October 2nd - Preparing the Dry Fields for Winter

Created on October 02, 2025

2025   ·   kale   hot-peppers   tatsuyoi   potatoes   tractor   gator   truck   ·   daily-notes

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TL;DR

We harvested kale, hot peppers, tatsuyoi, and potatoes. We also moved tractors over to the dry fields to begin winter preparation.

Dry Fields Winter Prep, Part 1

On one side of the property sits Marshview farm. On the other side there are some ‘dry’ fields we use for crops that don’t require irrigation such as potatoes, garlic, scallions and storage onions. Along the distance between are spaces used during the season for cattle grazing, some walking trails, and some fruit trees but the rest is a mostly undisturbed sanctuary for wildlife.

This morning before helping the harvest crew in the fields, Jamie and I moved the seed spreader attachment over to the dry fields. This was only one small part of a multi-step process to get all necessary equipment over there to sow winter rye seed as a cover crop throughout the winter.

Then we got back to the business of harvesting kale, hot peppers, and tatsuyoi from the main fields with the rest of the crew.

I’ve found an appreciation for Tokyo Bekana, a loose-leaf Chinese cabbage, as it isn’t as boring as plain old lettuce but also mild in it’s cabbage-ness. In fact, it was selected as one of the things to grow on the International Space Station, though I imagine it was very different under those conditions that that of the coast of Ipswich Massachusetts.

I’ve also been waiting patiently since April’s greenhouse nursery work to get the habanero peppers ready for harvest and their time has finally come. These are the hottest peppers we grow and despite their size pack a whallop of heat. I tend to use them sparingly in other dishes, sometimes diced fine and sprinkled into a sandwich, but haven’t yet tried dehydrating them. My recent experiment of drying whole Shishito peppers was a success and I’m excited to try it with habaneros this weekend, but have to migrate the dehydrator out to the greenhouse so that my front room isn’t consumed by potentially eye-irritating fumes.

We also moved tractors over to the dry fields because one already had the disc harrower attached and the other would be used with the chisel plow to unearth the last of the potatoes.

Potato digging is a serious muscle exercise for often less yield than feels worth it. But it was a beautiful day today, I had my gloves with me (as always) so there was no worry of getting painful things under my fingernails, and there were 3 of us so it only took about 90 minutes or so over a 300-foot bed.

AI Summary from Field Notes

There’s not much to say more than what’s in the auto-generated summary since I have a school thing and have to cut this writing short today.

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 the transcript carefully. The intern talks about their day on the farm. Let me break it down. Main themes: The intern was involved in several tasks like preparing the field for rye seed, harvesting potatoes, dealing with the dump truck issue, moving pallets, and general cleanup. There's also mention of the farm's irrigation system and equipment issues. So the main themes would be agricultural preparation, harvesting, equipment maintenance, and logistics. Activities: The intern used a tractor and disker to prepare the field, harvested potatoes, moved things with the dump truck and Gator, tried to jumpstart the dump truck, helped with moving pallets using a forklift, did cleanup, loaded coolers and bins with produce. That's the list of activities. New things: The intern encountered a dry field with low potato yield, the dump truck's starting issue, the forklift's weight limit, and the use of a Gator for moving pallets. These are new things not yet encountered. Questions for research: The intern might be wondering why the dump truck wouldn't start despite the battery and hydraulics working, the impact of dry fields on potato yields, the effectiveness of the Gator for moving pallets, and the forklift's weight limit. Also, maybe how to handle the dump truck's issue. Suggested actions: The intern mentioned that the dump truck wasn't found on the farm side, so they might need to check if it's moved or if there's a problem. Also, they need to figure out the dump truck's issue, maybe check the starter or other components. They should also consider the logistics of moving pallets and maybe improve the forklift's setup. Wait, the user wants a helpful answer. Let me make sure I didn't miss any parts. The intern also loaded coolers with eggs and bins with squash. The forklift's attachment is a new thing. The intern might be interested in how to handle the dump truck's problem. Also, the low yield in the dry field is a point for research. I think that's all. Now, structure the answer accordingly with the sections.

Main Themes

  1. Agricultural Preparation and Harvesting: Field preparation for rye seed, potato harvesting in a dry field.
  2. Equipment Maintenance and Logistics: Issues with the dump truck, use of Gator and forklift for moving pallets.
  3. Farm Operations and Coordination: Collaborating with the groundskeeper, loading deliveries, and managing CSA shares.
  4. Environmental and Yield Considerations: Impact of dry conditions on potato yield.

Activities Performed by the Intern

  1. Used a tractor and disker to prepare a field for rye seed (but did not complete the seeding).
  2. Harvested a 300-foot row of small potatoes, yielding ~50 pounds.
  3. Loaded harvested potatoes into the dump truck (which failed to start).
  4. Transported pallets of feed using the Gator (a utility vehicle).
  5. Moved ~2–3 dozen bags of feed manually due to forklift limitations.
  6. Performed general cleanup, loading coolers with eggs and bins with butternut and squash.
  7. Collaborated with the groundskeeper and others to troubleshoot the dump truck.

New Things Encountered

  1. Dry Field Conditions: Low potato yield due to lack of irrigation.
  2. Dump Truck Issues: Starter problem despite working hydraulics, radio, and brakes.
  3. Gator Usage: Using a Gator for pallet transport instead of a forklift.
  4. Forklift Limitations: The forklift can only handle 75% of a full pallet’s weight.
  5. Field Layout: Two fields (one for potatoes/scallions, one for rye seed).

Questions and Future Research Areas

  1. Dump Truck Problem: What caused the dump truck to fail to start? Is it a starter issue, electrical problem, or something else?
  2. Yield Variability: How do dry conditions affect potato yields, and what strategies can be used to mitigate this?
  3. Equipment Efficiency: Can the Gator or forklift be modified to handle heavier loads?
  4. Logistics Optimization: How can the farm improve pallet-moving efficiency with current equipment?
  5. Field Management: What is the optimal timing for rye seeding in dry conditions?

Suggested Actions

  1. Investigate Dump Truck Issue: Check the starter, battery, or wiring for the dump truck. Confirm if the truck was moved to the other side of the property.
  2. Document Yield Data: Track potato yields in dry fields to assess long-term trends and improve irrigation planning.
  3. Test Equipment Modifications: Explore ways to enhance the forklift’s capacity or use the Gator for heavier loads.
  4. Coordinate with Groundskeeper: Ensure the dump truck is accessible and address any mechanical issues promptly.
  5. Improve Pallet Transport Process: Develop a system to split pallets or use multiple vehicles to reduce manual labor.

Part 2

Okay, so I need to figure out the main themes, activities, new things, questions, and suggestions from the farm intern's field notes. Let me start by reading through the transcript again carefully. First, the main themes. The intern is working on a farm, so probably agriculture-related. The main activities would be harvesting different crops like kale, peppers, and tatsuyoi. Then there's the part about preparing the dry fields for discing, which involves using tractors, a gator, and attaching a tiller. Also, there's the part about washing and binning the harvested produce, then putting them in the fridge. The intern also mentions a team of five people, so teamwork is a theme. The use of different equipment and the process of moving equipment across the property are also part of the main themes. Now, the activities. The intern started by washing bins and crates. Then harvested kale, two orange bins of hot peppers (different types), then harvested tatsuyoi. Then they washed, binned, and refrigerated the produce. Then they prepared to disk the dry fields, which involved taking tractors, a truck, and a gator, attaching a tiller, and then discing the fields. They had lunch after that. So the activities are: washing bins, harvesting kale, peppers, tatsuyoi, washing and binning, moving equipment, discing fields, lunch. New things not yet encountered: The intern mentions that they had to operate the tractor and reverse up to the implement for the first time. They also encountered the chisel tiller attachment. Also, the different types of peppers, like Hungarian hot wax, flaming flare, jalapeno, habanero, and cayenne, but they skipped cayenne because of shelf life. Also, the process of moving equipment in a caravan, which might be a new experience. The intern also mentions the dry fields with rows, which is part of the field work. Questions and future research: The intern might be wondering about the reason for skipping cayenne peppers. Maybe they want to know more about shelf life differences. Also, the process of attaching the tiller on the tractor—maybe they want to understand the mechanics of that. The intern might also be curious about the size of the dry fields and the rows, how they are measured, or the significance of the rows for onion and garlic growth. Also, the use of the gator and the truck in the caravan—maybe they want to know about the logistics of moving equipment across the property. Suggestions: The intern might suggest that they need to document the types of peppers and their shelf life for future reference. Also, they might suggest that they should check the shelf life of cayenne peppers to see if they can be included. They might also suggest that they need to ensure the tractor and implement are properly maintained for future use. Also, maybe they should create a more detailed record of the dry field layout for future work. Wait, but the user said to list the questions the intern calls out. So maybe the intern is asking why they skipped cayenne, how the tiller attachment works, and the significance of the rows in the dry fields. Also, maybe they want to know about the logistics of moving equipment across the property. The suggestions would be things like documenting the pepper shelf life, ensuring equipment is ready, and maybe creating a map of the dry fields. I need to make sure I don't miss any parts. The intern also mentions that they had to operate the tractor for the first time, so that's a new experience. Also, the process of moving the equipment in a caravan—maybe that's a new thing. The intern might be asking why they had to skip cayenne, and maybe how to handle different pepper shelf lives. Also, the use of the gator—maybe that's a new tool they're using. So compiling all that, the main themes are harvesting, equipment preparation, field work, teamwork, and logistics. The activities are the ones listed. The new things are the different peppers, the tiller attachment, operating the tractor, moving in a caravan, and the dry field layout. The questions are about the cayenne peppers, the tiller attachment, the rows in the dry fields, and the logistics of moving equipment. The suggestions are to document the pepper shelf life, check on cayenne, ensure equipment is maintained, and maybe create a field map.

Main Themes:

  1. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing: Harvesting kale, hot peppers, and tatsuyoi; washing, binning, and refrigerating produce.
  2. Equipment and Field Preparation: Preparing tractors, gators, and implements for discing dry fields.
  3. Teamwork and Logistics: Coordinating a team of five to move equipment, manage tasks, and handle logistics (e.g., caravaning across the property).
  4. Agricultural Practices: Understanding crop layouts (rows, acreage), seasonal crop rotations (onions, garlic), and pepper shelf-life considerations.

Activities Performed by the Intern:

  1. Washed bins and crates for harvesting.
  2. Harvested 60 bunches of kale.
  3. Harvested two orange bin-sized bins of hot peppers (types: Hungarian hot wax, flaming flare, jalapeno, habanero).
  4. Harvested tatsuyoi.
  5. Washed, binned, and refrigerated all harvested produce.
  6. Prepared tractors, a truck, and a John Deere gator for discing dry fields.
  7. Attached a chisel tiller to a tractor and guided the team in operating it.
  8. Disced two dry fields (each about an acre, with 12 rows of 300-foot length).
  9. Took a lunch break after moving equipment.

New Things Not Yet Encountered:

  1. Pepper Varieties: Exposure to specific pepper types (e.g., habanero, jalapeno) and their shelf-life differences.
  2. Tiller Attachment: Learning to attach a chisel tiller to a tractor via a 3-point hitch.
  3. Tractor Operation: Operating a tractor for the first time, reversing to position implements.
  4. Caravan Logistics: Moving equipment across the property in a caravan (tractor, truck, gator).
  5. Dry Field Layout: Understanding the structure of dry fields (rows, acreage, crop history).

Questions and Future Research:

  1. Why Skip Cayenne Peppers?
    • What is the shelf-life difference between cayenne and other peppers?
    • Could cayenne be included in future harvests?
  2. Tiller Attachment Mechanics
    • How does the 3-point hitch system work for attaching implements?
    • What maintenance is required for the tractor and tiller?
  3. Dry Field Significance
    • How do the rows and acreage relate to onion and garlic growth?
    • What is the purpose of the dry fields (e.g., crop rotation, soil preparation)?
  4. Logistics of Equipment Movement
    • What are the best practices for moving heavy equipment across the property?
    • How can this process be optimized for future tasks?

Suggestions:

  1. Document Pepper Shelf-Life: Create a reference guide for pepper types and their storage requirements.
  2. Train on Equipment Use: Develop a checklist for tractor and implement maintenance.
  3. Map Dry Fields: Create a detailed layout of the dry fields for future reference.
  4. Optimize Caravan Routes: Plan efficient paths for equipment movement to reduce time and effort.
  5. Monitor Crop Rotations: Track how dry fields are used for seasonal crops (e.g., onions, garlic).

[end of post]



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