Farmers Market

Tesch Family Farms back to farmers market this Saturday

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:29:00 GMT

We plan to be at the Golden State farmers market this Saturday, Feb. 4, 8AM-Noon. After taking off January DUE TO COLD DRY WEATHER, and not all of it was cold, but too dry to grow veggies to the quality you demand, we are still irrigating with a 1000 gallon bubble tank, multiple x daily, and not covering as we need, falling behind. The rain which gave us 3/10" was a big help, need more, lots more. We are on a canal system which does not have a water contract until March 15-August 15. We will go out of business on this farm if that is the only water we can get, as every year it seems to rain enough to provide enough "excess water" during extended month(s). We are 10 days away from being critically short of water for trees which are pushing out of dormancy, and about 4-6 weeks from death without precipitation. Let's hope for the easiest solution, precipitation. Highlights for Saturday for Tesch Farms: Collard greens Arugula Radishes Gold nugget mandarins, grapefruits, taracco blood oranges Broccoli A few mustard greens, cilantro, dill, spinach bunches Frozen blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, and roma tomatoes For me nothing too exciting, as I consider exciting to be berry, cherry, tomato, summer veggie & herb, and stonefruit seasons. Lettuces are 2-3 weeks away, strawberries in March. We will likely in future seasons not attempt to produce very much in the winter months due to the kids heavy academic and sporting involvement in critical stages of their lives, and our lack of reliable winter precipitation, and the typical frosty weather which reduces quality below where you are accustomed from Tesch Farms. And I would like to have some time off, not necessarily from you all, but due to all of the factors which make it less profitable to pursue farmers marketing through the toughest conditions, while I could be pursuing more time with family and related projects. I've worked Saturdays as well as almost every other day of the week, most seasons for better than 2 decades through my various careers, and with farming, and the time with the kids is looking as important as every, so I am hoping for the correct balance. These are my thoughts as I struggle currently with the mix high land acquisition cost, "nearly impossible" financing, summer farming of fresh fruits and vegetables and herbs (which is about year round), which I can grow well in this climate of uncertianty and regulation. I will continue to work to grow quality, wholesome produce in Kern County, for Kern County (and hopefully plenty more stonefruits and cherries for willing buyers throughout the United States, and export markets). Thank you for your kindness, friendship and business. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Absent one more week from the farmers market

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:54:00 GMT

The dry ground soaked in 3" of moisture which means Lamont got about 3/10ths of an inch of rain, a good deviation from 2 monbths of dry conditions. The long range forecast has no moisture in it for the next 10 days, but hoping for a change is a busy pasttime, while irrigation with a 1000 gallon water tank. Winter veggies are still being transplanted, even seeded, and summer veggies are being seeded in the greenhouse. We start blossom / bud thinning our peaches and nectarines tomorrow with a big crew, which will keep us pretty busy for about a week. The more we remove now, the sweeter and bigger your fruit will be in spring / summer. The strawberry plants are starting to have blossoms with non-frozen fruit, so if lucky, strawberries by late February, although last year we first picked the last day of March. This looks to be a big berry and cherry year. Same for tomatoes, sweet onions, squashes and melons, as our plans are looking big! We will harvest in 8 days for the market in early February. Will also bring frozen blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, and hopefully some gold nugget mandarins, if our farming neighbors will keep their crews from helping themselves to my fields. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Nature is keeping us from participating at farmers markets

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:03:00 GMT

I have 1 person and a diesel truck and water trailer, full time watering our "garden", and this is tough with no rain. I have no well, the canal is dry, and there is no rain! My current situation requires about 3/4" of rain this weekend, and about the same every week for the next few weeks, until I can irrigate with canal water from a rapidly diminishing supply collected in Lake Isabella. The winter is so far not squeezing out enough precipitation in the Sierras or valley floor for our current level of farming and civilization to enjoy the fruits and vegetables of summer. We hope for an improvement soon this winter. We will not be at the farmers market this Saturday, as yes there is citrus, and frozen berries, but the vegetables are holding due to frost damage and stunting due to lack of water. We could all be happier. Never take for granted the beautiful inventions we enjoy around the house, as they don't exsist in nature. We love technology which has brought about the luxuries we all enjoy, indoor plumbing, etc., yet we also live with and make the best of what nature provides, and our farming best right now isn't good enough. Hope to see you next Saturday. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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One more week off for Tesch Family Farms

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:32:00 GMT

The farmers market will be on, but we will be at the soccer fields at Liberty Park. The lack of rain is very limiting to winter vegetable growth. We are irrigating 1000 gallons at a time, for about 30 minutes every other day just to keep plants alive. This is because the Kern Delta East Side Canal in Lamont is dry and that is where all of our winter vegetables reside. Citrus is mostly in Mettler with the early season stone fruits which are being irrigated right now in advance of dormant spraying. Those not so crazy trees think it is spring, and except for lack of rain it is, so we need to hustle and get with growing as the buds are starting to push.. When we come back to the market, we expect to be bringing ample gold nuget mandarins, oro blanco grapefruits, frozen blackberries on special, plus boysenberries and blueberries, and a few winter leafy greens. Will see you January 21. Thanks, Greg Tesch

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Farmers market tomorrow

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:02:00 GMT

Yes there will be a farmers market (year round). This Saturday, Tesch Family Farms will half be driving back from San Diego, and the other half involved in 3 soccer games. We harvested nothing this week. We planted and watered almost everything. This dry weather for winter has gotten us working in very creative, hopefully temporary ways. You don't need to worry, just please pray that the Chinese will quit seeding clouds, and let some of the rain come over to the west coast. Have a good market, hope to see you within 1-2 more weeks. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Happy new year

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:31:00 GMT

As I wait for things to warm up, making sure no frost is in the winter veggies before harvest, I can guess once again what we will be bringing on Saturday morning to the farmers market. Highlights: frozen blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, roma tomatoes (Would be happy for restaurant / industrial food inquiries for blackberries and boysenberries, as there are over 1000 pounds available). persimmons radishes collard greens cauliflower very limited citrus supplies garlic a few other greens This will be a very light week for us, as much of our winter crop has been freeze damaged, and we will likely take off 1-2 weeks from the farmers market which runs year round, the beginning of January, and then come back after we see some better regrowth. The bird damage on the spinach didn't help either, they really picked it apart. Farming: Winter season crops still being transplanted, and direct seeded even today. We need some rain, as the canal is dry, and we are having to hand water, with a 1000 gallon water tank, filled from a neighbors well. Happy river water to all of you river lovers! That water used to go to your vegetables and tree fruit, seasonally, and will again in March, when the east side canal water contract becomes effective again next year. Our earliest summer fruits, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and basil, have yet to sprout, but will shortly in the greenhouse, getting ready for March plantings. Anybody want to buy some fire wood? I have about 15 cord to sell, dry (cut last winter) peach / plum / apricot / nectarine wood. Please contact me through email. Greg Tesch

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Merry Christmas, farmers market December 24!

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:17:00 GMT

The Tesch Family is grateful for your choice to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers market, and especially we hope that we can be part of that choice this and every season. The farmers market will be open on December 24, and December 31. The very cold winter and a reduced planting schedule by Tesch Family Farms has reduced our offerings at the market, and we expect our fresh produce volume to be quite light through December, January, and February. There are still a few not frozen herbs, broccoli, cauliflower, grapefruits, radishes, persimmons... Frozen offerings include roma tomatoes, blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries. Farming has included getting sweet onions, garlic, shallots planted / transplanted. Seeding of cool season crops continues, which will be maturing March-early May. Warm season veggies will be seeded in the greenhouse very soon, in order to bring you fresh tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, watermelons, muskmelons, summer squashes, etc. Pruning stonefruit trees will be completed before the new year, and shredding brush, and disking row centers, weed control, dormant spraying, all is on the schedule for January. Some buds of low chill peach and nectarine varieties are pushing and getting fuzzy grey color, which means hopefully the weather will be fairly steady cool for the next 3 weeks, and gradually warm up. I expect first peach and nectarine blossoms opening at the end of January. We wish all the best this holiday season, Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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This week with Tesch Family Farms

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:46:00 GMT

The market isn't until Saturday, but the plants are already telling what will be available. Broccoli cauliflower greens herbs spinach citrus frozen blueberries, blackberries, and boysenberries: Finaly we will coordinate getting a few to market. If you want to buy them by the box, please email us. Everything has been very cold at night, and the cold blast of frost we had last week was our first really hard frost in several years, where we got into the low 20's where our vegetables are growing (Lamont), and in the case of the summer varieties, "were growing", now dead. The strawberry plants are all up on plastic mulch (Lamont), and saw very little plant damage, but there is definitely no more fruit, probably until March. Even the cool season veggies suffered a big hit, and there will be shortages from this family farm until things moderate, and we are looking for a light winter harvest, and will begin roaring back to big harvests in March. Much of our lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and variety of cool season veggies will be at their peak in February, March, and April. In the greenhouse are more transplants growing, more to be seeded, a busy time to be getting little seedlings going, and a frosty dangerous time as well. More cherry trees are on order from the nursery, so we hope all goes well, and to have cherries in abundance in 3-5 years. The current mature cherry trees are yielding from late April through early June, and the birds seem to be doing most of the successful harvesting so far each season. Our other stone fruits, peaches, plums, nectarines, apriums, pluots...are expected to be abundant in sugar, juice, flavor, aroma, and availability this next season. We are in the process of removing commercial plantings of several varieties in favor of planting cherries, but this will have little effect on our farmers market plantings, at least this summer 2012. Blackberry, boysenberry, and blueberry harvest is forecast to remain steady to increased slightly, with a big increase in strawberries expected. It's all about freshness and flavor, you will again see and enjoy the results of some diligent work. Most of the berries are planted on the Lamont farm, a few on the Mettler farm. I will be personally very busy the remainder of this week preparing soil for planting, looking for more land to lease, and personally refereeing in the Garces soccer tournament this coming Friday and Saturday. Good to be able to communicate now when able. Hope for your visit to the farmers market. Thanks, Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Broccoli & cauliflower! Farmers market Saturday!

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:42:00 GMT

Plums, pluots, green beans, zucchini, sunflower boquets just in time for December?! Amazingly, the frosts haven't been too bad, but this week will finish up summer. We have nice greens as well, mustard, collard, kale, arugula...and a few beets, spinach. Won't have lettuce until next year. Everything is slowing down, including the weeds, yeah! We personally get a little break, (paperwork never ends), and love the change of seasons. The trees are being pruned and fields being disked, getting ready for next season. See you dressed for the weather in the morning. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Pre Thanksgiving farmers market

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:36:00 GMT

The big news will be the abundance of Tesch Farms plums/pluots, green beans, kale, mustard, swiss chard, and especially collard greens. We will also have plenty of peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and some of these items will be half price Saturday. Herbs a plenty, thyme, chives, rosemary, dill, cilantro, sage. Better that you eat them all and have a happy Thanksgiving. I will personally be coaching and in between refereeing, because my GU12 soccer team has its region tournament at Liberty Park all day Saturday. We will be set up early, but market hours are officially every Saturday 8AM-Noon. Hope all will not go hungry for good local produce. Happy Thanksgiving. Greg Tesch www.teschfamilyfarms.com

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Pre Thanksgiving farmers market

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:35:00 GMT

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