The June Explosion: Summer Week #1 – 6/5/24

The June Explosion 

The seasonal change that is June never ceases to amaze me. This will be our 20th season here at Crossroads, and this change never fails to astound.

When we slowly begin the season’s work in early March, seeding flats of plants for the greenhouse, things are still very slow at the farm. There is a slow ratcheting up of the work throughout March and April as we continue to seed in the greenhouse and start to put our transplants out in the field. 

In May, the weeds start to come and our responsibilities expand. Even then, up until 10 ten days ago, our entire crew was 4 full time workers plus Michael and myself. Together the 6 of us can handle what needs doing at the farm through most of the spring. 

Then the week where May turns into June, there is a literal explosion of work. Everywhere we look there are beds that need weeding. Everywhere we look there is food that needs harvesting. The to-do lists become long, like Harry Potter scroll long, and a crew of 12 full timers, 2 part-timers, and 25 volunteers is barely enough to get it all done. 

I think the mathematical word I’m looking for here is exponential growth. 

Every year the explosion of work happens, right exactly at the same time – just 3 weeks before the solstice. 

Every year, even though I know it’s coming, the exponential amount of work in the fields hits me – like getting the wind knocked out of me. No amount of years before or knowledge ahead can prevent this feeling. 

Or like the time someone told Michael years and years ago that having a kid “hits you like a freight train”… June hits every farmer like a freight train. 

We are ready. 

We are excited. 

We are so grateful to feed you!