Organic Farm Tour

Yesterday afternoon I attended the farm tour at Abingdon Organics, led by Anthony Flacovento. Abingdon Organics is a family farm that sells produce at the local farmer's market and to Appalachian Sustainable Development for their food distribution programs, including Second Harvest Food Bank. The group of about 40 -50 people, including home gardeners, farmers, and wannabes, was led around the farm to see and discuss various crops and organic methods of disease and pest control as well as best practices. As a rookie gardener, I learned something almost every time anyone spoke, including the embarassing fact that my cantaloupe (really mush melons) vines are not just slow to get going, they're dead. The same thing happened on the farm when we had the long wet and cold spell in May, however they knew enough to replant while I've been waiting for them to grow after a very meager sprouting. I guess I'll be buying my melons from the farm when theirs are ready in three weeks or so. I also learned about removing the "suckers" from my tomato vines to increase the yield. However, my tomatos are so big now, it's probably too late. I should have started earlier as they were beginning to develop. Suckers come out at a 45 degree angle between the leaf stem and the main stem and can be easily snapped off or cut with garden shears. I'll know next year. They also had great success with gardening in enclosed "high tunnels", structures of steel and plastic that covered about ten rows for about 50 yards long. The added protection enables three season planting and quicker development but requires irrigation since no rain can get in. They're also about $3000 apiece and took four men four days to set up. I guess I'm lucky that my garden is only 4'x8' and I don't have to worry about covering it.