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TL;DR

We harvested mizuna, hot peppers, sunflowers, and squash, and cleaned onions for this week’s CSA. We moved coops, did the usual cleaning and watering chores, and recorded a happy birthday video for one of our team members who went back to school a few weeks ago.

I also started development on a mobile app for in-field captures, notes, and observations. Though I’d like to think that working on this project is ‘stealth mode’, the fact is that I’ve been dropping technological and agricultural context here via blogs all throughout the farming season. It was always ‘field research’, for many reasons, and I’m excited to see where this project goes.

Mobile Chicken Coops vs. ‘Precision Agriculture’

The mobile coops aren’t autonomous, but when you know what you’re doing and with two pairs of hands, you can definitely make it precise. They allow us to move our hens around the farm, which can helps to fertilize future crop areas as well as haying and flower growing uses of the land. It took us just over an hour to move the three coops today, same as every Monday since July 1st, with an occasional lengthier process because of moving distance and flat tires.

The term ‘precision agriculture’ has been coopted by big agri-tech companies, but it’s still a useful concept when applied to small-scale farming. I take it back and define it as ‘using resources and technologies to make farming processes more efficient and sustainable’, and it’s something that we definitely do on our farm.

Not everyone can (or should) buy overly fancy, hyper-proprietary tractors, digitally analyze soil ‘fertility’ and amendment schedules, or use GPS-guided planting and harvesting equipment. The rest of us use documentation, experience, planning and observation to do just fine.

The Heat Is On

On May 15th, we planted hot peppers. By July 28th, we were harvesting them…two and a half months later. That’s what they call ‘dialed in’ for a pepper plant.

In a small 150 foot plot next to the high tunnel, we’ve got Hungarian Hots, Flaming Flare, Jalapeno, Cayenne, and Habanero. Everything stores nicely in the fridge except for the Cayennes which rot within a week. Today we harvested about one and a half blue buckets, or about three green bins worth without touching the Cayennes or Habaneros (yet).

Mizuna Have I Loved

While harvesting mizuna today, I remembered that it’s been over a year since I was working with Jamie and his crew. Last season at about this time, after volunteering with a few local farms to find just the right team for my internship, I realized that this was the one while chopping the fall mizuna and broccoli rabe.

I’m not a huge fan of leafy greens, though in the dark days of the winter solstice I do long for a fresh mixed green salad from time to time. I absolutely have to have something green with my burgers and of course on a BLT. And in soups, though dried and preserved vegetables can do just fine, a hit of fresh cilantro or parsley or celery or mustard greens does a great job of brightening up the cold January spirits in New England.

However, Japanese mizuna is a fantastic choice for mixing in with other more pedestrian leafy green choices such as bib lettuce and arugula. Though it’s repped as a ‘mustard green’, this mizuna is not spicy or otherwise peppery at all. The stems are thin and crunchy without being stringy like celery and the leaves are what I call “fluffable” additions to other more flat greens like spinach leaves.

These are the kind of choices made in a CSA distribution and crop management planning that are like a little pinhole view into a farmer’s passion for growing and sharing fresh, flavorful produce for their community.

A Delicata Affair

When we seeded these delicate ‘delicata’ squash on June 5th, planted them on July 9th and then weeded their beds throughout August, I had no idea how pretty they would be because I didn’t look them up. It’s so much more of a joy to see them in person for the first time. Looking them up in advance would help me with field identification and knowledge of how to best harvest them.

Unlike some viny crops you can pluck off without cutting, squashes often benefit from keeping a small part of their stem on the gourd, otherwise sometimes the bare stem…hole…will lead to unnecessary rot.

Also, if a squash rings, don’t answer it.

Weekend Work, Started Developing ‘THE APP’

I finally bit the bullet and installed all the local development pre-requisites for building a cross-platform mobile and web app based on some of the work I see could use a curated user experience on the farm. There are so many separate one-off apps being used for various reasons, and while it’s good to have have specific tools for specific jobs, sometimes you need to consolidate them into a bag or bucket or…toolbox.

In the case of some of the workflows I’m seeing agricultural work benefit from, it all starts with capturing moments and information in real time where people are, not waiting for the next time people are in front of a computer. More to come, but let this be a notice to potential collaborators and competitors, this is where it all started. In five years, we’ll look back on this moment and then sip champagne.

AI Summary from Field Notes

I like that this relatively simplistic process I have for field notes captures things like ‘How can deer damage in the lower field be mitigated?’ and ‘How to balance crop protection (row cover) with harvesting needs?’ because at some point in the middle of this coming winter, I’ll be using these notes and summaries as training and validation data for the aforementioned mobile app back-end magic.

Summary

Okay, the user provided two different summaries and wants a consolidated version. Let me start by understanding both documents. First document: The intern did farm operations, crop harvesting, post-harvest processing, and personal interest in dehydration. Activities include moving coops, harvesting various crops, washing/packing, dehydration planning. New things: mizuna taste, sunflower harvest, purple peppers, dehydration. Questions: color retention, taste comparison, harvest timing. Suggested actions: monitor fields, inspect jugs, evaluate fence, document Mizuna, prepare CSA. Second document: Main themes are agricultural work, crop management, equipment, field monitoring, seasonal tasks. Activities include harvesting, water management, field maintenance. New observations: water jugs, Mizuna row cover, deer damage, electric fence. Questions: fence effectiveness, jug solutions, deer mitigation, Mizuna timing. Suggested actions: monitor lower field, improve jugs, test fence, track Mizuna, prepare CSA. Now, I need to combine these into one summary. Let's look for overlaps and unique points. Both mention crop harvesting, water management, electric fence, Mizuna, and CSA. The first document talks about dehydration, which the second doesn't. The second has more on water jugs and deer damage. The questions from both need to be merged. Suggested actions should be consolidated as well. I should structure the final summary with main themes, activities, new things, questions, and actions. Make sure to include all points from both documents without repetition. Check for any missing elements. Ensure clarity and that each section is distinct. Avoid using markdown, just plain text with clear sections.

Final Consolidated Summary

Main Themes

Agricultural Operations: Crop harvesting (squash, peppers, onions), post-harvest processing, and infrastructure maintenance.
Crop Management: Techniques to preserve quality (e.g., leaving squash stems, removing onion tops) and adapting to seasonal needs.
Equipment & Supplies: Managing water systems (various jug sizes and shapes), row covers, and electric fencing.
Field Monitoring: Tracking pests (deer), crop development, and field-specific challenges (e.g., Mizuna row cover use).
Seasonal Tasks: Preparing for fall CSA crops, ensuring proper storage, and adapting to seasonal requirements.

Key Activities

Harvesting & Processing: Picked and prepared squash, peppers, onions for market; washed bins and maintained crop quality.
Water Management: Monitored and maintained water jugs (5-gallon, 7-gallon, and a new 7–8-gallon model) for irrigation.
Field Maintenance: Inspected electric fence for top field, checked for deer damage in lower field, and documented Mizuna row cover usage.
Deer Management: Noted limited gourd damage in lower field but recognized potential future risks.

New Observations

Water Jugs: Diverse shapes (octagonal, round) and sizes; handles may break, requiring manual adjustments.
Mizuna Row Cover: Used for crop protection; timing and conditions require attention for optimal growth.
Electric Fence: Installed to protect top field for fall CSA crops.
Deer Impact: Limited damage to lower field gourds, but a risk for future harvests.

Questions for Future Action

How effective is the electric fence in protecting the top field?
What solutions exist for jug leaks or handle failures?
How can deer damage in the lower field be mitigated?
What is the optimal timing for uncovering/covers Mizuna to maximize crop growth?
How to balance crop protection (row cover) with harvesting needs?

Suggested Actions

Monitor Lower Field: Regularly inspect for deer damage and implement deterrents (e.g., fencing, repellents).
Improve Water Jugs: Assess durability and consider modifications for long-term use.
Test Electric Fence: Evaluate its effectiveness and adjust as needed for crop protection.
Track Mizuna Management: Document timing and conditions for row cover use to optimize crop growth.
Prepare for CSA Crops: Ensure proper storage and handling of fall harvests (e.g., squash, onions) for market.
Document Deed Impact: Develop strategies to prevent future damage to lower field crops.

This summary integrates critical operational insights, challenges, and next steps for efficient farm management, crop protection, and seasonal preparedness.

Part 1

Okay, let's tackle this query. The user provided a transcript of field notes from a farm intern and wants me to identify the main themes, list activities, new things encountered, questions for future research, and any suggested actions. First, I need to parse through the transcript carefully. The intern talks about their tasks during the day. Let me break down the content. Starting with the hot peppers: washing, packaging, refrigerating. Then moving to harvesting delicata squash, which involves careful handling to leave a stem. Then washing bins and processing onions. Then there's mention of pig water and chicken water, including details about the jugs. Also, there's talk about the Mizuna, row cover, electric fence, deer damage, and some notes on the fields. Main themes would be agricultural work, crop harvesting techniques, equipment maintenance, and field management. The activities include harvesting, washing, packaging, processing, maintaining water systems, and monitoring for pests. New things might be the specific jugs for chicken water with different shapes and sizes, the Mizuna row cover, and the electric fence setup. Questions could be about the effectiveness of the electric fence, how to handle the jugs if the handles break, and maybe the impact of deer on the lower field. Also, the intern mentions that the Mizuna was uncovered before harvesting and then covered again, which might be a process they're familiar with but maybe not fully understood. Suggested actions might include monitoring the lower field for deer, checking the jugs for leaks, and ensuring the electric fence is effective for the CSA crops. Also, maybe improving the jugs to prevent leaks or handling issues. Wait, the user also asked to list the activities, new things, questions, and actions. Let me make sure I cover each part. Activities: harvesting squash, washing and packaging peppers, processing onions, maintaining water for pigs and chickens, managing row cover, electric fence, and monitoring deer damage. New things: the different jugs for chicken water (sizes, shapes), the Mizuna row cover, the electric fence setup, and the deer damage in the lower field. Questions: effectiveness of electric fence, handling jugs without handles, impact of deer on lower field, and maybe the timing of the Mizuna coverage. Actions: check electric fence, inspect jugs, monitor lower field, maybe improve jugs if needed. I need to structure this clearly, making sure each section is distinct and accurate based on the transcript. Also, check if there are any other points I might have missed. For example, the intern mentions they didn't do any projects, but they did some chores. Also, the mention of CSA shares and market preparation. Yes, that's all. Now, present this in a helpful answer with clear sections.

Main Themes

Agricultural Work: Harvesting, washing, and packaging crops (peppers, squash, onions).
Crop Management: Techniques for preserving crop quality (e.g., leaving stems on squash to prevent rot).
Equipment and Supplies: Maintenance of water systems (pig and chicken water jugs), row covers, and electric fencing.
Field Monitoring: Observing for pests (e.g., deer damage) and tracking crop development (e.g., Mizuna row cover).
Seasonal and Crop-Specific Tasks: Preparing for fall CSA crops, ensuring proper storage, and addressing field-specific challenges.

Activities Performed by the Intern

Harvesting:
- Delicata squash: Carefully trimming stems to avoid exposing the gourd (half-inch stem left).
- Hot peppers: Washing, packaging, and refrigerating.
Preparation:
- Washing bins for onions.
- Processing onions (removing tops and loose matter).
Water Management:
- Filling and maintaining pig and chicken water jugs (sizes: 5-gallon, 7-gallon, and a new 7–8-gallon round jug).
- Ensuring jugs are sealed to prevent leaks.
Field Maintenance:
- Uncovering and covering Mizuna with row cover.
- Monitoring for deer damage in the lower field.
- Checking the electric fence in the top field (completed on Friday).

New Things Encountered

Chicken Water Jugs:
- Varieties with different shapes (octagonal vs. round) and sizes (5-gallon, 7-gallon, new 7–8-gallon).
- Handles that may break, requiring manual screwing.
Mizuna Row Cover:
- Uncovering and covering the crop for specific agricultural purposes.
Deer Damage:
- Limited impact on lower field gourds, but a risk for future harvests.
Electric Fence:
- Setup for protecting fall CSA crops in the top field.

Questions for Future Research or Action

Effectiveness of Electric Fence:
- How well does the electric fence protect the top field from pests or damage?
Jug Handling Issues:
- How to address potential leaks or handle jugs without functional handles?
Deer Impact:
- What measures can be taken to mitigate deer damage in the lower field?
Mizuna Coverage Timing:
- When is the optimal time to uncover and cover Mizuna for maximum crop growth?

Suggested Actions

Monitor Lower Field:
- Regularly inspect for deer damage and implement deterrents (e.g., fencing, repellents).
Inspect Water Jugs:
- Check for leaks or handle functionality and consider modifying jugs for durability.
Evaluate Electric Fence:
- Test the fence’s effectiveness and adjust as needed for crop protection.
Document Mizuna Management:
- Track the timing and conditions of row cover use to optimize crop growth.
Prepare for CSA Crops:
- Ensure proper storage and handling of fall crops (e.g., squash, onions) for market.

This structured approach ensures efficient farm operations, crop preservation, and adaptability to field-specific challenges.

Part 2

Okay, let's try to figure out the main themes, activities, new things, questions, and suggestions from the farm intern's field notes. First, the main themes. The intern talks about a typical day on the farm, so maybe that's one theme. Then there's the work done with the chicken coops, which was moving them and that took an hour and 15 minutes. Then there's harvesting mizuna, which is a type of greens, and sunflowers. Then there's the processing of those harvested items, like washing and packing. Also, there's a mention of peppers, harvesting them, and the intern planning to dehydrate some purple peppers. So the main themes would be farm work, harvesting different crops, processing produce, and maybe the intern's personal interest in dehydrating peppers. Now, the activities. The intern moved chicken coops, harvested mizuna, harvested sunflowers, washed and packed mizuna and sunflowers, harvested peppers, and brought some peppers home. New things not yet encountered: The intern mentions that mizuna tastes like broccoli rabe, which is a different taste from arugula, and that the sunflowers are almost done. Also, the peppers are purple, which is a new color. Maybe the intern hasn't tried dehydrating peppers before, so that's a new thing. Questions and future research: The intern is curious about how the purple peppers will dehydrate, whether they keep their color. Also, maybe the sunflower harvest is almost done, so maybe the intern is wondering about the remaining harvest. Also, the mizuna's taste compared to arugula and broccoli rabe is noted, but is that a question or just a comment? Maybe the intern is interested in the taste differences. Suggestions: The intern is planning to bring home some peppers to dehydrate. Also, maybe the intern is thinking about future harvesting of sunflowers. Also, maybe the intern is considering more research on the dehydrating process of peppers. Wait, the user asked to list the suggestions in a separate section. So the intern's actions include dehydrating peppers, which is a suggestion. Also, maybe the intern is considering more harvesting of sunflowers, but the note says there's probably one more harvest. I need to make sure I'm not missing any. Let me check again. Activities: moving chicken coops, harvesting mizuna, harvesting sunflowers, washing and packing mizuna and sunflowers, harvesting peppers, bringing peppers home. New things: mizuna's taste, sunflowers being almost done, purple peppers. Questions: how do the purple peppers dehydrate, do they keep color? Also, maybe the sunflower harvest is almost done, but the intern is not sure if there's more. Suggestions: dehydrate peppers, maybe more research on that. Also, maybe the intern is thinking about the next steps for the sunflowers. I think that's it. Let me structure that into the answer.