"A farm is a manipulative creature. There is no such thing as finished. Work comes in a stream and has no end. There are only the things that must be done now and things that can be done later. The threat the farm has got on you, the one that keeps you running from can until can't, is this: do it now, or some living thing will wilt or suffer or die. It's blackmail, really."
- Kristin Kimball
- Kristin Kimball
The Greenhouse The greenhouse sees seedlings grow into transplantable plants. Here they are sheltered from the elements and pests. A regular watering schedule and weekly submergence into a fish (nitrogen) and seaweed (potassium) solution keep these would-be plants happy and fed and on track for their eventual move to the field. These baby plants are also "thinned" during their time in the greenhouse. "Thinning" is the process of making sure that there are not too many plants crowding the seed starter trays so that there is room and nutrients available to produce strong healthy plants. |
Out in the Field
The field is where most of the work and magic happen. Transplants are brought from the greenhouse to the field to continue their growth and food production. On occasion there are some plant seeds that are sown directly into the field, but most plants at Sweetwater start out in the greenhouse. There are many hours dedicated each week to weeding and harvesting; both of these "field maintenance" activities help to keep the field clean and producing. Other field maintenance activities include laying drip lines, checking irrigation lines, tilling rows and staking and twining certain plants (like tomatoes). |
Washing and Drying
After each harvest the goods are brought to the washing and drying station at the main Sweetwater site. There is a covered area that contains four washing tubs and a handful of drying tables. Almost everything that comes out of the field makes a pit stop here to get clean and pretty before getting boxed up and continuing on to a CSA pick-up or organic market. |
"Farming is a profession of hope."
- Brian Brett
- Brian Brett