Cultivation

View in browser Cultivation cul·ti·va·tion The action or an act of trying to develop and improve something. (Cambridge Dictionary) In less than a week our doors will open to the public for our ninety-first season of farming in Vernon, BC. We are so excited to welcome you back! Our team has been working tirelessly to get everything ready: the freezers are stocked with meals, juice and pies; the shelves in the market are laden with the preserves that were made over the winter; the animals in the barn are eager for kids (of all ages 😉) to come say hi; the gift shop is looking fabulous and is full of treasures just waiting to be explored.   In the fields, Lance and his team are cultivating the soil and seedlings for spring planting. Our tomato, pepper, onion and melon seeds have been planted in the greenhouse and are growing nicely. They will be transplanted out into the fields in early May (depending on the weather and on the plants maturity levels). However, before the seedlings can be transplanted, the fields need some attention. We spread manure on our fields, as well as under our trees, every year. This adds a plethora of organic matter and nutrition to the soil.   After spreading manure the ground will be worked up with a disc, followed by a power-harrow. This loosens the soil, allowing for aeration, better water retention and room for roots to go down deep. (Check out the following video about how we cultivate the soil in our Grandview field at Spallumcheen, prior to corn planting!) Cultivating the fields at our "Grandview" location in Spallumcheen   After that, black plastic is laid in long even rows, with drip-irrigation lines running underneath. This plastic barrier traps in moisture, greatly reducing the amount of water that is used. Another benefit is that it cuts down on the amount of weeds that can grow around the plants, saving a lot of hand work and spray usage. Also, the vegetables and fruit stay a lot cleaner since they are not laying in the dirt. When all of this is accomplished, we will be ready to transplant the seedlings into the fields!   While Lance and his team are busy cultivating soil and plants, the rest of the team is busy cultivating the retail space and team dynamics. The term ‘cultivate’ means to work at something to improve and nurture, and that is exactly what our team has been doing across all fronts. From making sure the grounds are clean and groomed, to training new people on how to make pie dough, to getting to know a fellow staff member a little better, cultivation is the pulse of spring at Davison Orchards.   We are looking forward to seeing you on May 1st! This spring we will be open on Tuesdays - Saturdays (closed Sunday, Monday) from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our spring orchard tours will be running on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; you won’t want to miss out on soaking in the beautiful blossoms! Rachel, For the Family "to be a sustainable farm business that builds loyal customers, fulfilled staff and positive memories in a wholesome environment for our community to enjoy." Davison Orchards 3111 Davison Road, Vernon 250-549-3266   Davisonorchards.ca I want to unsubscribe