This was a hard year for strawberry and apple farmers. The warm weather early in March meant that both the berries and the apples started growing too early. When the inevitable cold weather returned, the apple blossoms were frozen. Most of the strawberry blossoms were protected by watering - starting somewhere between 11:00 pm and 2:00 am and watering until the temperatures rose above freezing well after sunrise. But excessive watering encourages fungal growth and a leafspot problem developed that cut the strawberry crop about in half. The apple crop was about 5% of last year's crop when all was picked and done. The raspberries suffered damage from the frosts and an invasive pest newly arrived from the south. The blueberries came through pretty well and are a better stand than we first thought. They take a loooonngg time to 'green up' in the spring. We'll be better prepared for the wait next year and less prone to panic.
On the bright side, the tomatoes raised in the hoop houses did very well and because we had some of the first tomatoes, both grape and slicers, they sold for a very good price. Once the field-raised tomatoes came in, the prices dropped significantly and Farmer Bill will think this winter about whether to bother with field tomatoes. The cantaloupe also did well this year and customers continued to be amazed at the size of our melons. I have my doubts as to whether sweet corn makes any money, but it does create cash flow... and farmers always need cash.
All in all, a mixed bag of crop results; but Farmer Bill was able to make the mortgage payments and pay the property taxes and the help (less help needed, of course). So that's a positive. And of course, there's always next year. [This year we've used the phrase 'wait until next year' about both the farm and Farmer Bill's baseball team.]
We do have many things to be thankful for. Our daughter was married this year, and the couple bought a house and are settling into married life. Our son & d-i-l moved to Maine and her new job is proving to be a good one, with possibilities for future growth - and we actually talk somewhat more often than we did when they were just an hour away. Both Farmer Bill & I remain healthy. My job has never been in danger and I continue to enjoy most aspects of the work. I hope to be able to find more time for writing over the winter and into the next year. I get a lot of great ideas during my long drive to and from work, but rarely do they make it to print. Maybe next year...
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
