October-No Matter
How many weeks did it last? The drought that is...It's easy to forget the drought as Helene came on its heels, ripping through with enough force to erase the memory of it. But we didn't forget. In fact, the first precipitation to fall in earnest in six weeks came a week before Hurricane Helene's landfall in Florida's panhandle. We had nearly forgotten the protocol of rainy days: cover the potting soil bunker, retrieve Jack's boots from the yard, roll up the sides of the high tunnel so as not to drown the ginger that grows just inside its walls. I literally giggled as I ran through the redemptive rain to wind up those walls. I wouldn't have believed it was real without the multisensory experience...the smell of the wetness mixing with the brown leaves, shed before their time as the trees reacted to the stress of the drought; the sound of a storm, angrily erupting over the acres of farmland that stretch out on all sides of us; the sight of the chickens hopping into their coop to seek shelter from the deluge; and the feeling that all was going to be okay. That a rain will come, has come.
We, all four of us, cozied into our favored spots in the living room assuming our storm repose, while Jack's forgotten rain boots filled up like little rain catchers underneath the climbing tree. I, for one, may have been decompressing for the first time in nearly a month, or whenever the time was when I realized that the farm was strained by the lack of precipitation, and Rich was working overtime to play rainmaker with his irrigation. Unbelievably, we were in for a few more weeks of waiting for rain. Somewhere in that time, I gave up on checking the weather forecast, my anxiety mounting, not wanting to see a sunny, dry 10-day forecast. And even more, not wanting to be teased yet again with the chance of rain that never came.
Rich tapped our well, our water source for our home and our fields alike, prioritizing the shallow-rooted salad plantings and counting on the more deeply rooted carrots and peppers to make due with less. We had made it to August, fruitful as a farm could be. If we were to lose out on a great fall harvest, it would be what it would be. That sheep flock we sold off in the spring, they are elsewhere looking for fresh forage which is no more as the fields lie stalled and browning. Another farmer is having to find hay from somewhere far away to feed them this fall. Not to mention the winter...
Everyone in southern Ohio found themselves in historically dry positions, just taking it one day at a time. Burn restrictions were mandated in some counties, water use restrictions in those less fortunate. If anything, Rich and I were in good company as we danced for rain. And though the farm shouldered the burden of the exceptional weather more than we humans, it continued to bear fruit. You'd never know how dehydrated the land was, if you were to see our tables overflowing with vegetables at market. Perhaps all the regeneration we have been encouraging in the garden soils have improved its water holding capacity. Certainly the 23 acres of surrounding vegetation which we have allowed to grow lush have done their part to keep water in the soil. And maybe we are being recompensed for making the decision to search long and hard for a property with good access to water. Being that we are proximal to Wolf Creek and a healthy supply of groundwater, we haven't had to rely on trucking in water like other vegetable farmers in the area have had to this summer.
We relied on our well more than we've ever done this year. And we saw what the farm was capable of as it was tested by the most extreme drought we've had since caring for it. It's a resilient beast, and we're hoping to grow it even more so.
As it went, Hurricane Helen blew in like the other half of a one-two punch. She was a tremendously fierce storm, unleashing incredible winds, sustained for hours. The storm was one which a born and raised, land-locked kid like me doesn't see coming. Maybe a coastal kid could school me in how to quiet my racing heart as the heaven's open and just absolutely unleash torrents of water on the earth below. During such a raging storm, it's all we could do to busy our minds so as not to get tangled up in the things that we couldn't change...the leak in the dining room (it's time to pony up for a new roof), the acres of veggies that would or wouldn't survive the storm, the question of losing power and how we would store the bounty of harvest which makes up a pretty good chunk of income for us for the fall...
Though the lights flickered and leaked water pitter-pattered into a few of our stock pots, the worst of the storm relented and we realized we were lucky ones. We kept power and we were safe. Four inches of rain had fallen within hours: a very tall glass of water indeed. That rainfall was helping us to crawl out of drought status, replenishing the stores. In fact, when the sun rose on market day morning, we found that the usual wet spots were not in standing water; the ground had actually soaked up the abundance. The soil was saturated, but there were no flood ponds to be found. Saturation is problematic as it encourages insects, including those that are detrimental to crops. Not to mention the cracking of root vegetables, and the potential rotting of others as the soil works to process excessive rainfall.
And so, after that morning's market, it was time to react to our new puzzle. We decided to pull all of our fall roots, cabbage and cauliflower in anticipation of loss. This unexpected bulk harvest took about a week in between our regularly scheduled fall tasks. We salvaged most of those crops, happy enough with the yield. Our backs are sore for it, but that's small potatoes in comparison with the absolute upheaval and loss of lives in North Carolina, Florida, and other southern states.
No matter what, we move on. No matter if drought or flood threatens the farm, we'll return to the fields to make the most of it. And though so much is out of our control, if we build the soils and prioritize resilient systems here, we will have a better chance at maneuvering the challenges of a changing climate, a volatile supply chain, and the unknown.
It's the sturdy folks who kept me busy allll market the day after the storm, the rain or shiners and out-of-powerers that encourage me to think this way. It's the woman who came to get her weekly produce as a tree lie, crushing her house, and water leaked in, who reminds me that life goes on, you've still got to eat and get up and go, no matter what. And there's still much enjoyment and a sense of normalcy to be found in going to market to pick up your weekly bag of salad.
Farm News:
-Final Oakwood Farmers Market/Fall Fest: Saturday October 12th 9-noon is the final Oakwood Farmers Market of 2024. It will be great fun and we'll have an awesome spread of fall goodies. Gotta come for the festivities and the veggies ;).
-How to Continue to Get Foxhole Goods...we're still growing and baking for you:
Here's our agenda:
-October 12th: Last Oakwood Market 9-12
-Saturday October 19th and Saturday October 26th 9-12: Post Season Market at Maraluna in the Shops of Oakwood (two blocks down from the market at 2316 Far Hills). Come shop with us, Pretty Picnic, Mr. Fancy Bakes, etc inside Maraluna, a beautiful fairtrade shop in Oakwood. We will have our full market set up and you can also order online and pick up from our booth inside the shop.
-Saturdays November-May 10-11:30: You can order online weekly and pick up your goods on Saturdays from 10-11:30 in the Oakwood Farmers Market parking lot where we will be waiting for you :). Our online shop is restocked each Monday morning with our offerings for the week. Our shop can be found:
-Oakwood Farmers Market Seeking New Manager for 2025 Season:
We are saying goodbye to our previous market manager and hoping a great candidate comes along who will lead us fearlessly ;). If you're a local who is organized, wants a partime summer gig engaging community and sitting on the Oakwood Farmers Market board, reach out to oakwoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com. The market is so fun and there is a very familial feel to the people behind it: vendors, the manager, and the board. We're hoping someone great throws their hat in the ring!