A Grocery Store Produce Aisle Will Never Compare to the Garden Farm. This has been the longest roller-coaster ride I’ve ever been on, and, I’ve never been a fan of roller-coasters.
We “tested the waters” –or soil, in this case -for two seasons now, and have had relative success. (Salsa for months!) The investment was modest – screws, seeds, soil, and time. I made a few planting boxes from old cedar and oak fence boards, added some soil, planted seeds, transplanted seedlings, and watched as they yielded plenty for us to enjoy and a bit extra to share.
This year, however, we thought we would add to our efforts and share the reward and experience with friends and neighbors. In April, this hobby/ experiment became a business. Here we are, at the beginning of July and my energy and emotions are off the charts…on both the high and low end.
I like stability and confidence in expectations. We did all we could to plan, prep, plant, and then… (more details of this process in a future post)
The abbreviated version of this cycle – some seeds didn’t germinate, some tried and failed, we transplanted what survived, some withered, some flourished, then came heavy rains, then came the deer, then the equipment failed, then the frustration, then tears, and finally… buds, then bees, then fruit, and finally we are at the point where we are starting to…pick, enjoy, and share!
Initially, we were on a scale where it wouldn’t impact us if things didn’t go as planned. This year, as a legitimate business enterprise, we made investments in a potting shed, good seeds, row covers, irrigation, and a high tunnel. And now that we are trying to track things like cost and yield per bed foot, the survival of one stem of a snapdragon matters to me in ways I never would have imagined. At the same time, I didn’t’ know how rewarding it would be to install a couple thousand feet of drip tape.
It will be nice when we get to the point where Glory Fields is a regular part of the Southern Maryland/ greater DC sustainable ag scene. Until then, I just need to remember, we jumped into this space not solely the financial benefit, but for the good of our health and the health of the land. I’m learning that I have to brace myself and hang on tight, because there will be some dips and curves. A rollercoaster might give us a little scare but we keep getting back on for the excitement.
