We grow our vegetables in high tunnels and in open air gardens. The high tunnels allow for production almost year-round, allowing us to offer fresh food well beyond the standard growing season. Beginning in March, we start our plants from organic seeds and grow them inside until it is warm enough to move them to the high tunnels. In April, we plant crops that are direct-seed in the high tunnel beds. This includes our gourmet lettuce mix, spinach, chard, and kale. In May we move indoor seedlings to the tunnel beds and to the outdoor garden beds. Early in the month, we plant peas, beets, potatoes, and corn. At the end of May, we transplant our seedlings that belong in the outdoor garden, and we direct-seed the rest of the warm weather crops, which include beans, tomatoes, and vine crops like cucumbers and squash.
At Fresh From The Vines, we amend our soil with compost that we make from: plant debris; manure from our chickens, mini donkeys and alpacas; and food scraps. The compost sits for at least one year before we being mix it into our raised beds. Along with the compost, we add seaweed meal (also known as kelp meal) to the soil to ensure that all trace minerals are available to our precious plants. Throughout the growing season, we apply compost tea on a rotational basis to give a nutritious boost to all the crops. Making these nutrients available to the plants ensures that the person eating the vegetables also gains these vital components of a healthy life.
Harvest time is almost all year-long. The months of January and February are slower, depending on the weather. The lettuce, kale, chard, and spinach will survive the cold temperatures and short hours of sunlight, but they remain relatively dormant during that period. March brings warmer temperatures and longer days and the over-wintered greens begin growing again for an early harvest the end of the month.
As you look through and learn about the bounty of produce we offer, please note that they are categorized by the seasons that they are typically available at Fresh From The Vines. In the case of a poor growing season, our selection may be limited or change.
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| Growing season in Tunnel 1 |
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| Tunnel 1 with the side rolled up |
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| Tomatoes climbing in a high tunnel |
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