Happenings on the Ranch

If you saw my post warning those of you that live within the city limits of Kansas City on the Missouri side that the city council was working to pass an ordinance regarding urban ag, here’s a follow up.

After an outpouring of emails and phone calls with folks unhappy about the proposed ordinance, the city council modified the code slightly to be a bit more accomodating while still trying to make the higher end neighborhood associations happy.  While the ordinance is not perfect it’s better, and the council is required to review the code again in 6 to 12 months.  Here’s what was changed in the new ordinance:

- Home gardeners can sell their excess produce from their home, no permits required.
- Community gardens can sell produce on-site.
- Market gardens (defined as Crop Agriculture) can have employees, but need a special use permit to sell on-site.
- “Row crops” are now allowed but no one that sells on-site can grow row crops in their front yard.  So, essentially, you can grow row crops in your front yard so long as you don’t sell it on-site, but you can take it off-site for sale.  If you want to sell on-site, you can’t grow row crops.  Make sense?
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) needs a Special Use Permit to operate in residential districts. If you get a special use permit, you can run your CSA, have on-site sales, and accept apprentices and interns. (Big step forward from the previous version of the ordinance).

Overall, the ordinance changes are much better but still strict enough to make the neighborhood associations happy.  I see it as a nice compromise.  Yay for urban agriculture!

Well, the rain has finally stopped (for now) and I’m hoping it will be dry enough by this afternoon to actually get something done outside.  We are really behind in planting because it’s been too wet to get anything in the ground.  I’ll be trying to play catch up on weeding and seeding for as long as the rain holds off, since we’re expecting more rain the rest of this week.  Usually farmers love the rain … right now, I’ve had enough.  It’s a good thing I have a good pair of mud boots!

Thankfully Sunday there was a break in the wind, too.  After the greenhouse collapsed during the massive wind storm we had, Arcenio was quick to get the structure back up.  However the wind wouldn’t cooperate and we hadn’t been able to get the plastic back on.  All the seedlings and flowers were relegated to the garage and the sun porch; less than ideal conditions.  But Sunday the wind was nonexistent and the plastic went back on the greenhouse.  I’m now in the process of putting the tables back up and moving all the plants back into their proper home.  Woohoo!

And I’m happy to say the time has come.  This week starts our 2010 CSA season.  The pick up schedule is as follows:

Wednesday:  Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market, 8am to noon.  We will be located four spots from the end at the southwest corner of the lot.

Thursday: Belton Farmer’s Market, 4pm to 7pm.  The market has not started yet, but we will be in the parking places where the market is normally held on Loop Rd.  If the weather is nice, we will have our table set up.  If it’s nasty, we’ll be sitting in the back of the truck with your share.

Friday:  On the farm, 4pm to 7pm.  We will either be under the farm stand by the greenhouse or have your shares waiting for you on the porch.  Weave your way through the chickens to the door!

Saturday:  Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market, 8am to noon.  We will be located three spaces from the end in the northeast corner of the lot.

Of course, those of you that aren’t part of the CSA can still come and see us during those times and check out what else we have to offer.  We’ll have chicken and eggs available at all locations.  We’ll also be at the VA Medical Center Farmer’s Market beginning this week.  The market there runs from 7am to noonish.  Of course, they’re predicting rain on Thursday so bring an umbrella.

We’re looking forward to another successful season full of farm fresh goodies.  Leafy greens are coming in nicely along with green onions and radishes.  Cabbage is strong, strawberries are just about ready and I’m excited to start pulling all this good stuff!

Until next time!

~Karin

As some of you know, we had 70mph winds around here on Friday.  I stood at my bedroom window watching loose items fly across the front of the property and the chickens running for cover.  Unfortunately, the plastic at the base of the greenhouse had not yet been secured.  So, as I watched, the wind blew underneath the plastic, picked up the east side of the greenhouse into the air like a parachute, pulled the supporting poles off their concrete bases and slammed the whole thing down.  The center pole couldn’t handle the violent drop and the whole north section collapsed in on itself.  I was screaming at it the whole time, like my desperate cries of, “No, No, NO!!!” were going to help.

I was really concerned about the destruction and, after the winds died down and the rain went away, I headed out to survey the damage.  The plastic was torn, several wood beams were snapped in half and three sections of the frame were bent beyond repair.  Thankfully we had split the original structure into two halves and intended on putting up two small greenhouses instead of just one.  This meant we had extra parts in the back that hadn’t been used yet.  So, Arcenio and our oldest son, Anthony, worked all weekend to repair the greenhouse.  Everything is back up, for the most part, and we’re waiting for these windy days to subside so we can put the new plastic on.  It’s still a devastating blow and I’m trying not to let it put us behind for the start of the season.

Speaking of seasons, the deadline for paying for your CSA shares for 2010 is fast approaching.  All shares must be paid for in full by May 1st.  We still have spots available so head on over to our CSA page for more info and to download the share agreement!

Despite the wet weather and persistent winds we have managed to get some seeds planted.  Spinach, carrots, radishes, green onions, lettuce, sweet peas, kale, arugula and mustard greens have all gone in and the earliest seedlings are looking great.  We’ve got a newly developed strawberry hill with 50 plants in the ground and the rhubarb bed is coming back beautifully.  Once these winds subside a little bit we’ll be planting beets, turnips, cabbage, and cauliflower.

Everything is turning green on the farm and we have momma geese and turkeys sitting on their eggs.  I love this time of year as it gives a real sense of renewal.  I can’t wait for the first harvest to be able to taste all the wonderful veggies the farm has to offer.  My stomach is growling just thinking of it.

Until next time!

~Karin