This spring has been wild; and it isn't even officially spring yet! The weather is incredible, and all the crops and dirt are acting like March is nearing the end instead of just getting started. I had two calls this week that we need to plant both peas and cabbage sooner rather than later (with the subtle hint that sooner is ASAP). The ground where these crops are going on one field is bare dirt, on another covered in a cover crop of clover.
Monday we sprang into action working fields down. It takes awhile, especially when there is a cover crop to disk up into small pieces. It's also hard because it's time consuming work, all day in the seat of a tractor. Day after day after day. Granted it's only Wednesday. Because of this, plus some added spraying that needed to get done, projects have to be put to the side. Pruning in the orchard will have to wait until we get the peas and radish planted. Working on a gate is put to the side, and a porto potty awaits the bolts to make it whole again.
First pass working up the soil for radish.
As you go through days like this it's hard to not want to be frustrated with how small of a crew we run. We have only four full time employees, and I don't know that I always count as a whole one with Hoot on my hip most of those days. But that is what you have to do. You have to just do all you can, so that at the end of the day when you head home and tend to chores around your own place you know that all you have done got done. You can't ask for anymore than that from yourself or your employees.
So we prioritize constantly on our farm. The plan for the day changes with just a call from a field man who just looked at your crop, or when the wind picks up and your plans to spray go out the window. Farming requires flexibility and a constant level of communication on what the plan is now, and what it's probably changing to. I am always asking myself what do we need to get done first, second and third. And once we get those done, what are the ten next things to do? Many times it feels more like logistics than farming, but it's all part of the game.
Weeks like this are exhausting, but I can tell you that they are also the most rewarding when they are all over. They are also one of the reasons that when you finally get your crop out of the field you know it has all been worth it.
