Summer 2026 Week 5 Newsletter
Howdy folks,
Happy Father's Day and Summer Solstice this past Sunday! The summer abundance is upon us. Thank you Dad's and sunshine for all that you do for us.
You live and learn each season, and then the next season will be different. We used to have our footpaths bare of any plants, just dry compact dirt! This still happens a little at certain points of the season. Mostly just the days between primary tillage, then bed prep and planting these days do we see barren ground. Shortly after the cash crops are planted, so are the footpaths. The footpaths are planted with low growing seed mixes that don’t need to be mowed, or some that grow a little higher that need to be mowed, or they just don't disturb short day to maturity crops like sugar snap peas, so the crew stamps down the plants as they harvest. The goal on the farm is to feed the people and the soil.
One of the most profound ways to feed the soil is by seeding plants to grow, and cover the ground and have a life cycle other than for the production of food for people, AKA a cover crop. When a plant begins to grow the first to appear from the seed is the root. The plant must anchor itself and begin it’s journey into the rhizosphere before it sends up any leaves. The life and health of soil comes from area coverage, and diversity in plants above and below the ground. The rhizosphere microbiome, is a busy network of roots, bacteria, fungi, and other microbes. Root Exudates release sugars and protein produced via photosynthesis into the soil, this carbon rich substance is food for the microbial communities and that thrive in this zone and in return the beneficial microbes help to fix soluble nutrients for the plant above ground as well as protecting the roots from pathogens. The microscope communities in the soil are drivers of plant health and growth! All growing plants partaking in photosynthesis are actively participating in the rhizosphere with their root system. As above, so below. I’m sure you have heard that when you look at a tree what you see above in the structure of it’s branches you can expect below in it’s root system. This network below is collaborating with root exudates, to live and spread life and communication with bacteria, fungi, and microbes. The more living matter that is seeded brings more life below. Having plants growing in the ground is essential! Just look at most abandoned lots, if they aren’t poisoned by pollution, or laden with rock seeds naturally sprout and cover the ground. This is self preserving! I have to say I am very very impressed with Chris’ undersowing and intersowing this season. It’s like he heard the bacteria and microbes this winter asking him to kiss the ground with seeds and make it a super party in the soil. I’m attaching some stellar images so you can see this magic! Not only are the plants looking happy, the insects as well are digging the buffet of blooms! He started to do this several years ago, and has increased the intensity yearly. The fields look lush and amazing, and our yields have also been great despite the dry weather we are seeing.
Sadly we had a short strawberry season this year. They were short but sweet! Before you know it we will have blueberries for shares, so this is something to look forward to.
Your Farmers,
Chris, Aeros, and the Who Crew
This is one of our hoophouses with an amazing carpet of covercrop sown in between the rows of tomatoes!
Here in the pathways notice the covercrop beginning to germinate. This is a field of tomatoes that the guys are currently putting stakes in, soon we will start tying them up in the "Florida Weave"
Andres is hand sewing a covercrop in the footpath's after Chris has cultivated the soil one last time to stale bed any weeds that have taken hold here. This pass with the cultivating tractor makes the soil more friable to create crevices for seeds to nestle into and cup the morning dew that aid in germination. This field was just recently planted with sweet potatoes.