The last month has been one of the driest ever at Stratford Ecological Center on Liberty Road. The sunflowers planted in early August in the front of field 3 germinated well. As many as 20 deer have been spotted grazing the grass around the planting, but thanks to the double electric fence, they have not attempted to go inside. However, due to no rain, the green flower heads have developed on stalks only half the height of a normal year. We plan to create a maze between the plants, so the children can explore and see the flowers more closely when they are in full bloom during our Harvest Fair on Oct. 5.
The corn has not fared well in the drought in the west end of the North Pasture and part of field 5. Some seed either did not germinate or was eaten by the crows. The cobs on the corn that did grow were only two-thirds full and not worth the effort to harvest and store. Instead, Farmer Jeff used the moldboard plow to turn the corn under and plant buckwheat. As a fast-growing crop, he will be able to crimp it to form a mulch, before planting spelt in October. Field 2 is ready to rotate from grass, and it too will go into buckwheat and spelt.
The two grass fields, 8 & 9, on the east side of the farm next to U.S. Route 23, grew so long and thick that we took advantage of a contractor’s availability to make round bales. We now have 21 lined up near the pond, they will help enormously to see us through the winter. With the grass drying out in field 7, the first bale was fed there last week. Others will be transported to field 2 for the traditional Harvest Fair caterpillar.
The apples are not as plentiful this year and have ripened early. Many have already been picked and stored in our walk-in cooler. As usual, they will be used to make cider by our visiting school children in our hand-cranked 150-year-old press, which is in mint condition. Our founder, Louise Warner, and her husband, Clyde Gosnell, who restored and donated the press, no longer make their own cider, but ensured we have enough apples by donating 13 bushels from their orchard, picked by Clyde and willing volunteers from Stratford.
Stratford is now open to the general public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Despite the drought, the farm looks exceptionally beautiful, especially in the early part of the day when the sun is climbing in the sky. At the pond the light glints on the water, and the shadows of the women taking the last yoga class of the year were clearly visible on the grass. The willow and catalpa trees growing along the south bank appear to have doubled in height and thickness this year. Milkweed, eaten by the monarch caterpillars, is growing in abundance on the north bank above the pond. A group of trees on the edge of the woods beside the South Pasture on the way to the sugar shack have already turned a bright gold. Everywhere the caring hands of Farmer Jeff, our interns, farmhands and gardeners is evident, motivated with the desire to have the farm looking its best for Harvest Fair.
The families who signed up for Family Farm Chores last week, and the five 7-month-old pigs had a great time together. The families were in the lane on one side of the Corral fence, and the pigs were gathered around their water trough on the other side. Mud holes surround the trough! The children turned on the hose, filled the holes, and sprayed the pigs as they wallowed in the water; both were ecstatic!
The weather on the evening of our Give to Grow Gala on Aug. 22 was gorgeous. Over 300 guests enjoyed conversation, flute and guitar music, delicious food, the yellow children’s rubber boots turned into flower vases decorating the tables, a fun silent and live auction, and an update on the benefits of an educational farm where children could connect with all living things. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been the presence of the leader of our farmhands and Stratford’s treasurer, Mark White. It was not to be, as the night before the Gala, Mark passed away suddenly, and we heard the unbelievable news the next morning. After Mark retired from the corporate world, he was invited to volunteer at Stratford and took to farming like a duck to water. He became an invaluable farmhand and mentor, as well as taking on the position of board treasurer. Mark will be missed and remembered by so many people.
Pauline Scott is a farm and nature guide at Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Road, Delaware. She can be reached at 740-363-2548 or by email at [email protected]. Website: StratfordEcologicalCenter.org.
