Early, Late and Four-Season Production: Using Season Extension Effectively to Increase Your Farm’s Offerings

On Monday, May 16 we will tour three farms in the Ithaca, NY area to see their early spring production in action.  Each farm will show off their season-extension structures while explaining how their usage is incorporated into the yearly production, harvest and marketing schedule.  At Sweet Land Farm, discussion will center on the use of passive solar tunnels and on their winter CSA and storage needs.  At The Good Life Farm, movable tunnels will be highlighted, and participants will complete a rotation design activity to gain insight into how the farmers plan their rotations, seeding and harvest schedules.  At West Haven, a variety of season-extension structures are in use, and we will focus the discussion around optimizing the particular spaces for their best uses.  We will learn about heated greenhouses and radiant heat benches, which have significantly improved the seedling production at West Haven.  Following the tours, there will be a group meal celebrating early-season spring produce in the form of a collaborative bowl of salad (our springtime version of stone soup).  Please bring an item to contribute to the salad (greens will be provided from the three farms, and allergens will be kept aside).  Additional potluck items are welcome, of course.  The potluck will be held at the EcoVillage SONG Common House (adjacent to West Haven Organic Farm).

The workshop is free for NOFA-NY members and $15 for non-members (some scholarships may be available).  Go to the NOFA-NY Online Store or call Rachel at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511 by May 9th to register.

About the Farmers:

Paul Martin and Evangeline Sarat have been farming at Sweet Land Farm (Trumansburg, NY) since the 2007 season. The farm currently has 400 summer CSA members (24-week season) and 165 winter CSA members (12-week season).  Evangeline and Paul, assisted by 3 full-time seasonal employees, run the farm which uses passive solar tunnels and storage space to provide their extended-season CSA produce.

The Good Life Farm (Interlaken, NY) is owned and operated by Garrett Miller and Melissa Madden.  They focus on farm systems that are perennial, fit an energy descent profile and work well in plant and animal polycultures.  High tunnels help them add high-value annual crops to their system, particularly at the beginning and end of the season.  The Good Life Farm is also home to several part-time farmers in various partnership agreements.

West Haven Organic Farm (Ithaca, NY) has been growing certified organic fruits and vegetables since 1992. They are beginning their 20th CSA season and currently have 265 shares over a 24-week season. They sell at the Ithaca Farmer's Market and to several local restaurants.  John Bokaer-Smith and Todd McLane manage the farm. The farm employs 1 full time crew leader and 2 interns during the growing season.

Learning Objectives:

Sweet Land Farm
• How passive solar tunnels are used for summer and winter season extension , including decision-making process and planning planting successions
• Storage specs for winter CSA produce, including use of a walk-in cooler
• What goes in to having a winter CSA
The Good Life Farm
• Moveable high tunnel design
• Crop rotations under movable tunnels (3-4 seasons/one tunnel/year)
• Incorporating high-value niche crops into a farm plan
West Haven
• Heated greenhouses
• Radiant heat benches
• Growing seedlings for farm use and for sale, determining optimal use for different spaces
Overall
• Investments and permanence/replacement needs of different season extension structures
• Planning ahead for early-season demand, late-season demand and winter markets
• Financial impact of marketing and selling in the early or off season

Directions to Sweet Land Farm (9732 New York Route 96, Trumansburg, NY 14886)
Trumansburg is North of Ithaca, NY on Route 96.  From Ithaca, take Route 96 north through the village of Trumansburg. Once the speed limit turns from 45 to 55mph, the farm is on the left-hand (west) side of the road.

You will see the Sweet Land Farm sign on the left, across the street from several large barns and silos. Turn left at the sign and follow the farm road to the gravel parking area on the right, just before the large passive-solar greenhouse.

Please drive slowly and watch for children!

The farm is the first residence past the Dollar General.

From I-90 Eastbound: Take exit 42 toward NY-14/Geneva/Lyons go 0.3 mi, merge onto NY-318 E, go 0.2 mi.  Turn right onto NY-14 S, go 5.7 mi.  Turn left onto Lake St, go 0.1 mi, take the 1st left onto NY-5 E/US-20 E, go 1.9 mi.  Turn right onto New York 96A S, go 17.3 mi, continue onto NY-96 S/N Town Line Rd.  Destination will be on the right.

From I-81 Southbound:

Take exit 11 for NY-13 toward Cortland/Ithaca.  Follow 13 S to Ithaca, NY.  Turn right onto W Buffalo St, go 0.3 mi, Continue onto NY-96 N/Cliff St.  Continue to follow NY-96N.