Growing Vegetable Crops Under Cover Bolsters Field Growing
Growing vegetables under cover comes in a many forms. On the controlled-environment side, production ranges from containers to tractor farming to hydroponics. There’s just as much variety in structures with no automated systems, including low tunnels.
We spoke with Ryan Voiland, owner, Red Fire Farm. He’s typical of open-field growers who have protected agriculture divisions. He grows diverse vegetable crops in a variety of structures for different reasons.
Farm Extends Its Season
Montague, MA-based Red Fire Farm (located about halfway between Boston, MA, and Albany, NY) grows just about every vegetable on the Northeast market on its roughly 200 acres.
Area farms try to weather the rain >David Wissemann, who runs Warner Farm in Sunderland with his father, Mike, said one of the main concerns of the heavy rainfall is the risk for disease in his crops. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >David Wissemann, who runs Warner Farm in Sunderland with his father, sows corn seed. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >Some pepper plants at Warner Farm in Sunderland show signs of rot that may have been the result of this week’s heavy rain. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >Ryan Voiland of Red Fire Farm in Montague estimated one-third of his fall carrots, planted when they were still germinating, are under water and will have to be abandoned. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE
Area farms try to weather the rain: Greenfield records 8 inches in first 2 weeks in July >David Wissemann, who runs Warner Farm in Sunderland with his father, Mike, said one of the main concerns of the heavy rainfall is the risk for disease in his crops. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >David Wissemann, who runs Warner Farm in Sunderland with his father, sows corn seed. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >Some pepper plants at Warner Farm in Sunderland show signs of rot that may have been the result of this week’s heavy rain. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE >Ryan Voiland of Red Fire Farm in Montague estimated one-third of his fall carrots, planted when they were still germinating, are under water and will have to be abandoned. STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE
At Red Fire Farm, it’s always farm share season
A bounty of fresh greens and produce from Red Fire Farm. RED FIRE FARM
A bevy of organic tomatoes, available though Red Fire Farm’s CSA and retail stores. RED FIRE FARM
RED FIRE FARM
Red Fire Farm’s storefront on Carver Street in Granby. RED FIRE FARM
The sign out side the farm store in Granby doesn’t actually list everything offered for sale. RED FIRE FARM
Published: 4/23/2021 2:26:22 PM
As local farms gear up for the main growing season, a chorus rings out: “Sign up now for your CSA share!” For some this is a familiar call. Others ask, “What’s that? And why would I want one?”
Farm to vaccine: Some agricultural workers getting shots early
Kate Lanou, left, and Laura Sabolefski work in a greenhouse at Red Fire Farm in Montague on Friday. Lanou and Sabolefski have received their first COVID-19 vaccines through the Community Health Center of Franklin County. Staff Photo/Paul Franz
Kate Lanou plants habanero pepper seeds in strip trays at Red Fire Farm in Montague on Friday. Lanou received her first COVID-19 vaccine through the Community Health Center of Franklin County. Staff Photo/Paul Franz
Employees of Nourse Farms in Whately work in the fields. The farm’s employees received their first doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccination at the Community Health Center of Franklin County in Greenfield the week of Feb. 22. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PETER NORMAN