At this time of year, most vegetable farms are dominated by two activities. The majority of the work day is spent harvesting, washing, and packing produce for various markets. Little Gunpowder Farm has expanded its Community Supported Agriculture program more the threefold this year, so that means a lot more has to be harvested for paying supporters. In the few hours of the day not occupied by harvesting, we tend to focus on weeding our crops.
Farmers must, to one extent or another, remove the pernicious plants that use the precious water and nutrients of our soil without providing any food in return. If too many weeds grow alongside our crops, then there isn’t enough water to share between them and we are left with stunted, shriveled tomato plants and scrawny onions.
Weeding is one of the most basic aspects of growing. To many, it represents the quintessential drudgery of the farming endeavor; it is a task that can be filled with sweat, mud, and frustration. After a few seasons of trying to destroy every single weed on a farm, one thing becomes clear: if you declare all-out war on weeds, the weeds will always win. This is true even with the powerful technology of conventional agriculture, where weeds develop resistance to herbicides, forced to quick adaptation in that chemical crucible. On small sustainable farms like Little Gunpowder Farm, there simply isn’t enough time to keep the fields completely weed-free. It is necessary, then, for us to take a different approach to our weeds.
An assassin bug, one of many beneficial insects that thrive in a diverse farm field.
Weeds are simply plants out of place. They defy our attempts to force vegetation into neat, orderly beds and rows. If a tomato rots on the ground and spills its seeds, its progeny may become weeds for next year’s crops. However, the vast majority of the weed population is composed of inedible plants. Some of these are invasive species from other parts of the globe, but many are simply native meadow plants. Most of these weeds are fast-growing annuals which are well-suited to disturbed soil (e.g. a tilled farm field). This also describes the key characteristics of most of our vegetable crops, so it’s no surprise that they tend to thrive together.
Nevertheless there is a good side to weeds. Some of these native plants produce beautiful flowers or interesting foliage, such as the purple waves of henbit that cover many fields in early spring. They can provide food and shelter for important beneficial insects, producing nectar for bees and wasps and an ideal home for predators such as ground beetles. On a more basic level, weeds represent organic material which can be returned to the soil (through composting or tilling) to help it support future crops.
Our goal at Little Gunpowder Farm is to harness the good aspects of these weeds while still checking their growth enough to produce a bountiful vegetable harvest. We do not use chemical herbicides, which are non-specific in their effects and leave behind bare soil which is prone to erosion. Our summer vegetable field features a permanent bed which hosts a thriving community of flowering native plants (all of which could be considered weeds is they spread elsewhere), a haven for insects beneficial to the surrounding vegetable beds. In the areas where vegetables are not being grown, our native grasses and meadow plants are mostly left to their own devices (with occasional mowing), preventing erosion and building healthy soil for future vegetable fields.
When our hardworking team must remove weeds, we approach task with specialized tools and techniques. The AmeriCorps crew has learned how to use the variety of hoes on the farm in a way that prevents injury or undue fatigue. By weeding only the crops that most need the relief and using efficient techniques, we can make the most out of the limited time available.
The permanent wildflower bed in full bloom provides an attractive backdrop to the vegetable field.
If we viewed our vegetable growing as a war against weeds, the stress of this battle would be crippling. Instead we allow these valuable native plants to perform certain tasks for us, forming an important part of the larger farm ecosystem. Little Gunpowder Farm’s goal is to grow vegetables in a way that works with natural systems, not against them or in their stead. There is no need for battles or wars here, just diligent management and planning. In return we get to enjoy stunning wildflowers, fascinating insects, rich soil, and, of course, delicious vegetables.