Do you find yourself thinking about your favorite CFM farmers and wondering what they are up to during the "off" season? Over the next few weeks, we'll give you a snapshot of what each farmer is doing in the colder months when things slow down at the farm.
First up: Growing Heart Farm, Wingdale, NY Farmers Marisa Barone and Ian Nichols
Marisa had this to say about how the farming couple spends its days: "The best part of winter as a farmer is slowing down and being able to do other things life has to offer besides growing and maintaining a farm-full of vegetables! We spend our precious downtime hiking, reading, researching, making music, and art-making (Ian plays piano and Marisa draws and paints) and most importantly, sleeping. The best rejuvenation for seasonal burnout is honoring the need to relax and do less, guilt-free!
The the farm doesn't really stop in the winter, but the pace slows down a lot. We have salad growing from fall to spring in our two unheated, passive-solar high tunnels and manage them according to the weather, rolling up the sides or putting on row cover depending on conditions. There's nothing like a tunnel full of vibrant, colorful greens when the rest of the landscape is frozen. The winter is also a time for education.
As relatively new farmers, we have so much to learn! From plant and soil science to running a business, this is an invaluable time for deep dives, expanding horizons, and planning for the coming season." Growing Heart Farm is a small, diversified vegetable & herb farm specializing in year-round greens production in the Harlem Valley. We believe that the healthiest food comes from the healthiest ecologies, starting with the soil. We intensively rotate our crops, use cover crops, and remineralize our soils, replenishing the nutrients and biology each year. It’s our goal to grow the best-tasting and most nutritious vegetables we can using sustainable methods.
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Growing Heart Farm is a small, diversified vegetable & herb farm specializing in year-round greens production in the Harlem Valley. We believe that the healthiest food comes from the healthiest ecologies, starting with the soil. We intensively rotate our crops, use cover crops, and remineralize our soils, replenishing the nutrients and biology each year. It’s our goal to grow the best-tasting and most nutritious vegetables we can using sustainable methods.