Our Archive: Watch as Farmers Grow

  • Monthly Summary – June 2012

    Monthly Summary – June 2012 General Observations: Life on the farm is on-going and it’s nice to look back and find that activities are much the same this year as with last.  Last June, the grass needed to be mowed or whacked regularly, hay fields needed to be cut and baled.  With three weekly last year,…

  • Monthly Summary- May 2012

    Monthly Summary – May, 2012 Posted By, Owen Spath;    Date; 5/28/13 General Observations: May is a busy month for North Slope Farm and 2012 was no exception. With the first harvesting of salad, field kale, field chard, and radishes; the planting of the 4th succession, and the fox that kept stealing chickens the crew had their hands…

  • 2nd Year Focus Introduction: Greenhouse

    Intent:  As my second year focus I chose the Greenhouse Element because it seems to me that it is the foundation of everything that springs forth during the farm season and therefore the management thereof is essential to an efficient and productive year. While there is an obvious standard operating procedure for greenhouse duties, my…

  • Frost Damage to Tender Tomato Plants

    West Amwell, NJ Certified Organic Farm Field Report, MikeR May 16, 2013 Frost Damage to Tomato Plant Four ‘Field Beds’, about 400 Tomato Seedlings succumbed to mortal tissue damage due to freezing temperatures. Lesson:  If planting tender crops before all risk of Frost is past – Agricultural Fabric / “Remay” must be utilized or at…

  • 3rd Year Focus Introduction: Crop Care

      Introduction to Crop Care KG 5/15/2013 Intent- Crop Care, especially weeding, is something that always seems to fall by wayside when the farm’s other priorities become more pressing. My intention in taking on this element in my third year is to be an advocate for our crops; trying to prioritize care where and when…

  • Third Year Introduction

      Introduction to 3rd Year Focus RR 5/15/13 Intent- My second year was spent focusing on greenhouse production. I found that it took a lot of time to manage and that I needing more training in other elements of the operation. So, this year, instead of focusing on one particular element, I want to be…

  • Introduction to Second Year Focus

    Introduction to Administration Written by Todd 5 /15/2013 Intent:               Of all the key elements that North Slope farm is broken down into, Administration, is the one that I am drawn to the least. That is why I have taken the opportunity to make it my second year focus. It is my intention to gain…

  • April 2012

    Jason the mason installing a new floor in the washing station   Monthly Summary – April 2012   General Observations:  April was a cold and windy month. There were lots of farm repairs to be done including spring cleaning and some farm improvements – installation of paver floor in washing station and farm house was painted. Lots…

  • Monthly Summary – March 2012

    Monthly Summary – March 2012 General Observations: Last March we recorded long periods of warm and dry weather during the first few weeks. At night, temperatures sometimes dropped below freezing, especially toward the end of the month. The warmer weather made more outdoor work possible, and crop care was in full swing. But indoor work…

  • Greenhouse 2012 Summary

    Greenhouse 2012 Summary Heated Greenhouse This structure held all our seedling successions for the farm and for sale. There was very bad aphid infestation, noticed in late March, and became full-blown a month later.  An OMRI-approved insecticidal soap, M-Pede, was bought and used according to the directions (except we found the hard way that certain…

  • Special Focus – Irrigation 2012

    Special Focus – Irrigation 2012 Todd Posted March 21st 2013 Irrigation is yet another integral part of our farm operation. Unless there is a good rain fall, irrigation management is a daily task that follows a flexible weekly rotation based on areas of highest priority. The farm is divided into blocks that reflect the maximum…

  • Second Year Summary: Planting Focus

    Prepared by KG on 2/25/2013 Second Year Element Summary – Planting 2012 In our second year at NSF, as part of the training program, interns are encouraged to choose a work element as a focus for the season. I chose planting because I wanted to get a thorough understanding of what is ultimately the main…