As is easily visible, we have suffered damage and loss from trees all around the property and will be weeks in the clean-up. What may not be evident is the amount of crop damage. As we are located less than a mile from the Sound, we often benefit from the mild sea breeze to extend our growing season. This year however, Irene brought salt spray and tortuous winds to the fields. The result is nearly all of the broad leaf crops have withered and died.
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Grapes that were planted decades ago experienced unprecedented damage. |
The fall crops of beets, squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, chard etc. have shriveled to compost. The young plants of lettuce, spinach and salad mixes have inhaled too much salt to thrive, and even the raspberries have become stark sticks.
But we are cleaning up. We will have plenty of firewood this winter!
We have dug up completely many of the damaged fields.
We are still able to pick some of the greenhouse peppers and tomatoes and other covered items and are rapidly replanting cool weather crops.
Yet as Fall approaches and the cool rains continue, there may be precious little time to reap the sowing. Still, we have weathered the weather safely, and look forward to getting as much out of the ground as we can.
Thank you for your support!