Happy harvest Farmers reap what they sow during the season Lily Thomas
1 1. An illustration graphic represents the 2021 Farmers’ Almanac cover, which is a book that includes planting times and weather predictions. Graphic by Lily Thomas. 2. A basket given to visitors at Fishers AgriPark is full of fresh produce like tomatoes, lettuce, green beans and peppers on Sept. 24. Photo by Lily Thomas. 3. Corn stalks bask in the sun at Fishers AgriPark on Sept. 24. The corn is now a corn maze that visitors can navigate through. Photo by Lily Thomas.
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n Indiana, 55,550 farms were operated during 2020, as reported by the Information from National Agricultural Statistics Service. With a large agricultural industry, harvest season can be an important time for farmers in Indiana. According to the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture, harvest season runs from late September to early December and refers to the time in which farmers reap the crops they have grown during the year. Fishers is home to a 33-acre urban farm called AgriPark, which provides an array of crops for Fishers’ residents. Currently, the farm has pumpkins, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, assorted herbs, cabbage, fall squash and brussel sprouts. “We have had an amazing year this season as far as harvest goes,” AgriPark Operations Manager Trevor Wildey said. “Our vegetable harvest begins as early as June and runs until the end of October. We have
given well over 12,000 pounds of produce back to the community.” Wildey said the farm has planted 30,000 vegetable plants this season. The majority of their produce is planted on four-foot wide black plastic, which creates a raised bed for the plants that allows an irrigation line to run underneath. In addition, the plastic keeps the soil warmer so that crops may be planted earlier. Farmers use many different techniques when planting and harvesting crops. The Farmers’ Almanac can be a tool for planting. According to the Farmers’ Almanac website, the book includes helpful knowledge like long-range weather predictions and a planning calendar that notes the opportune planting times for different crops. “I know some of the Farmers’ Almanac and refer to it many times
2 throughout a season,” Wildey said. “The Farmers’ Almanac is a great resource and has plenty of tips and pointers on gardening and weather.” Aside from using the Farmers’ Almanac, having agricultural knowledge can also be helpful when tending to crops. Agriculture, as described by agriculture teacher Samuel Lawrence, encompasses animal, plant, natural resource and food science. Junior and Future Farmers of America (FFA) participant Ruby Kivett is currently taking an agriculture class. “My favorite thing about agriculture is the culture of it and how far back it goes,” Kivett said. “It’s been in America forever, and I just think it’d be a good thing to be a part of. I’ve just always had an interest in it, and being in FFA just helped that passion grow.” According to Lawrence, one agricultural technique involves rotating crops to different fields each season. “Different insects will eat different crops,” Lawrence said. “Also, just like we can get sick, so can plants. When you change it from one plant to another plant, it
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Tiger Times
October 2021
