Planting and Starting our Farming Journey!
The Dirty Divas!
This was our first week together as a group and it went efficiently! We got our space and we prepped our beds with drip line and compost. Together we decided what we wanted in the ground and planted almost everything we need for the season.
From left to right
Robert, Catherine, Madeline, Carolina
We planted different kinds of pepper plants in the plastic tarp. Using the plastic, it will hopefully suppress the weeds in the future.As well as the peppers we planted marigolds and sweet alyssum to help with the pests and give a buffer zone between crop species and teams.
Using the spacing sheet we measured the correct distance for different plants so when they grow they wont be too crowded. We interspersed marigolds and zinnias to give more pest protection.
Against the trellis we planted tomatoes and cucumbers to train them to climb in the future.
In the front of the tilled bed we planted three rows of corn
and planted peas and squash to try to replicate the three sisters
technique
We planted Okra in the tarped bed and Eggplant and Bok Choy in the tilled bed. After planting we spread hay as a natural mulch to reduce the spread of weeds.
In the tilled bed we hand planted beans that
have started to sprout and look promising.
All in all this week was a good start to the semester and we set up our farm accordingly. When it starts to get a little cooler, we will plant brassicas such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli and kale. Right now they are growing on seed trays in the greenhouse.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Crop yield and quality goal
We plan on evaluating yields of at least two pepper cultivars and one inter-cropped system(tomatoes+marigolds) by recording weekly harvest weights. Success will be measured by identifying which treatment produced the highest yield and quality(appearance, taste, and marketability)
Agroecological design and environmental sustainability
We will try to incorporate at least two in-sectary plants(such as sweet alyssum and marigold) into the field layout to enhance natural pest management. Success will be measured by weekly observations of pollinators and predatory insects, with the goal of reducing visible pest damage compared to non-inter-cropped rows
Marketing and economic viability
By mid-semester develop and implement a marketing plan that includes team blog, weekly social media updates, and a short customer survey to identify an ideal buyer profile. By the end of the semester, aim to maintain a positive balance of revenue over expenses to simulate a successful small- scale farm enterprise.
Social and community consideration
Create a diverse crop plan with a t least six different food crops and three companion inter-crop species, arranged in a design that can be replicated in a backyard garden. Document this diversity through weekly blog posts and a farm tour at semester's end, with the goal of demonstrating that small-scale, biodiverse production can provide continuous harvests for household needs.
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