Gardens have gone from waterlogged to sun-scorched in what feels like a matter of days. Following weeks of steady rain where everything was waterlogged, the skies cleared and we plunged into a stretch of hot, dry weather with soaring temps and rain nowhere in sight, the soil quickly went from saturated to parched. That’s challenging even the hardiest of plants.

Our Garden Maintenance workshop has honed in on: targeted watering in the early mornings or evenings and focusing on the base of plants to avoid evaporation, air flow between plants, weeding and organic pest control. We are focusing on deadheading, pinching back growth, typing up growth on trellises and harvesting at the best times

Owsley County Farm To School Happenings
Farm visits are always the most fun happenings. Showing off the fruits of everyone’s labor is exciting for all. Our group has begun harvesting with several members choosing to sell their extras at local farmers markets around the region. We have a farm focusing on herbal teas, seasoned salts, dried herbs, and mocktails at the market while building a farm stand to sell their excess produce and eggs to their neighbors. Two of our farms are selling produce at least twice a week at the local market, another young farmer whose crops are coming in and is now selling his excess at the market and from his home. Another very active member of our group is doing one hundred percent organic and doing organic education to our market customers through her booth. We have another large group of multi generational family gardens who are tending large gardens with grandparents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins. The smaller sized gardens are also coming along with good results. Our flower garden tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are producing and participants are eating fresh from their own food sources.

July is a busy family oriented month in out areas with everyone squeezing in vacations, reunions and the last of summer freedom but we are also squeezing in food preservation Next up, a workshop for canning dilly beans since our group wants to try some new things.