Row cover: another reason organic costs are higher

Ever wondered why organic fruits & vegetables cost more? The main reason is increased labor and more costly materials.

One reason shown here in picture. We have a problem in this part od the country with an insect pest called the "flea beetle". It's not really a flea. Anyway, it loves to eat the delicious leaves of brassica crops... think arugula, mustard greens, all the asian greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. On a conventional vegetable farm, a low-cost insecticide chemical would be sprayed, taking a few minutes, and that would be it. On an organic farm, we use no chemicals. Instead, we fight flea beetle attacks by using "floating row cover", which you see pictured. Costly to purchase, and takes a lot of time & labor to lay it over the beds.

Pictured is just one of many beds being covered now at Wishful Acres Farm.

www.WishfulAcresFarm.com

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I think they're on to me...

All of you probably know by now that we eat pretty healthy on this farm. However, like any kids... my sons love sweet treats.
I usually can 'treat' them with a smoothie, or homemade hot cocoa, a banana with homemade hot fudge sauce... in other words, something not completelt junky (although once in awhile my oldest bakes cookies, we're not perfect!).

This time, though, I think they were on to me. I baked some butternut squash and decided to mash it with some farm eggs, raw milk, a bit of brown sugar, and pumpkin pie seasonings! A crustless "pumpkin" pie. It's so good!

Guess they didn't fully agree with me, although my pickiest eater (with the sweetest tooth) ate the most... his plate is in the middle.

Love it when I can get by with something like this... even if it's only a little bit!

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Mmmm.. roasted butternut squash

Mmmm... roasted butternut squash. Pulled this winter squash from the root cellar today. Now... what to do with it so my 3 young sons will eat it? Some sort of brown sugar combo, I'm thinking!