Q and A #1: Cold Weather

We experienced the coldest night of the Winter so far this week, which makes this a great time to address the first frequently asked question:

How do you prepare for and protect everything in the freezing cold weather?

Keeping a close eye on weather forecasts is a normal part of any farmers routine. However, just watching forecasts isn't quite enough to know how your particular area is going to be hit. Farmers and growers must be conscious of their own “micro-climates,” which can vary even within one's own property due to a number of different variables which I have yet to wrap my head around. I have described our own micro-climate as “Siberian,” only partially joking. We can experience temperatures almost 10 degrees lower than surrounding areas, which can be a scary thought when the predicted low for a certain night is 18 degrees, like it was this week. However, as long as one is aware and prepared, these temperatures shouldn't pose too great of a threat.

The white material on the outside of the house is the insulation.
In the distant background is one of the goats' shelters.

For the animals, it's important to remember that these types of creatures survive in the wild already, some in even harsher climates. Heritage breed chickens, which make up a good percentage of our laying hen flock, are the hardiest. The goats grow thick winter coats to help protect them from freezing temperatures. Even considering this, we go an extra step to protect our animals from the cold weather. Our portable chicken coops are lined with an insulated foil material, blocking winds and helping the chickens conserve their body heat throughout the night. Watering cans left inside of these houses tend to stay thawed and not freeze, so we know the coops can protect a considerable amount and keep the chickens comfortable until the sun comes up. The goats have access to multiple shelters throughout the night and won't hesitate to seek them out in wet or harsh weather.

As far as the plants go, we're still in a learning process. Considering this is our first year growing crops for production, this is of course our first Winter as well. You've seen our high tunnels, which work in a few different ways to conserve heat for the crops. During the day, if we allow the houses to warm up, this will trap heat in the ground which will radiate throughout the night. The houses also protect from wind, eliminating the wind chill factor and protecting the plants from the stress of potentially destructive gusts. While the high tunnels also serve themselves as insulation, they do not stop freezing temperatures from creeping inside, especially on nights like we had this week. This is why it's necessary to take all steps possible, from choosing frost-hardy varieties to adding row cover protection inside the tunnels, to ensure the plants survive the coldest nights in the winter.

As we move forward, we expect to learn or invent new ways to help keep both animals and plants cozy and healthy throughout the winter, making local food an even bigger possibility during the off-season.

Do you have any questions about who we are or what we do?  Please ask us!  You can contact us on Facebook, email me at austin [at] twobridgesfarm [dot] net, or simply leave a comment with your question.