With all the rain we’ve had here in Tennessee lately, it’s hard to believe that the growing season is just around the corner.
But the buds on trees and the seed catalogs in the mail tell a different story, and so it’s with excitement and some trepidation that we look forward to spring.
Last year—our first full year as farmers—was so full of mistakes that only the Lord could be responsible for such a harvest. And now, this year, we’re endowed with just enough knowledge to be dangerous! We’ve half-joked that this year couldn’t be as good as the first as a result.
Yet, already, we’ve sat down and begun to plot out what to grow here at Floating Axe Farm, based on what grew well last year and what sold well at market. For us, farming is a mix of growing what we need for family life but also wanting to offer good, organically grown produce, eggs and meat here in Tennessee.
So we’ll probably grow more squash, zucchini and cucumbers—staples of last year’s dinner table and markets—while also doubling our output of Blue Lake bush beans, another favorite at home and for sale.
But those purple pole beans we thought would be fun for families to try? Well, not so much, it seems. We’ll just grow enough for ourselves because our children think it’s the coolest that a bean can be purple on the vine then turn green to let you know it’s cooked. (Plus, they are super tasty.)
And those watermelons we couldn’t tell were ripe? We’ll probably go with a different variety this year. Or the Thai chilies that did so well that we have enough in the freezer until the Second Coming? We’ll just plant more cayennes, which it turns out folks do want.
So that’s where the fun and fear is when it comes to farming: balancing what sounds like delightful to grow versus what actually grows well in our climate, is happily devoured by our kids, or sells well amongst locals.
Either way, there’s a lot of work ahead in the next few weeks as we get lettuce in the ground—three varieties this year because we couldn’t grow enough for demand last year—as well as other starts. And that garlic we love so much? Well, it’s been in the ground since October, as has the asparagus, which likely won’t be ready until next year!
At Floating Axe Farm, regardless of comes up this year, we feel blessed to see God’s hand in it all, knowing that our Creator is the one in charge. That gives us great relief!