Wet Hot American Summer? NOT SO FAST.

It’s raining. I’m wrapped in a blanket drinking tea, and I am almost emotional with gratitude. And if my heart is swelling in thanks, Mother Earth can only be relishing in relief. She must be singing in prudent solace. Fifty-one days have passed with no measurable rainfall at the farm. Bring on lucky number 52! Let it pour, let the sky unleash. Let Mother Earth be drenched in rejuvenating rain.

Every growing season points the finger of struggle at a new weather woe. Because that is farming. Since the beginning of time, each year has been a “battle” in one way or another for farmers. Too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold, too windy, too stagnant. It’s a Goldilocks story with real implications. This season brought record setting drought. Utah is experiencing one of the driest, if not the driest, summers in 130 years. I haven’t seen something like this in all of my time farming. We have experienced crop failure in ways I couldn’t predict, and our soil can’t soak up enough water to sustain it all. And with that observation, I’ve learned a new climatic term: evaporative demand. The atmosphere is thirsty. As temperatures continue to increase and there isn’t enough accessible water to meet demand, the atmosphere will draw moisture from soils and vegetation, drying them out. Which creates a vicious cycle. Dry soils heat up faster, warming the air above it, fueling more evaporative demand. It’s a sad reality. One that lays heavy on my heart and my body, and has further inspired me to think about the way we farm and the way we conserve.

And while this rain may not resolve this drought, it does give us a small reprieve. It’s a chance for the land and our plants to rest and refresh. To take down their guard, and stop fighting for survival. To drink deeply, and let essence and life flow through. So thank you to the heavens, to the gods and goddesses of rain, to the weather patterns and atmospheric pressure for giving us this reminder and this respite. I am grateful.

And along the lines of gratitude and happier subjects. We are coming into my favorite month of the year: September. September is in itself a reprieve. A rest. A refresh. The temperatures cool, the air becomes crisp, the leaves change into their golden coats, and life on the farm, ever so slightly, slows down. We reflect on the season. And we gather. 

HARVEST DINNERS

On September 18th and 19th, we will gather outside on the farm one last time for the season, and share in the meal that celebrates the land, the farmers, and the culinary magic that brings it all together. The Harvest Dinners are upon us. For me, they are the most soul-filling nights of the growing season. And to my awe and honor, the second night has already sold out. Seats still remain for the first night, but I’m guessing, not for long… So please join us to celebrate each other, this community, our farmers, and our land with an exquisite evening on the farm. Tickets for September 18th are available HERE. To join the waitlist for the 19th, you can click HERE.

FARM STAND AND SMOKEWOOD!

To our great delight, we also announce that SMOKEWOOD and the Farm Stand will be open until October 3rd this season. YAY! We will be open every Friday, with the exception of the 19th for farm fresh produce, locally made goods, and finger-lickin BBQ!

Thank you for your continued support and for keeping us up when the going gets tough on the farm… 

All of our gratitude, 

Lynsey and the FarmHers.

HARVEST DINNER!