Crops Planted in 2018
We don't know what the Summer will hold, but we are planning on a drought again (just to be on the safe side). We expect to plant rye (well it was planted with clover last fall), wheat, oats, peas (dry), chickpeas (which we experimented with last year), beans, peas, forage (need to keep those yaks growing - the meat is incredibly good), and potatoes. It probably isn't a huge surprise but I love working outside, keeping up a reasonable ratio of eyes to acres and learning our land; and most of the time when I am done outside the last thing I want to do is get on the computer. With that in mind the other thing we are "growing" in 2018 will be our Instagram account. Find us at "littleloavesfarmer".
Crops Planted in 2017
I didn't up date this in 2017, we grew grains - wheat, barley, oats, and rye. We also grew potatoes. The drought was a challenge, as was an explosion in the vole population. The drought not only meant it was hard getting our crops to finish, but plants that are normally not browsed by game, were browsed by game. Even the potato plans were eaten down to the ground, being one of the few green plants around by late Summer. That said we were able to provide YYC Growers with potatoes for the CSA and we are providing them with rye flour mixes (cookie and pancake) throughout the winter. Even while plants struggled in the drought the farm grew, the building was mostly finished with shop half operational. A new potato washer if fantastic, and we did get a new thresher. We also gained several new yak calves.
Crops Planted in 2016
Little Loaves Farm is growing this year, but not necessarily in terms of crops. We learned a great deal about our site in 2015, and how tough dry year can be without irrigation. We have planted our fields in green manures, oil sunflowers, and even clover (into the Fall rye so that next year it can be hayed). We have new equipment, a small hay baler, a matching BCS hay rake, and we are planning to get a new thresher in a couple weeks. The real growth is in animals (yak calves and hopefully the purchase of at least a bull) and also in infrastructure. We have been working with Mountain View County and the province to do our environmental farm plan, on farm water management plan, and now that those are done to work with the Growing Forward 2 program (and ALUS, Alberta Conservation Association, Cow and Fish, and Mountain view County) to get the farm properly setup. Our farm building will start going up in July, we expect to get shelter belts in, cisterns below and above ground (for us and for irrigation), and a great deal of riparian fencing put up. I am excited to see how the farm changes over the Summer. We have also discovered flaked rye, so soon, once we get the new thresher there will be a new product from Little Loaves Farm as flaked rye makes for great cookies (like an oatmeal cookie). I have to run, but more coming soon!
Crops Planted in 2015
This list will be updated and expanded with descriptions, planting dates and corresponding expected harvest dates. See crop updates for the most current information on how each of the crops are progressing. Questions about what we grow, pricing, or availability, contact us at: farmer@littleloavesfarm.com
We work with YYC Growers and Distributors in Calgary, Alberta to bring our products to market. Please check out their Community Supported Agriculture program, and if you can, sign up for a share. Our rye will be available at their market table in just a few weeks at on May 30th at the YYC table in Marda Loop. The CSA's start with the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association Saturday market, on June 20th, and running for 16 weeks. You can pick up your CSA share at either market. Our rye flour will be available shortly after the start of market.
Beans: tarbais, taylor, black turtle, borlotti, red kidney, lima, arikara yellow, wild goose, deseronto potato bean, early mohawk, hidatsa red, mandan black, Mary Ison's little brown, pepa de zapallo.
Corn (flint): floriani red, mandan bride, mandan red clay, mandan speckled, sask rainbow.
Corn (sweet): orchard baby
Corn (pop): tom thumb, pink
Grains: mustard, oats, buckwheat, barley, quiona, rye
Pea (dry): fisher, amplissiomo viktoria ukrainskyay, Alaska round, blue pod capucijner
Pea (snap): snap pea
Rice: Carolina gold, blue bonnet
Soya: sayamusume, agate
Other: dwarf French marigolds, sunflowers, sorghum, sudan grass, crimson clover, tillage radish
Perennials: rhubarb, hazelnut, apple,
We work with YYC Growers and Distributors in Calgary, Alberta to bring our products to market. Please check out their Community Supported Agriculture program, and if you can, sign up for a share. Our rye will be available at their market table in just a few weeks at on May 30th at the YYC table in Marda Loop. The CSA's start with the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association Saturday market, on June 20th, and running for 16 weeks. You can pick up your CSA share at either market. Our rye flour will be available shortly after the start of market.
Beans: tarbais, taylor, black turtle, borlotti, red kidney, lima, arikara yellow, wild goose, deseronto potato bean, early mohawk, hidatsa red, mandan black, Mary Ison's little brown, pepa de zapallo.
Corn (flint): floriani red, mandan bride, mandan red clay, mandan speckled, sask rainbow.
Corn (sweet): orchard baby
Corn (pop): tom thumb, pink
Grains: mustard, oats, buckwheat, barley, quiona, rye
Pea (dry): fisher, amplissiomo viktoria ukrainskyay, Alaska round, blue pod capucijner
Pea (snap): snap pea
Rice: Carolina gold, blue bonnet
Soya: sayamusume, agate
Other: dwarf French marigolds, sunflowers, sorghum, sudan grass, crimson clover, tillage radish
Perennials: rhubarb, hazelnut, apple,
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