August Happenings

🌱 The Backyard Farm Update

Welcome back to another month at Once Upon a Farm! August has been all about preparation and anticipation here in New Zealand. As winter slowly loosens its grip, I've been busy getting the garden beds ready for the spring explosion that's just around the corner.

The past few weeks have seen me out in the garden beds, giving them a proper winter clean-up before the spring rush begins. I've been strategically weeding just enough to let the chickens in to do their thing - they're absolutely brilliant at clearing the remaining weeds and turning over the soil while adding their own natural fertilizer to the mix. It's amazing how efficiently they can transform a tired winter bed into something ready for new life. After the girls have done their work, I've been following up with a good layer of compost and some gentle fertilizer to set the stage for the growing season ahead.

The timing couldn't be better because my hens are finally shaking off their winter sluggishness and getting back into proper laying form. After months of scarce eggs, I'm once again enjoying that wonderful abundance where you actually have more eggs than you know what to do with - what a delightful problem to have! Of course, with increased laying comes the inevitable broody behavior, and I've already had to put a couple of determined mothers through the broody pen routine to snap them out of their nesting obsession. Spring fever affects us all, it seems. I've also got the first spring greens and pea seeds started, along with some early bush tomatoes and sweet peppers getting their start indoors - nothing quite beats getting a head start on the growing season.

There's something profoundly satisfying about this transitional time between seasons - the quiet preparation that happens before the garden explodes into life. As I've been working through these winter clean-up tasks, I've been struck by how much farming mirrors the natural rhythms of rest and renewal that we see everywhere in nature.

The chickens instinctively knew to slow their laying through the darker months, conserving energy for when the days began to lengthen again. The garden beds needed their period of rest, even if they looked a bit untidy to my impatient eyes. Now, as we move toward spring, everything is awakening with a sense of purpose and timing that no amount of human forcing could replicate. There's wisdom in working with these natural cycles rather than against them - knowing when to prepare, when to plant, when to harvest, and when to rest. Perhaps that's one of the most valuable lessons the garden teaches us: that there really is a time for everything, and our job isn't to control the process but to partner with it thoughtfully and patiently.

🌍 What's in Season?

Northern Hemisphere - Summer

Planting: Late summer succession crops of lettuce, radishes, and spinach for fall harvest. Plant garlic and shallots for next year's harvest. Start fall brassicas like kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.

Harvesting: Peak tomato and pepper season! Collect summer squash, corn, beans, and herbs at their prime. Don't forget to preserve the abundance through canning, freezing, or dehydrating.

Recipe: Simple Summer Tomato Salad - Slice fresh tomatoes, add torn basil leaves, drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes for flavors to meld. Perfect with crusty bread!

Southern Hemisphere - Winter

Planting Now: Start spring seeds indoors - early tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Direct sow broad beans, peas, and early spring greens like lettuce and spinach in protected areas.

Harvesting: Winter brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are at their peak. Harvest leeks, winter herbs, and any remaining root vegetables from storage.

Recipe: Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup - Sauté diced leeks, add chopped cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Cover with vegetable stock, simmer until tender. Season with fresh herbs and a splash of cream.

🔬 The Science Stuff

The Fascinating World of Soil Temperature and Seed Germination

One of the most overlooked factors in successful gardening is soil temperature, and it's particularly relevant as we head into different growing seasons around the world. Seeds are remarkably precise about the soil conditions they need to germinate - it's not just about air temperature, but the actual temperature of the soil they're planted in.

Different seeds have evolved to germinate at specific soil temperature ranges that coincide with optimal growing conditions for their species. Cool-season crops like lettuce, peas, and spinach will germinate in soil temperatures as low as 4-7°C (39-45°F), while warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers need soil temperatures of at least 15-18°C (59-64°F) to germinate successfully. This is why starting warm-season crops indoors or in heated propagation areas can give you such a significant advantage - you're providing that crucial warm soil environment even when outdoor conditions aren't quite ready.

The science behind this is fascinating: seeds contain enzymes that need specific temperature ranges to activate the biochemical processes that trigger germination. Too cold, and these enzymes remain dormant. Too hot, and they can be damaged or denatured. Soil temperature also affects the speed of germination - even when seeds do germinate in cooler soil, they often take much longer and may emerge weak and susceptible to disease.

Professional growers often use soil thermometers to track soil temperature at seed depth (usually 5-10cm down) rather than relying on air temperature, because soil warms and cools much more slowly than air. This thermal mass effect means soil can be several degrees cooler than air temperature in spring, and several degrees warmer in autumn.

Did You Know? Some seeds actually need a period of cold treatment (called stratification) to break dormancy and germinate properly. Many native wildflowers and some vegetables like carrots actually germinate better after experiencing cold soil temperatures, which is why they're often direct-sown in late winter or early spring rather than started indoors!

This newsletter provides a springboard for a healthy and happy spring or autumn season. Remember, consistency is key!

By incorporating these tips and tricks into your routine, you can cultivate a vibrant and healthy lifestyle that flourishes throughout the year.

Until next time :)