Where do the days go? Summer solstice has passed. I’ve been falling asleep and waking up with sunlight still in the South Dakota sky. June has been a busy month at IronFox Farm. Here are a few updates of what has happened over the last couple weeks:
- SoDak Compost started their community composting pilot project. One bin is filling up with food scraps and other compostable materials. Two more bins await!
- The gardens are growing! Megan and I have tried our best to stave off the ever encroaching weeds. We also have been watering diligently with our collected rainwater (2000 gallons so far!). The stretches of extreme heat has really facilitated growth of the garden plants and our most persistent nemesis, bindweed.
- I will never call a bunny “cute” again. They are monsters! A nibble here, a bite their, an entire strawberry plant decimated! Perhaps I have never taken notice, but there seems to be an overpopulation of rabbits in our neighborhood (in Sioux Falls for that matter). In response, Megan and I electrified our fencing last week with promising results! For the safety of our neighbors, we connect the solar energizer after 8PM and disconnect it before 8AM. So far the fence seems to be deterring late night garden feasts.
- Students attending PEAK Performance’s Summer Program have visited IronFox Farm twice. During their first visit, students learned about the process of germination, photosynthesis, and fruit production while also planting a garden plot. The second visit included some phenomenal composting and soil health activities led by SoDak Compost and Living Soils LLC!
- Carla’s Flower Farm on 41st Street gave a generous donation of plants in search for soil. Volunteers will help fill the final 14×50′ garden plot with kale, cabbage, cauliflower, squash, marigolds, cucumbers, and more this coming weekend.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged IronFox Farm! Our community truly holds some special people. Megan and I are so appreciative of the many hands and many minds that have helped us so far.