8/31/11

One step backwards, two steps forward

It's been a busy week for Arcadia, especially when you take into account the fallout from last week's earthquake and hurricane. The winds and rain from Irene were particularly damaging to Arcadia Farms, uprooting plants, turning over row cover (which gave the groundhogs a veritable feast of sweet potato greens and baby lettuces), and toppling the hops tower in the children's garden. Fortunately, you can always reseed new vegetables and rehabilitate damaged plants. Moreover, with a little extra work we've been able to turn these natural disasters into opportunities for growth.

For starters, we were actually pleased to have such a thorough, steady downfall after one of our driest summers on record. As it were, the rain from Irene moistened the ground enough so that the kind folks at Mt. Vernon could plow and till our remaining fields at Woodlawn. Farmer Mo will now have the entire top field as well as a new bottom field for cultivation next year.

Matt of Mt. Vernon masterfully wielding a multi-purpose tractor.



The newly tilled fourth quadrant in our top field.



The inaugural plowing of our bottom field, reserved for supplying Arcadia's Mobile Market with healthy, locally-grown, sustainable food.



Our Mobile Market program has also made some important developments. For instance, we have finally been awarded the necessary permits and licenses by the DC government to operate the bus. This has been a long, difficult process which we are definitely excited to have finally completed!

Meanwhile, the bus itself is nearing completion. The engine has been refurbished and the front tires have been replaced. (The tires will soon be reborn as planters in the children's garden).

In addition to the tires, we've transformed the fallen hops tower into a verdant tepee.



There is still progress to be made in getting the Mobile Market road-ready, but the remaining logistics and cosmetic work is all underway.

Fortunately, there have been a lot of silver linings in light of last week's natural disasters, but that shouldn't come as a surprise since it's nature's way to grow and prosper after a period of destruction. In the same vein, sustainable agriculture seeks to replicate such cycles of nature, so Arcadia is none the poorer from these events.

Personally, I used Irene's destruction as an opportunity to pick the biggest bouquet of flowers ever.



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