This is a view of the southeastern block of the farm, taken last spring. This year, the entire farm will be protected by a deer fence, thanks to funding from Crawford County.
Last summer, there was a day when Jason returned from the farm, and sank down on the living room floor, barely able to speak. He was overcome by the discovery of overnight deer devastation to the gardens.
This morning, as I stood in the Crawford County Courthouse, and received a check for $20,000, which will build the farm’s deer fence, it was me who could barely speak. This time, it was because of overwhelming gratitude.
Last year, Crawford received CARES Act money to help businesses during the pandemic, and the county commissioners set aside a portion of funding for agriculture losses and expenses. For our farm, this money will help unlock the land’s true potential with the fence and a second long-term investment.
As for the fence, it will secure about 4 acres of gardens. Without it, the farm is not sustainable. For the past two seasons, deer damage was constant and costly. The fence will be 7 ½ feet tall, and, with proper care, will likely stand for generations.
The second investment will come in the form of landscape fabric. As part of our commitment to the health of the land, we don’t use herbicides, so all weeds must be dealt with by hand. On the scale we farm, weed control is nearly impossible for two people, especially when one has a full-time job off the farm. About $5,000 worth of landscape fabric will cover 60 of our 125-foot beds. It’ll also blanket the pathways, a constant source of frustration when it comes to weeds. That will leave 30 beds without fabric. These will be covered with straw, which helps with weeds and also discourages pests like squash bugs.
As for the fabric, we’ve read it can easily last 10 years, and there are farms that have used the same pieces for more than two decades. When the fabric arrives this winter, we’ll make jigs and burn holes for the transplants.
Some of the fabric will be kept intact, and laid over rows after harvest. After a little more than a week, the fabric helps break down the remnants of the former crop, creating soft, rich soil that won’t require the tiller’s tines.
As you can imagine, these two purchases will be life-changing. There are no words to completely capture how grateful we are for this funding. In these especially hard times for those who govern, we’d like to personally thank county commissioners Francis Weiderspahn, Eric Henry, and Chris Soff, as well as those who helped with the process. With so many families and businesses suffering, we accept this opportunity with humble hearts. – Stella
The sun rising over the farm’s big hill is a sight we hope to see for many, many years. It’s a gift to work this land.