Jacob Thies – Third Year Element Focus at North Slope Farm, in 2016

Third Year Focus Introduction – Greenhouse

By JT

At the core of early spring production at North Slope Farm is the greenhouse element. The jumping off location for the season, the heated greenhouse where we start all of our seedlings for on-farm successions, wholesale account sales, and retail seedling sales for all three markets. On cold, wet days, the greenhouse allows the crew to congregate in a warm, dry location to complete tasks. On seeding days, we see our work grow exponentially as table after table become filled with harbingers of summer. The heated greenhouse is a special place. And for all of those reasons and more, I’ve chosen to focus my third year on the Greenhouse element North Slope Farm.

Statement of Intent:

To implement the greenhouse order forms, maintain a healthy environment for seedlings, communicate effectively with farm and planting manager regarding the status of seedlings, and to have a good time doing it.

Materials needed for managing the heated greenhouse operation include:

• Propane gas

• Oil to lubricate circulating fans at start of season

• Trays, cowpots, four-packs containers

• Minerals and soil mix additives

• Sifted compost

• Soil mix

• Heating mats & Foam insulating pads

Greenhouse Manager Responsibilities:

• “Waking up” the greenhouse and all implements at the beginning of the season

• Maintaining enough trays, seeds, sifted compost, additives, and soil mix for efficient crew work

• Working with the Planting manager to implement the crop plan by overseeing the organization of the greenhouse planting

• Create and implement greenhouse order forms for wholesale and retail seedling sales

• After seeds are sown in trays, managing the care of crops: watering, controlling the temperature and ventilation, and monitoring pest control

• Creating a healthy, uncluttered area surrounding the greenhouse

All in all, I’m looking forward to focusing my energies on the greenhouse element. It will be a big wave of work upfront then to tail off as the weather agrees with direct seeding. Here’s to a great 2016 season.