have endured all the cold they can, the start-up of the warm green houses will be the perfect Valentine.

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram @fullcirclefarms.
-Wendy