admin | May 24, 2011
Like usual I did morning chores, feeding and watering the chicks and watering the greenhouse plants. Rather tame jobs compared to what came next. Cattle sorting. Sorting cows is a heart pumping job to start any morning. Today we had to sort one of our herds to send them to summer pasture. Before heading over [...]
admin | May 14, 2011
Yesterday we harvested the first crop of the year. After several sunny days the asparagus had grown up prolifically and we were able to get decent amount of asparagus cut. Not only is this exciting because it is the first crop of the season, we finally can eat something of our own. But this is [...]
admin | May 6, 2011
As spring thaws the winter away, and life starts to flourish. A buzz of activity starts again on the farm in preparation of another season. Everyone has returned home and is eager to start working for the season. There is lots to be done and a few new projects to start. So far not too much [...]
admin | April 12, 2011
This is the recent press release that we have been sending to the local newspapers in order to help promote our CSA program for 2011 Port Perry, Ontario, April 2011: The 2010 summer farming season may be over but the work for Willowtree Farm in Port Perry isn’t. The farm is already planning ahead for [...]
admin | November 4, 2010
As the cool autumn winds blow in winter, things around here have slowed right down. After Halloween, the market’s official closing date, things will pretty much come to a halt for the staff of Willowtree. Everyone will get a break from the early mornings and long days they have put in all season. Even the cows [...]
admin | October 22, 2010
As the leaves change around us, the farm slowly turns from green to orange. It’s a full circle at this time of year, the fields are virtually empty and most of the crops have been picked off. But the farm looks good in its fall colours. I think it might be the nicest looking time [...]
admin | October 16, 2010
This year Alex grew several giant pumpkins, but one in particular “Spice Girl”, was very large and was a beautiful orange colour. Usually giant pumpkins don’t have a nice orange colour they usually are a weird pale orange to white. With a lot of convincing, Alex decided to take his pumpkin to Pumpkinfest in Port Elgin. [...]
admin | September 24, 2010
Fall harvest season has officially arrived, because we have started to press cider!!!! I look forward to this all season, even though we usually keep a small supply of cider frozen for the winter and spring. There is nothing like a glass of fresh cider cold off the press. It is by far the best [...]
admin | September 17, 2010
At the end of May, this spring we headed to the fields to plant tomatoes and peppers on the black plastic mulch. We were surprised to find a large snapping turtle laying her eggs in the black plastic as well. We observed her very quietly not to disturb her; it was amazing to watch her [...]
admin | August 23, 2010
Crop rotation is a very important part of good farming practices to ensure sustainability. Crop rotation involves alternating the crops grown on the same piece of land. Here at Willowtree Farms, Rod has an intense crop rotation schedule to maintain soil quality, to reduce weeds, and chances of disease in a crop. Crop rotation is [...]
