A pictorial essay on what too much water does...

It seemed strange with all the nice sunny weather we've had since Tuesday, but last Sunday's ginormous rain event left us with a lot of wet wet work this past week.   To keep this in perspective, our normal May average rainfall is 1.52 inches.  BEFORE last weekends rain event, we had ALREADY accumulated 3 inches of rain in May.  Then, in a 24 hour period we received 1.33 inches.  Even my sandy loam can't deal with that much water at all once.  So what does this do in real life for a farmer, well, they say a picture is worth a 1000 words so here ya go:

Garlic field swamped.  This photo taken AFTER pumping water off for about 8 hours!

River of water draining off the garlic field

Generator/sump pump/bucket in a hole of water set up

Water flowed like this for 2 straight days

What new arugula crop should look like

What 90% of arugula looks like after being waterlogged for 6 days. Brown sad, dying leaves.

So what does this all mean?  Well, not totally sure yet.  Will the arugula recover?  Maybe.  It might also just go to bolt  (or basically set flowers without maybe much of any leaves which is what we harvest).  Will the garlic be damaged - possibly.  So far haven't seen any signs but jury still out on that.  About 30 percent of the crop was under water like that so at least it didn't affect it all.  

So what to do?  What for the fields to dry out, replant and carry on.  It's what we farmers do...

In the meantime...We are coming to the Bayview and Coupeville market with the goodies we could harvest out of the not too wet fields including:

From Willowood Farm:

* Radishes - tons of them!

* Carrot bunches

* Baby head lettuces

* Spinach - mixed types

* Kale and chard bunches

* Braising greens

* Garlic greens

* Dry Beans

* Potato Bags

* Japanese Turnips

From Prairie Bottom Farm:

* Arugula (Coupeville only)

* Chinese Cabbage

* Chives

* Dry Beans

From Ebey Road Farm:

* Emmer Farro

Hope to see you at market!

Farmer Georgie

Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie

Farming - what a crazy, wet, windy and FABULOUS job to have!

As I type this post and get ready for market day while pondering the ominous grey clouds and a weather report for rain, rain and rain PLUS wind up to 37 mph (seriously????), I remember what a true privilege it is to farm for a living.

Lauren and Lydia hoeing garlic....

No, really!  I've worked an "office" job (or two) and I can tell you that I would rather take a wet, windy, miserable day outside and day than one cooped up in artificial air under fluorescent lights.  Blech.  Call me crazy (and many do!), but being outside is what I'm all about. 
So no matter the weather, Willowood Farm will be there on market day bringing our goodies to our loyal customers who are brave and stalwart enough to chance a bit of rain or wind and come see us.  Because, well, that's what we do!
And since I know you folks are all itching to see what we are bringing, here is the list for the Coupeville Farmer's Market today...
(SOUTH END FOLKS - ONE MORE WEEK TIL WE ARE BAYVIEW!  However...Anza from Maha Farms is bringing a selection of Willowood Farm goodies with her to the Tilth Market today, if you want to check that out!).
From Willowood Farm
- Mesclun bags
- Arugula bags
- Broccoli raab bunches
- Giant Purple Mustard bunches (hot and horseradishy!)
- Tatsoi bunches
- Baby pac choi
- Radishes
- Mixed braising green bunches
- Garlic Greens
- Peregion and Rockwell Beans

From Prairie Bottom Farm (Wilbur and Julieanna will be gone at History Day competition today - go Wolves! But they brought over a nice selection for Georgie and crew to sell today...).
- Green and Red Bordeaux Spinach
- Parsnips
- Chives
- Walla Walla scallions
- Baby Napa Cabbage bunches
- Wild Arugula bunches
And of course Sara's famous pies...

On a funny note, I recently came across this YouTube video and just LOVED it.  Although I'm afraid to show it to my tractors, I know they will be jealous.  My 1956 Farmall is particularly good at well-timed back-firing and I have a feeling she (all tractors are she's!) would love a chance in the spotlight...
 Tractor Rocks the House (Barn)!
Hope to see you at market today!
Farmer Georgie, wet, wind-blown and fabulous!
Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie