FLD Report 10/20

I’ve decided to do the FLD internship and focus on the greenhouse as I think it’s something I’d like to be more knowledgeable in. Some of the tasks in the greenhouse that I am responsible for includes sowing seeds, making the seed mix, plant maintenance (which includes weeding and watering), and checking if the sprinklers are working properly.

On the first week, I learned that mulching the wood chips and cardboard works as a “barrier” around the greenhouse to prevent weeds from encroaching the greenhouse. Raoul also mentioned that the flooring of the greenhouse is covered with gravel, which helps prevents weeds from growing and prevents mush. The other flooring options includes concrete and dirt, which comes with its own problems and gravel is used on our farm for a cleaner look.

Before sowing the seeds, it is necessary to make the mix beforehand. It involves mixing 2 buckets of perlite and peat moss for every 1 bucket of compost.

The ratio mix is 2:2:1

Perlites are spread all over the seed tray for a “boost”

I did my own self study on the few factors that affect growth in the greenhouse:

• Humidity – too much humidity can weaken plants and encourage early bolting and fungal diseases. This can be lowered through venting and watering only when needed.
• Ventilation – greenhouse plants require fresh air often, as it helps regulates temperature and provides plenty of fresh air for photosynthesis, prevents pests infestations and diseases and encourages pollination.
• Light – Depending on the type of plants and its requirements and the time of the year, the seedlings will require between six and twelve hours of light daily. There are different types of artificial lighting available as well, which I observed we don’t utilize in our student farm greenhouse. I might inquire more about that.
• Water – usually the overabundance of water or lack thereof can kill the greenhouse plants. So being mindful about the water content is necessary, as it is a balancing act.

Raoul did mention I could do research on how to benefit or improve the greenhouse further, something which I’m quite eager to start on.

Summer abroad and Fall update

September 15th 2017

It’s been awhile since I last updated this blog and I’ve just been swamped with school and work since the quarter started. I’ve just returned to Davis after spending the summer abroad; I learned and experienced so much from backpacking Europe for the first half, and then later worked on a farm in Malaysia.

What did you do this summer dan? “played in chicken poop”

Despite being assigned to a small farm in a rural community, the experience I’ve gained from the fieldwork is a valuable addition to my skill set. Interacting with the local community also helped me understand their thought process and way of life. Some of the assignments I’ve been involved in ranges from trimming lime trees, planting, and transplanting, repurposing and recycling projects, making composts and fertilizers and constructing a chicken/goose coop. My mentor was an old farmer who I always just referred to as “uncle”; he was a very simple yet experienced farmer with about 40 years of farm experience under his belt. It was mostly a field learning experience on the farm with him and we would have great conversations and exchanges during our frequent breaks. He would talk about his vast experience as a farmer while I discussed sustainability and future farming methods.

The landowner mostly planted bananas on the hilly farm

Working on the field in the morning was a wonderful experience. Rising early was a difficult task at first, but I take delight in walking among the seeded rows and being rewarded with witnessing the new lives that have risen to meet the day with a cup of coffee in hand. The ability to work at a craft that requires an understanding of so much – from weather patterns to soil science, the habits and nutritional needs of the animals that will graze the fields and appreciation for repetitive tasks that need to be done daily. There is some beauty to the repetition and approaching it with a calm appreciation; while my hands are busy, my mind is free to observe and calculate to determine what needs to be done next and what will make the farm better.

Took us just a few days to complete the chicken/geese/turkey coop

Some of the initial obstacles I had to face include the different climate and geography in comparison to the student farm in Davis. The difficult part was the need to adapt the knowledge I’ve gained at the student farm and school and applying in an environment with a different local customs, climate, geography and farming techniques. Farming also requires a wide array of skills and knowledge and I felt that I’ve entered agriculture without sufficient necessary skills to be successful. But I realized that the actual growing, as complicated as it is, is only a part of what I needed. There are other useful and necessary skills such as labor management, bookkeeping, equipment maintenance, long-term planning, carpentry, supply chain management and pest management. So many different things farmers need to juggle in contemporary times, and we usually don’t have the resources to hire others who specialize in those skills. I realize it would be useful to obtain this knowledge during my time here in UC Davis and perhaps getting some working experience abroad before returning to Malaysia.

 

Market Garden Week 8

Tuesday 5/22/17

We’re almost towards the end of the quarter now and I have to admit that I really do enjoy working on the farm. It’s definitely helped me become healthier physically and also mentally. There’s just something about the tranquility of working on the farm that satisfies the soul.

Thursday 5/25/17

Moved irrigation pipes with Alex today. What a chill guy to work with.

Market Garden Week 5

Tuesday 5/2/17

 

The shiny red beets emerging out the washer machine

Washed beets and carrots using the washing/packaging machine with Karoline and Hannah today. The weather was great!

 

Random thought:

How would you describe the smell of carrots?

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Thursday 5/5/17

Helped harvested Kohlrabi today. It’s the first time I’ve seen this vegetable and brought some home. It takes about 2-4 months to grow into maturity, so this batch was probably planted around last February.

Apparently, many of my friends had never seen nor heard of it before as well. It could be eaten raw or cooked. It tastes somewhat like the stem of a broccoli.

 

I just love yanking things out of the ground, it’s very satisfying.

 

The name derives from the german word “Kohl” which means cabbage and “Rubë” which means turnip. So it literally translates to cabbage turnip, very creative.

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