New JPU seed units on a custom made frame, adjustable wheels, and seed/parts box. Used for seeding spring mix, spinach, turnips...etc into bare field ground.

“So now that your not working, what do you do all winter?”

I get this question all of the time!  Well in the main season (May – November) I work just about every day (I get three days off June – October).  So when the season finally comes to an end I mainly spend time visiting with friends and family to catch up on the past seven months, repare and organize farm buildings, equiptment maintenance, home remodeling, agriculture conferences, and planning for the next growing season.

We just finished up closing down the Farm Market and Bakery (Reopen March 26th 2012).  We have put much thought into not closing down the market for the winter, but I believe closing for a couple months to be a good thing.  It allows us to clean everything spotless and regroup for the following season.  We are able to look at what we are selling and change items in the store based on the past year’s demand.  Besides, it is difficult to travel to Pittsburgh a few days a week to purchase produce from the strip to sell that we really don’t feel good about selling.  So until we are able to can and/or freeze our own produce during the growing season to sell in the winter months, we will not be open year round.

I would like to thank all of our customers (CSA, Farm Market, Farmers’ Markets) for a really great season, despite the very wet spring followed but a very dry June and July!  I always tell my Uncle when we are doing the seed order that we need to grow more.  He always says, “we don’t need to grow more, we just need to get better at growing what we do now”.  ha Well we tend to split the difference and grow a little more but at the same time tweek our farm practices and equiptment to be more efficient.

I hope everyone has a great winter and I honestly can’t wait to cut the first crop of spring mix and spinach in March!!

Sustainably One of Your Many Local  Farmers,
Dave King