Monroe – Deck Hill Farm, 554 Dick Hill Avenue, Organic Market Garden, Farm Works as part of the Belfast Garden Club Open Garden Days Friday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. .
Gob itors are asked to stop on the right side of the lawn by the sidewalk to increase the space. Some vegetables may be for sale. A $ 5 grant was requested to continue the club.
The farm is certified by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and according to owner James Gagn, it uses small amounts of fertilizer practices to improve soil health. Plowing germinates seeds 8 inches below ground. To control weeds, the beds were covered with a cloth to hold them in place, and they were piled up using hand tools. “Weed levels are very low,” he said. “Our goal is to keep weeds out of the way.
“The smaller the size and the smaller the cover, the easier it will be to care for it. Our goal is to get the most out of every bed, and partly in our small size.
After the harvest, each row was spun, and the rest were covered with corpses. Within two weeks, the rest will be broken down and fertilized. Indoor straw made from seedless straw and wood chips will destroy the grass around the plans. A few flowers appear on the edges of the rows and in different parts of the space to help create a pollen environment.
The farm also has a small herd of cattle, which is not organic. For the canned green mix, broccoli, cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce grow in the field along with the weekly carrots. Some restaurants sell their produce at Belfast and Rolandland farmers’ markets for groceries, Gegan said.
Four “high caves” or uncultivated greenhouses provide land for growing trellis-loving plants, including beans, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Each summer, one or two caves are planted with cover crops, which means that they return nutrients to the soil, “giving it a fruitful rest.”
According to Gane, this year was a little strange, followed by hot June and very wet July. “Some of our heat-loving crops have really struggled,” he said. Vegetables have been slow to ripen this year in cold and cloudy conditions.
Gagne, his wife, Naomi, and two workers are on the verge of opening more land next year. The grazing land is fenced off and available for planting until next spring. Visit dickeyhillfarm.com for more information.
The Belfast Garden Club has introduced a public park and has stimulated gardening knowledge and love for over 90 years. Fundraising from the club supports local public parks and a number of scholarship funds. For more, visit BelfastGardenClub.org.