So as of early last week, we are at the farm full-time. Jobs have been left, everything has been packed and the adventure is in full swing. After talking to some people familiar with Idaho farming we have selected our crops for this planting season and placed our orders. For some crops we will be working with 2 varieties in order to select the best for our particular soil and location. Some of the plants that will become a part of our diet are already established on the farm by those who came before and we are very thankful for their hard work.
The list for this years planting is (some are indoor plants due to the Idaho climate):
Okra
Corn
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Garlic
Onions
Etna Beans
Black-eyed peas
Bush Beans
Carrots
Broccoli
Lettuce
Watermelon
Strawberries
Oranges
Lemons
Limes
Almonds
Butternuts
And various herbs...
Most likely half of our crop this year will be at least sub-par due to the need to experiment with the different varieties and planting times. Also, since we will be adding chickens and bees into the farm soon there will be other elements that will require our time and attention. However, since we are starting all of the plantings on a small scale, there will not be too much of a loss and when the next year comes we will be well equiped with more particular planting knowledge as well as a larger stable system to support the new crops. We have heard repeatedly that the biggest mistake new farmers make is to go too big too fast, so we are heeding advice to start small and build from there.