Here is an excerpt from our weekly publication,
The cold weather is moving in and the farm is transitioning into a new phase. Farming is a cycle process with constants that change in their actions but not in spirit; we are constantly focused on caring for the short term and long term health of our soil and our community and do so with many different successions of plants and farm work. Though we are still harvesting tomatoes and can feel the suns rays on our skin and remember the intense heat of the summer, we are thinking forward to our harvest next season and nurturing our soil by planting cover crops and careful cultivation.
We are slowly casting off plants which might be beyond their top, so we can get good boom on our area peas, vetch, oats, rye and clover earlier than its too cold. These are special vegetation we grow for the soil, not to eat. We plant these vegetation inside the fall so that they maintain the soil within the beds, stopping it from washing away. Cover plants additionally upload nutrients to the soil through taking nitrogen from the surroundings and storing it in the soil, legumes do it themselves with the help of rhizobial bacteria, and the relaxation add nitrogen while we till them into the soil to break down within the spring. Cover crops also help to interrupt up hard soils, their roots grow deep into the soil and create space for oxygen and drainage.
We will keep growing plant life and convey into the bloodless months each in our hoop residence and outside. Take a glance in our bloodless frames, mini greenhouses, to see the style of greens and root plants sprout up. You may also see increasingly more white blankets, referred to as row covers, overlaying beds. Both the row covers and cold frames provide a bit extra refuge to the vegetation, maintaining them warmer, and shielding them from mild frosts. Check out Harriet the Hoop House too, she has some new beds prepped and planted. Last year we were harvesting proper as much as new yr, and wish to this year as well.
We are still in negotiations with the DOE on our contract, and unfortunately are still not able to distribute our produce. We are very happy to be establishing standards for soil quality and non-profit partnerships that will benefit many school gardens in the future. The lack of sales however has greatly hurt the financial health of the farm. We depend on the sale of produce and flowers to run our programs. We are now forced to start cutting back programs and staff. We hope to be able to distribute again soon, but know that even then we will not be able to make up for the loss.
Bk farmyards is holding an amazing fundraiser on October 25th, which we hope will provide some fund to allow us to continue operating. The event Meet your Maker: Crops& Hops, will be a celebration of local foods with sample pairings of food prepared by some of Brooklyn's best chefs and beer from NY’s best breweries. Tickets are available for a 6:30 & a 8:30 seating HERE. Hope to see you there!
Drop off your bags of leaves at our weekly 
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