Forget Covid and Mother Nature. This year our biggest challenge was adjusting to the loss of our "fearless leader" Mike Porter in late January. We're fortunate to have a devoted crew whose knowledge helped guide us through the spring. Steve's daughter, Katie, has been able to take a more active role with crop management. In March, Katie met with Elizabeth Buck from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program to review our crop rotation plan for NOFA organic certification. Elizabeth told us that Mike set us up for success--we had a lot of options to plant our vegetable crops and have reserve space if necessary. Thankfully, our organic certification requires us to keep very detailed notes, including records for the greenhouses, and direct seed, transplant and harvest schedules. These resources definitely helped guide us this spring.

This year the weather was very warm in late March, and allowed us to prepare our vegetable ground earlier than usual. April was very wet, with extreme changes in temperature. By mid-May our fields were very dry and we set up our water wheel irrigation system. Our drip irrigation is ready to go as needed, but a good soaking rain is preferable.

Our family is committed to carrying on the legacy of Jack, Steve and Mike Porter. We thank each of you for trusting us to provide you with fresh, local, organic produce!