Country Life Wednesday, September 11, 2019 • lyndentribune.com • ferndalerecord.com
Gardening • A7 Dairy • A9
It’s diversified and smallMake the most of scale at Pollen Folly Farm autumn around the yard Place south IN BLOOM
of Everson typifies growing trend, census shows
The 2017 Census of Agriculture showed a continuing proliferation of smaller farms (less than 10 acres) in Whatcom County as well as the state. This is an edited version of a story, and photos, by Frederica Kowley, that appeared in Whatcom Talk.com in July. It is used by permission. Did you know that Whatcom County produces almost 85 percent of our nation’s red raspberries? The county is also known for its blueberry and strawberry production. Whatcom County farms are diverse — some large and some small. A few, like Pollen Folly Farm, are less than 10 acres. Pollen Folly Farm is a family-run farm growing on one-and-a-half acres south of Everson. This organic and biodynamic farm produces a variety of vegetables, culinary herbs, organic eggs and berries. Kelly Uusitalo owns and runs Pollen Folly Farm with her husband, Mike. The two are both graduates of Washington State University’s organic farming program and come to farming with a bird’s eye view, a whole-system approach to what they do. Rather than growing one kind of berry, their focus is on growing a variety of crops in a way that maintains the health of the water, the soil and the insects that live there. Like all farming, berry production doesn’t come with great job security, and most farms are dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to be able to bring huge harvests to market each season. Because of the short growing season here and fruit’s susceptibility to pests, for smaller, organic farms like Pollen Folly, it’s essential to grow other things along with berries. Small fruits, like raspberries and blueberries, are very vulnerable to a species of fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila. The flies have tiny sawlike pokers that allow them to drill into the fruits and lay their eggs in the bottom, quickly decimating entire harvests. Fruits also depend on a pretty consistent weather pattern. This year, a warmer-than-usual January followed by a cold and windy February damaged many Whatcom County rasp-
Plants don’t lie: vegetable gardens are giving the last of their abundance and the maple trees are showing the first of fall reds in their uppermost branches. Regardless how firmly we try to grasp the fading rays of summer, the seasons march on and autumn is arriving. As you gear up for the new season, here are a few tips to make the most of early autumn around the yard. First, late summer or early autumn is the perfect time to make an application of granular insecticide to control cranefly larvae and other lawn grubs in your lawn. Cranefly larvae typically hatch in late summer and early fall and will feed on a lawn’s root system over winter, leaving dead spots in your lawn come spring. Additionally, cranefly larvae and other grubs that may be present in your soil are an excellent food source for moles, so if you find yourself frustrated by moles constantly tunneling in your lawn, your best first step is to reduce their food supply by applying a product like Bonide Eight insecticide. Doing so will not only prevent cranefly damage to your lawn over winter, but it will also make your yard less appealing for moles in general, encouraging them to look for greener pastures elsewhere. Second, September is the perfect time to seed a lawn, whether for overseeding weak areas or for seeding a new lawn entirely. The reason I love this month the best for seeding is how quickly the new grass will sprout and get established. In April, when we can first seed lawns in our area, grass seed takes up to two weeks to sprout due to cool soil temperatures. In September, summerwarmed soil speeds up grass seed germination time to as little as seven days. In addition to warm soil temperatures, September’s arrival typically
Kelly Uusitalo and her husband Mike farm south of Everson. (Courtesy photo/Frederica Kowley) berry plants. The blueberry we build healthy eaters.” plants are a little heartier Outside of the school and seem to have fared district, Uusitalo and her husband are committed to better. “Because of the insta- addressing food security bility and the changing of in their neighborhood and the climate, we’re getting town more broadly. this erratic weather that Through a grant from makes for more pathogen- Sustainable Connections ic issues,” Uusitalo said. and another from Com“It’s really easy to lose a munity Action of Skagit crop really fast.” County, Uusitalo sells and Growing a variety of donates produce to local fruits and vegetables is one food banks. Through the way to protect against los- Sustainable Connections grant, she receives money ing a whole harvest. Uusitalo sells her ber- that essentially subsidizes ries and produce at the her costs so she can sell to Birchwood Community local food bank partners Farm Stand and the Bell- at market rates. The other ingham Farmers Market. grant provides capital for projects, This is the first year she has infrastructure a booth at the downtown and Uusitalo pays the grant back by growing food for market. “The farmers market food banks and other nonhas been great,” Uusitalo profits. said. “When you spend a Uusitalo and Mike run lot of time growing things, their farm along with help a lot of your sweat and from their 10-year-old son, labor and love goes into Quinntin. They bought growing the produce, so their land in 2011, and it’s nice when you see it go- soon Uusitalo’s parents ing to people and you see it moved in next door. They going to kids — to growing grow produce on their land these healthy little beings. as well as a portion of her parents’. That’s what we’re about.” the fam Besides selling at the While two markets, Uusitalo is ily hasn’t been farming very involved in efforts the same plot of land for to increase food security decades, they are decadeswithin the Mount Baker long berry farmers. The School District. She part- raspberry plants themnered with local nonprofit selves were Uusitalo’s Common Threads to build grandmother’s plants, a garden at Harmony Ele- giving multigenerational mentary School and imple- farming here a double ment Common Threads’ meaning. programming there, which provides garden lessons and cooking classes to all students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Pollen Folly Farm donates food for the cooking classes. “That’s one of my big commitments,” Uusitalo Exclusions apply. See store for details. said. “We do a lot with tryMay not combine with other discounts. Expires 10/5/19. ing to work with nonprofits • (360) 354-3097 and support what they do. It’s important to me that
25%
Shrubs, Trees, & Perennials
By David Vos
brings cooler air temperatures and more moisture in the form of heavy morning dew and occasional rains, all of which reduce the amount of watering you’ll have to do to keep your lawn growing. If seeding part or all of your lawn is on the list for this fall, choose a high-quality, professional seed mix for the best results. Cheaper seed may not germinate evenly and may contain undesirable types of grass that don’t weather our wet western Washington winters. Rather, choose a reputable mix with a high percentage of fescue for a durable, beautiful lawn for years to come. Third, September and October are the ideal time for planting shrubs, trees and perennials. As with the benefits of seeding grass in autumn, warm soil temperatures encourage rapid root development in plants as well. One thing many people don’t realize is that thanks to our rela-
tively mild winters, many plants continue to grow roots well into late autumn and winter in the Pacific Northwest despite going dormant aboveground. So, if you want to enjoy healthy, well-established plants next summer and have the time to plant this fall, do it! Fall-planted plants get a whole season’s head start on those planted next spring and will reward you with increased vigor next summer compared to their spring-planted counterparts. Finally, as you begin to change out your summer flowers for fall color, be sure to include plenty of winter pansies and their equally-hardy trailing cousins, Cool Wave pansies. Both regular winter pansies and Cool Waves will bloom heavily through fall and into early winter, then resume blooming as soon as the worst of winter has passed. Mixed with mums for that classic fall look, pansies are an excellent option for keeping your pots filled with color nearly the entire “off season.” With showers beginning to fill in the forecasts, fall is upon us, and with it the excitement of a new season. Enjoy this month of transition and the opportunity to make the most of your lawn and garden! David Vos is manager of Vander Giessen Nursery Inc. in Lynden.
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NEXT FEEDER SALE Saturday, Sept. 14th 12:30pm Early Consignments:
• 25 hd Black Calves 400-600# • 13 hd Steers Whitefaced • 10 Steers Black 700# • 20 Red Angus Steers & Heifers 500-600# • 3 Cow/Calf Pairs - 6 Yearlings • 15 Crossbred 600# Steers & Heifers • 10 Red Angus Yearlings • 5 Yearling Heifers - 3 pairs
And Many More by Sale Time! EVERY MONDAY 12:30pm
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Cull Cattle, Small Animals & Poultry Dairy & General Livestock Sale Your Consignments Are Appreciated!
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR TRUCKING CALL: Barn: 360-966-3271 Pete: 360-815-0318 • Terry: 360-815-4897 eversonauctionmarket@comcast.net
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