Full Name
Jen deHaan
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Member for
7 months 3 weeks
Volunteer Background
Permaculture farm on Vancouver Island, Canada. Started in 2017.
Favorite Crops & Least Favorite Crops
I am working on tomatoes, peppers, beans, a variety of squash and melons, herbs, and greens. I am very new to growing produce, so I'm learning this year as I try to develop a specialty or niche.
Growing Experience
Growing food
Starting seeds
Growing perennials
Seed-saving
Time Commitment
Over 10 hrs
Growing Location
Space Available
Really big field (5+ acres)
Soil Details
Currently I am growing in numerous raised beds. In the fall we are creating hugels.
We have about 4 acres of other field space to work with. Right now that soil is hard pack clay that is waterlogged for most of the winter. We need to improve that soil, but are having issues figuring out a low cost manual way of planting anything into it as a cover crop. We also have a couple acres of old growth forest, and we could do something with mushrooms or similar with it (as long as it worked with the forest and didn't do any damage). Growing Location Descriptors
Neighbors' Crops (within 1/4 mile)
Unknown. I think they might grow strawberries next door?
Neighbors' crops (within 1 mile)
There are some market farms around with mixed crops to sell at farmers markets. I know of garlic, blueberries, and honey in the nearby area.
Details
I'm sorry I don't know - I just moved to the area last fall. There are no major farms around here though, all small acreages, horse properties, or personal residences.
Other relevant information
We have lots of deer in the area. Some rabbits, although no problems with them yet. No vacations planned (what are those?)
I am new, but eager and this is my 100% focus (this is my full time business venture). This property has never been a produce farm before, it has always been a horse or pig property (and the previous owners were here 27 years and were extremely dedicated to not using any chemicals because of their horses). |