This week on the farm we made an interesting discovery. We found a small millipede in our compost rich garden beds. At first glance we were very concerned it was a symphylon, a small arthropod that is very destructive. Upon further research we realized it was a polydesmid commonly referred to as the flat backed millipede. They eat decomposing organic matter, like compost, & don’t pose a threat to garden vegetables the way symphs do. Phew!
We planted more marigolds, broccoli, leeks, and onions too. We are incorporating more beneficials into the garden plan this season. Companions like sage, thyme, yarrow, nasturtium & marigold will be in almost every bed this year. Garden tip: marigolds (calendula) resist unwanted pests like bad nematodes. They attract spider mites & slugs but that can be a good thing because then the farmers can find them more easily & pluck them off. They also deter white flies. They are antagonistic to beans, so be sure there is some space between them.
We have begun to shift away from purchased potting mix to using our own made on the farm. Commercial potting soil, even organic, contributes to the depletion of the world’s peat supply. It is worth the effort to make our own potting mix especially with our focus on farm made compost.
The layer chicks arrived, including Rhode Island Red & Golden Sexlink. They are much more active than the Cornish Cross meat chicks we’ll be raising in April. They have to be kept under heat lamps for a few weeks & once they develop their feathers we can put them into the chicken tractors. The chicken tractor design we are using this season will allow the birds to free range on pasture but stay protected from predators in the sky & on the ground. We can put 10 birds per tractor & move them to a new patch daily. They’re built out of lumber we milled from right here on the farm.
Weather was a bit extreme this week with temps ranging from a low of 25 degrees to 70 degrees a few days later. The greenhouse reached almost 100 degrees, but the soil was cool enough that the spring scallions & kale didn’t bolt.
We’ll begin working on our biodynamic/organic certification in April- stay tuned…….
