Here in Dominica we're having the worst drought in memory. NO rain in more than 2 months under blazing sun, cloudless skies, desiccating winds. Heavy ashfall from Montserrat eruption still clinging to leaves, blocking photosynthesis, changing pH. Our farm long ago ran out of water, unable to plant, transplant, losing crop after crop. (Amazingly broccoli/radish/turnip family still produce with no water.) Rivers other farmers count on for irrigation running dry. Folks can't plant and can't take care of what was already planted, unless they're lucky enough to have access to and afford public water (with rationing possible/likely in near future). Then "regular" dry season due to start by midMarch, last through midJune. Then hurricane season. Oy! Very disastrous situation here and little/no gov't. assistance or insurance and in this land of small family subsistence plus farms, most folks hardly have pockets, let alone ones deep enough to get through one more calamitous year.
Crisis/opportunity .... maybe ... but the recent unpredictability of weather patterns makes recognizing real opportunity challenging.
Best wishes to all,
Karen
Roots Farm Organic Produce Fruits, Roots, Vegetables & Herbs Cockrane, DOMINICA767-449-3038
We had one of our most severe winters on record in 2008/2009, then a cold Dec 2009, then Jan/ Feb 2010 was the warmest on record. The ping-pong back and forth has been sorta tough to work with. Most folks here waited a long time in early 2010 before they were willing to let out a sigh of relief. But with the end of February in sight and the bulk of our winter behind us now, most folks are getting out there and taking advantage of the warm, dry conditions. Happily. Even as we're still sorta looking over our shoulders wondering if we're still acting a tad too early. Of course the grouchiest of us are still suspicious, and I've heard mutterings about "nah, it'll be a cool blighty summer". I guess we'll see. I myself was grateful to have good soil conditions to work with, so early in the year. Kathryn Kerby Frog Chorus Farm Snohomish, WA Interesting weather patterns. Here on Cape Breton Island at the northern end of Nova Scotia in Canada we're having one of our milder winters. Almost no snow and with the exception of one week of colder temperatures mostly just around freezing day and night. Lots of wind though. You guys to the south just must not live right. :)
Richard
On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 1:59 PM, Deb Taft <growbd AT aol.com> wrote: > > > Here in Westchester County, just north of NYC, we have about 18 inches of > snow in just a little over 24 hours. It's still snowing, though the sky > seems to be lightening a bit. We haven't yet had the winds they promised. > My long driveway has 4 large trees across it and I keep hearing the crack > and crash of other trees in the woods. Fortunately vehicles are safe so far > and, while we have lost power 3 times, it's up and running now. > We've had a few good snow storms this winter but this is the biggest yet. > It's going to take several days to dig out. > Thanks for thinking about us, Carla! > Warmly in spite of the cold, > Deb > Sleepy Hollow NY > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: cjmaness AT juno.com <cjmaness AT juno.com> > To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org > Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2010 12:41 pm > Subject: Re: [Market-farming] onion plants and How is it going in the > Northeast ? > > Jay, > I know what you mean. This time last year we were busy planting. I ordered > my > onions to come a week later than they did last year, but who knew? I ordered > late last fall and never dreamed I'd be worried about holding onions. This > is > our 8Th year of growing and we've never been this late before. If anything > it > seems like every year we've planted a little earlier. Not this year! But, > the > people in the northeast do have it so much worse! > My ground is not frozen, just too wet to do anything. > Carla > Perkins, OK > > ____________________________________________________________ > Small Business Tools > Learn how to save time and money. Click to find what tools your business > needs > now. > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/c?cp=yQ-yNWxqIEt4F8GN9ySihAAAJz1IpEJmPFxVJyqaeAXGqH-MAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARMQAAAAA= > _______________________________________________ > Market-farming mailing list
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