PHOTO CREDIT | Bardwell Farm

Bundle Up, Friends and Neighbors
Hey everyone, Farmer John here from Bardwell Farm. You know, every year about this time, we farmers get to squinting at the skies and poring over every weather prediction we can get our hands on. It's not just for our crops; it's for planning everything from when we bring in the last of the harvest to making sure our equipment is ready for the cold. And this year, well, let's say winter's got some interesting things in store for us here in the Northeast.

Now, I'm no fancy meteorologist with all the big words, but I can tell you what all the "science talk" means for us down on the farm, and for you, too!

So, What's the Scoop on Winter?
Basically, we're looking at a colder winter than we've seen in a while, and when it does decide to snow, it could really come down.

Here's why, in plain ol' weather talk:

1. The Pacific Ocean is Playing it Cool (That's "La Niña")
Imagine a huge swimming pool way out in the Pacific Ocean. Normally, that water is pretty warm. But this year, that big pool is getting colder than usual. Folks call that "La Niña."

Why does that matter to us in Hatfield, Massachusetts? Well, that cold water way out there actually messes with the big river of air that flows high above us, what the weather folks call the "jet stream." It's like that cold spot gives the jet stream a big nudge, pushing it further south than it usually goes over our country.

The result? That jet stream becomes a superhighway for cold air. It just funnels freezing air straight down from Canada and the North Pole right to our doorstep. So, expect to really feel that chill in your bones this winter!

2. The North Pole's Cold Air is Getting Jumpy ("Wobbly Polar Vortex")
Way up north, at the actual North Pole, there's a huge, swirling mass of super-cold air. Think of it like a big, invisible lid on a pot, keeping all that freezing air trapped up north. That's the Polar Vortex.

This year, this "lid" is looking a bit wobbly and unstable. When that happens, chunks of that super-cold, Arctic air can break off and come wandering south, right into our region.

The result? This is what brings us those really sharp, sudden cold snaps that make you want to stay indoors by the fire with a warm cup of cider. We might see a few more of those this winter!

3. When it Snows, it'll Really Snow (Even if we don't get a ton of storms)
Now, you might hear some folks say we won't get more storms than usual. But here's the kicker: because of all that cold air we just talked about, when a storm does come through, it's almost guaranteed to be cold enough for snow.

The result? So, even if the total number of storms isn't record-breaking, the storms we do get are very likely to dump a good amount of the white stuff. Get those shovels ready, and maybe think about investing in a good snowblower if you haven't already.

The information for the weather forecast was gathered from a number of resources, including: The Farmers' Almanac, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, USDA Agricultural Weather Highlights

We're Trying a Grafting Experiment!
Ever heard of a "designer tomato"? At Bardwell Farm, we're all about pushing the boundaries and bringing you the best! That's why we're experimenting with tomato grafting.

Here's the lowdown: grafting combines the rootstock (bottom) of one tomato plant with the scion (top) of another. This allows us to create plants with the best of both worlds!

Why graft?

• Increased Yields: Some rootstocks promote stronger growth and better fruit production.
• Disease Resistance: Certain rootstocks are naturally resistant to soil-borne diseases, protecting the tomatoes.
• Resilience: Grafted plants can be more tolerant of environmental stresses.

Think of it like creating your own super tomato! ‍

Johnny's Seeds to the Rescue!
To get started, we sought advice from the experts at Johnny's Seeds. They helped us choose the perfect tomato varieties for grafting based on their complementary strengths.

Building the Perfect Grafting Environment
But grafting isn't magic! We had to create a special humidity chamber to maintain a constant 70°F temperature and complete darkness. This allows the graft union to heal properly and form a strong connection.

Stay tuned! We'll keep you updated on this little experiment of ours and share the results. Will these "super tomatoes" live up to the hype? Only time will tell!

As many of you may know cover cropping is a major part of soil health. It builds organic matter and creates food for the microbes, earthworms, and other living organisms in the soil.

Season 2018 sure took a tole on both farmers and the farmland on which they grow on. We shared how difficult last season was with you but never really talked much about the late season monsoons and what it did to the farmland here in the Pioneer Valley.

The picture below might be hard to see, but I was driving the other day and saw a brown wind storm in the distance and wanted to stop and grab a quick photo to illustrate. 

Due to the excessive rain and the over saturated fields late in the season many farmers had to abandon the use of cover cropping because it was just too wet to get into the fields without creating more damage. Fields were either left bare, or if lucky, the remnants of the crop remained. 

Soil is most happy when it has something living on it. It keeps the soil fed and healthy throughout the winter months, but it was too difficult to seed down fields or even germinate seed before it just rotted away from too much moisture. 

This led to bare fields over the winter months. When we didn't have any snow cover, on windy days you could see top soil blowing away because there was nothing to hold it in place. Or the opposite, where there was too much snow melt or excessive rain made erosion a big issue. It basically washed away the top soil.

Farms have to start getting creative in years such as these. It's a tough battle. In some cases there's not much that can be done. We have to take care of our land just as much as we take care of ourselves. If the soil we grow our food on isn't healthy it will not perform well. Farmers constantly have to find the balance between profit and environmental sustainability.

The take home message here is that we are at the mercy of mother nature, but we have to try our hardest to make sure we are implementing the best agricultural practices as we can.

This is the process of how we went about building this mini wonder...

• We started with 2x4 and 1x1 stock to create the frame of the chamber. I spaced each rack at 3" tall, and left about 1ft of space on the bottom for the crockpot
• We painted the frame to seal all the wood from getting saturated with water and to extend the life of the box
• We laid mesh over each rack to hold the trays and to allow heat and humidity to rise through the chamber
• We cut insulation board with plywood backing to the specific size of the outer frame of the box and screwed them into the frame
• We sealed the box with zip tape to make the chamber free of any cracks or holes in the seams
• We built the front door, with some latches and a door handle. 
• We added a thermostat and wired it to the crockpot so it would generate the desired temperature of 80 degrees
• Lastly, we filled the crockpot with water and turned it on to let it heat up and made sure it worked properly

The experiment worked!
The chamber heated up just as planned. We seeded cucumber seeds in a tray and added them to the chamber. We had germination within 3 days! It really sped up the process along with creating a uniform germination across the trays.

This is a great tool to use all season long because it will hold the desired temperature you need. For instance if it's 100 degrees in August and you're trying to germinate lettuce, you can place trays in the chamber and let them go. And, most likely, you'll have 100% germination every time. 

We'll keep you informed throughout the season as we use this new piece of equipment. Give it a try, we think you'll love it!

Earlier this month I was asked by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to join a panel of three farmers to help with a New Beginner Farmers Class they offer. 

After a brief introduction by each student the panel shared what it was like to start, maintain, and generally own a farm still being beginning farmers ourselves. We talked with students about the struggles we face day to day, the hard work that goes into the operation and the positive aspects that make us wake up and go after it for another day! This was really exciting for me because I was able to share my story with people a little less than twice my age. I was able to inspire others and left that night feeling as I did good for others! As many of you know I love talking farming and it was right up my alley! 

The conversation was really engaging. There were so many great questions about how to financially and economically run an agricultural business, how to sell and advertise to a saturated market, how to balance personal relationships, and so many more. 

I was proud to share my passion and love of farming with all of them. I was sincere in saying farming is a lifestyle and an industry built on hope. That it is more about the ride than making a million dollars. To expect mistakes and work through them. To have an open mind and learn something new every day.

If there were five things I would want the students to remember...

• There will be hard days and you cannot give up; always keep pushing forward
• Use the resources that are available to you as much as you can (one hand washes the other) build good relationships
• Learn how to diversify, grow sustainably and find a niche market to become profitable
• Most importantly, take care of yourself. You will not have a functioning business without YOU in it
• Be proud, enjoy this profession, this life, take it all in, there is beauty in all things farming

I want to thank MDAR and the students for this opportunity. Thank you for listening to my story. Knowing programs like this one exist brings hope and promise to our profession of farming!

Last week I was welcomed by Smith Academy to participate in their Agricultural Career Day presented by the Szawlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation.

This day was to educate and expose students to the importance of Agriculture and the local food movement in the Pioneer Valley.

I sat amongst a group of ten panelists who are all involved in one of the many branches of agriculture. It focused on two very important aspects. One, how important local food is to our community and economy. Second, all of the people that are involved in making local food possible.

Whether it's the farmer growing the food, the banker who provides a loan for farm equipment, the trucker who distributes food or a food bank that feeds people that are less fortunate, each and every one is important to agriculture.  

​Bob Wagner represented the Agricultural Commission of Hatfield. Having a background with the political side of farming he shared how important it is to be involved with legislature, the bills being presented, and how it can effect the industry.

Lisa Limont and her colleague Amber Letourneau were representing the Food Bank of Western Mass. The Food Bank helps feed communities and people that cannot afford to purchase food. Lisa is a coordinator and helps source local foods to feed people. They work with local farmers during each season to source food that the farm cannot market. They also work with businesses to arrange donations of canned goods. Amber Letourneau is a nutritional specialist that works with people who lack the experience in how to cook healthy meals. She works directly with communities to provide a base foundation for people to properly cook nutritious food for their families.

Gina Gallagher from Farm Credit East was there to share the financial role in agriculture. She explained that Farm Credit East works with farmers to develop profitable business plans, marketing tactics and loans to help agricultural businesses succeed. 

Carl Loomis, from Swazlowski Farm, represented a trucker who has the important roll of moving produce and goods across the country to supply the needs of the food industry. 

Big Y Produce Sales Manager Sean Stolarki works with local farms in the area to source local foods to stock the chain of stores and feed the communities around them. He does his best to bring in local foods being produced in the valley to give their customers the same feel and quality of what it means to be "local".

George Semanie from C&S Wholesale in Hatfield's job is similar to Seans where he is the manager dealing with the buying and selling of products coming into their facility. He helps supply local grocery stores all throughout the Pioneer Valley to meet high demands within the industry. 

Kevin Rodak from Helena Chemical in Hatfield is a sales representative that deals with farmers to help better their growing operations and create a more profitable crop. He works closely with farmers to help with control of weeds, insect and disease pressure, as well as help feed crops being grown.

Melanie and Diane were there representing Swazlowski Farm and everything that goes into bringing an agricultural product to market. From farming the fields to marketing a product, to distribution and performing important office tasks, it's no wonder they sell two hundred million servings of potatoes each year! 

I represented the farmer. I talked about the process of growing food, the steps of planting and maintaining a crop, and how we market and sell our produce to the community. It was exciting to be able to see the students react to agricultural related topics and see their interest!

I want to thank the Swazlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation for inviting me to speak, to share my passion and why I think agriculture is so important to our community.

I would also like to thank Smith Academy for hosting this event and giving students the opportunity to listen to all of the good things agriculture has to offer!

Lastly, thank you to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for the certificate presented to me. I'm honored to serve our community.