Rain is always a blessing here in the desert, and this year we’ve been especially blessed! We had a rainy spring followed by a rainy summer, and nobody knows that better than the farmers here in Albuquerque. I talked to Farmer Ric yesterday to find out what the rains have meant for his crops.
The rains have brought Ric a robust farm with beautiful crops, but I was surprised to learn there is a downside to the rain as well! In addition to helping the Rics crops thrive, the rain has also helped the weeds to thrive. And, with the weeds, comes pests like grasshoppers. Lots and lots of grasshoppers.
So what is Farmer Ric doing to combat the onslaught of weeds and grasshoppers? For the weeds, Ric is looking for more volunteers and work shares than ever to help with the work – if you’re interested in helping in exchange for fresh produce from the farm, contact Ric at ric@solharvestfarm.com! And for the grasshoppers, Farmer Ric is using a combination of organic remedies like cedar oil, hot pepper spray and diatomaceous earth to keep the bugs away. Plus, he is his using a compost tea on all his crops to make them stronger, hardier and more able to resist the inevitable munching that will still occur.
Despite the challenges that the rain has brought, there’s nothing better for the farm than bountiful rain! We’re all grateful for the abundance it has brought, and we’re looking forward to seeing beautiful peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, squash, green chiles and more with the summer harvest to come!
Farmer Ric says that rain is especially helpful because, in addition to the watering the fields, it also creates a nitrogen-rich atmosphere that helps the crops to thrive. “I can always water the farm,” says Farmer Ric, “but you can never imitate a rainstorm.”