We here at Fresh Earth Farms feel it is our duty in these trying times to help out as much as possible. We have certain knowledge and experience that many of our fellow world citizens lack and we therefore feel we have an obligation to pass on this experience. But before I fulfill this obligation there is a bit of bookkeeping that needs to be done. So following a couple of quick announcements you’ll find our list of helpful hints.
Please help spread the word: we still have shares available. We really need all the help and support we can get selling these shares. It seems like CSA would be an ideal way to get local produce this summer with the possibility of Farmers’ Markets being closed. So now is the time to support your local farmer and buy a share! For every new customer who mentions you were the source of their interest we will credit your account $25.
For those people kind enough to have already put down a deposit, the remainder is due by the end of the month unless you have a payment plan. Let me know if you have difficulty making the payment so we can extend your terms if necessary.
And as I said above, please help spread the word. We really need help selling the remaining shares! And now on to our topic:
Quarantine
For most people, this new reality brought on by the corona virus is a shock to their system. Working at home, social distancing, unable to go out partying at the bars at night. These are all things that have dramatic effects on people’s lives. We farmers, on the other hand, just see this as another day. Work at home? Check. Social distancing? Every day! Unable to go partying at the bars at night? You bet! But this one might have more to do with being somewhere north of old. To us, these are just the normal way of living life. If we see a neighbor it is usually as they are driving past. If we need food we go down to the freezer and pull something out. Toilet paper? Ok, there are some things we have to get from the rest of society. But for the most part we tend to be isolated and alone most of the time so doing so due to a killer virus is no big deal. It is really just another day. Because of this expertise in social distancing I felt it was my obligation to give you all some tips to make this time pass faster and more enjoyably.
First, if it is morning and you are already bored go do morning chores! Depending on how many animals you have in your barn this could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. And if you walk to the barn instead of drive you can get some much needed exercise and fresh air. Don’t forget to take the dogs with you. They are probably feeling restless during this time as well.
Now say it is closer to evening and you are bored. This is a good time for evening chores. Evening chores are much like morning chores but if you have horses you might be putting on their blankets instead of taking them off. Again I highly recommend taking the dogs with you and, if they are around, petting the cats when you get to the barn. Both of these will increase the time spent and your overall mood.
If you happen to see a neighbor out and about during morning or evening chores this would be a good time to get to know them a little better. When talking to your neighbor be sure to both face the same direction — shoulder to shoulder — but not too close, looking toward the sun so you have a good reason to squint and adjust your cap. Make sure you are on gravel or dirt so if the conversation lags you can kick up some dust. If there is no dirt readily available make sure you are near tall grass where you can pull off a stalk to stick in your mouth. When talking to your neighbor be sure to either look off into the distance or down at your shoes. Both of these tried and true methods reduce your chance of catching corona. For topics of discussion I recommend weather and this week’s crop report. Seed and feed prices are always a good topic as well. You can also inquire about family but only for those close to you. You don’t want to pry into their personal life.
Other ways to spend the time include but are not limited to fixing mechanical equipment. This is probably one of the most useful time sucks available to the home-bound. Not only will each repair take far longer than you expected it will also cost far more than you ever imagined. This large discrepancy between expected and realized costs will shock you into forgetting corona even exists. I prefer to work on the equipment either outside on a sunny warm day or inside a warm garage or shed on those occasional below zero days. If neither are available don’t worry about freezing your fingers. After five minutes or so you won’t be able to feel them anyway.
Another great use of all this extra time is to clean up the greenhouse. As you are already aware I’m sure, from this time of year until next November you really don’t have the time to keep things neat and orderly. Then by November you are too tired to put in the effort to clean. So now that you are quarantined you have plenty of time to neaten things up. Plus unlike the summer, the greenhouse is a comfortable 70 degrees instead of the 100+ with high humidity in July. Don’t forget to clean the cold-frame as well!
Still have extra time? Well come on over I have plenty of things for you to do! Don’t worry, we have more than enough room to stay six feet apart. And we can talk only if you want to. You’ll have an excuse to get dirty — boost your immune system — and to get out of the house. If this disruption in your lives continues into April and May we can socially distance out in the field where I can teach you other tricks and techniques to reduce your level of boredom. Tips like planting, hoeing, hand-weeding, pest-picking, drip tape laying, irrigation line fixing, gopher wrangling, the list goes on and on. All of these activities can be done independently and at prescribed social distancing distances — the perfect answer for corona virus mitigation. And as an added bonus, with your hands covered in mud you are less likely to touch your mucus membranes!
Though I could go on I am hopeful this brief outline is sufficient to help you endure the next several weeks/months/years until the corona virus has infected everyone it cares to infect (except of course those of us who took preventative measures like getting dirty). Until then be sure to practice these activities every day to ensure your success. And as always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.