What do Farmers do in Winter?

Amusing, isn't it, that many people think we vacation from from September's first frost until a Memorial Day planting. What do we do in that time?

Once there is a frost we begin harvesting fall root crops for winter storage in sand in the root cellar. Ken also starts making sauerkraut and cultured vegetables - old fashioned food preservation that enhances vitamins and creates probiotics that aid in digestion. And he makes LOTS, more than we can eat alone.

There is also fall cleanup - fix it, pick it up before it is frozen down until spring.

Once inside, Ken begins cleaning seed he has saved during he growing season.

We go through the evaluation of the prior season, and plan for the next one - contact buyers, chefs, CSA members, and seek new ones. Part of this is talking with other farmers and comparing notes on their seasons as well as our season.

I catch up on reading, and I flag items for future CSA newsletters. I also do tax prep and organize seeds and order the seeds we need for the upcoming season. Ken researches and reads most evenings. He also attends conferences - four this winter season. He is most excited that he was invited to attend the national biodynamic conference in New York state as part of the Viroqua regional group.

And in late January / early February planting seeds begins with onions, leeks, and celery. Then there is weekly planting and seedling maintenance. The new season begins!