The season is already flying by, and the weather is still unseasonably warm, and now that the days are lengthening, we will start to see the season burst forth!! Lack of humidity overall is our biggest enemy here in the High Desert. Even after receiving almost 11 inches of rain on the farm, the soil is quickly drying out due to humidity as low as 10% around the clock, caused by the high pressure, and I can see the difference in the plants. They are not as plump and happy as they were during all those humid days. You can grow in a large greenhouse or a small high tunnel, which will allow the moisture from the earth to humidify the air. You can mulch to protect the soil moisture, and you can never mulch enough!! Whether you use compost, pine shavings, pine needles, tree mulch, or any other organic matter, you can never mulch enough in our High Desert environment, and it will reduce your water bill in addition to making very happy plants.
At Moonstruck Farms, we are deep in Spring Cleaning, and that means we are preparing for the seasons to come by amending beds with compost and organic fertilizers, pruning fruit trees and roses (who have not lost their leaves this year!!), spring cleaning supply shelves, and ordering supplies for the new year, and of course, the dreaded taxes!! As many of you know, running your own business means wearing many hats, but the joy we get from running our own business and serving our community offers many rewards that make all the hard work worth it!! We are looking forward to a year of supplying you with delicious jams and jellies made with our farm-fresh fruit and our fellow farmers. Don’t forget, we make all our products with organic sugar for unparalleled flavor, letting the fruit take center stage! We are also watching the daffodils begin to pop, the lilacs bud, and the cold-hardy flower varieties slowly come forth for the coming year, bringing lots of farm-fresh, organically grown flowers to our community!! You can find us at the Phelan Farmers Market every Monday inside the Phelan Community Center.
The Phelan Certified Farmers Market continues on its Winter Hours of 2 pm to 5 pm every Monday inside and outside the Phelan Community Center, but we will blink our eyes, and the days will be longer, and we will be open until 6 pm again!! The Phelan Farmers Market accepts EBT and administers the Market Match grant, gifting up to $15 in farm-fresh produce to keep our EBT families healthy. Just see the manager at the front table inside the Phelan Community Center for details. The Wrightwood Certified Farmers Market is open every Friday inside the Wrightwood Community Center from 3 pm to 6 pm, with food trucks in the parking lot. They do accept EBT; simply see the manager or assistant manager at the front table inside the Wrightwood Community Center.
