Rock Island Farm

Rock Island Farm - Plan (Brief Overview)

2015 Update (7/15/2015)

Since the last update, we have added two 6 ft wide strip beds out in the old pasture area, and four small beds in the old garden area. Some of these are in soil recovery mode this year. There are now enough beds to allow some fallow rotation.
There are now four 4 x 8 foot raised beds in front of the house. This year these are planted to: garlic and chard; peas and greens; and herbs. The fourth is being used as a compost pile and will be converted to growing things next year. The small in-ground bed in this area that houses the horseraddish has been enlarged, and has some hot peppers growing.
Beds #3 - #5 and A - D are now in permanent hay mulch, through which seedlings can be planted. Beds #1 and #2 are the largest beds by area and are mulched with grass clippings.
We learned since 2013 that the area below the house is not a happy place for raspberries. A corner of the old garden area is promising, but unfortunately the deer like it also.
Used deer fencing for the first time in the gardens this year in order to protect string beans. The string beans had significant deer damage last year.
Most of the summer and winter squashes, and the brocolli was protected for a period with insect cover this year, except where trying something else. The Agribon covers resulted in faster growth. Broc was planted under three conditions for comparison: (1) permanent mulch bed with no cover; (2) open bed with no cover; and (3) open bed with cover.
As of today, the last of the insect covers were removed.
Haying began the last week in June. The late start was due to wet weather and wet field conditions.

2013 Update (7/15/2013)

We have planted a small number of rasberry plants in two different areas, to see what works better.
Started a new small bed with some horseraddish.
Planted the relatively newlarge 4th bed for first time, but had early insect problems there and will be leaving the bed under mulch this year. Probably will use low tunnel(s) out there next year.
We expected a "garden recovery" year in 2013, because of problems in 2012 from inattention due to illness/injury. Had originally planned to put more area in green manures this year, but ended up planting most areas to vegetables. Addressing extra weed issues with extra mulching.

2012

Rock Island Farm was established in late 2007. We're in the early stages of getting the farm going as a business. In early 2011 we switched from everyone working full-time off-farm, plus working the farm, to having one family member almost full-time on farm.

Continue haying operation - haying includes cutting, tedding (sometimes), raking, baling, stacking, and field maintenance (done)

Increase field maintenance and restoration efforts this year on part of the hayfield. That means that parts of the field will be repeatedly mowed rather than hayed. Parts will still be hayed, and hay will be for sale again. (done)

Continue vegetable gardens - grow seedlings, plant, mulch, maintain/weed, freeze some vegetables and put some in the root cellar for winter, etc. (done)

Adjust seedlings planned to grow some different ones in response to customer requests in 2011 (done)
Start using bed #3, and put bed #4 in green manure for the season (used bed #3 but did not put bed #4 in green manure)
Drop planting pole beans (keep bush variety) and limas; add 2 varieties of butternut squash (decided not to do this). Switch to kale mix (done).

Sell vegetables from the farm one day/week. Continue planning for a permanent farm stand structure in 2013 or 2014. Acquire a commercial scale to allow sale of vegetables by the pound, in addition to by the item. Not done: due to a couple of illnesses/injuries, the gardens were set back this year.
Put up a sign by the road (done - added both a "farm name" sign and "hay for sale" sign)
Develop additional vegetable area for next year - turn over one or two new areas, add initial soil amendments, and plant to green manures (not done - see previous notes about gardens)
Determine any necessary pasture maintenance in the spring (done)
Plant some evergreens (not done)
Continue to develop a small highbush blueberry area (done)
Maintain machinery (always ongoing)
Adjust business plan (done winter of 2010 - 2011); identify needed sub-plans and work on them
Maintain farm web site and blog (ongoing)
Take advantage of continuing education workshops
Hay or bush hog part of the hayfield late in season in order to allow some bobolinks timeto fledge (done)

2011

Some of the activities for 2011:

Continue haying operation - haying includes cutting, tedding (sometimes), raking, baling, stacking, and field maintenance (done)
Acquire new hay tedder and replace a wheel on the baler (done)
Continue vegetable gardens - grow seedlings, plant, mulch, maintain/weed, freeze some vegetables and put some in the root cellar for winter, etc. (done)

Grow in 2011: lettuce, kale, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, rutababas, radishes, summer squash (2 kinds) and winter squash (4 kinds)

Start to sell vegetables from the farm (done)
Expand vegetable plots for next year - turn over two new areas, add initial soil amendments, and plant to green manures (done)
Continue improvement of pasture - intensively mow to reduce weeds (done)
Plant three apple trees for family use (done)
Maintain machinery (always ongoing)
Develop business plan (done previous winter)
Maintain web site (done)
Develop plan for a permanent farm stand (winter 2012)
Take advantage of continuing education classes (done but...should do more next year)
Hay or bush hog part of the field late in season in order to allow some bobolinks to fledge (done)