The Water & the Weather: Another Challenging Spring at the Farm

Spring is usually a season of hope on the farm, but this year has started with a lot of uncertainty.

Here in southeastern Colorado, it has already been unseasonably hot, with very little moisture. The soil is dry, the wind has been relentless, and it feels more like early summer than spring.

What’s weighing on me most right now is water.

My irrigation depends on mountain snowpack, and this year (at the time I write this) it is sitting at just 16% of normal. That likely means less water flowing through later in the season, which directly affects what I can grow and how much I can sustain through the summer.

It feels like each year the weather becomes harder to predict. There is no real “normal” anymore, and every season brings a new set of challenges.

Farming organically makes that even more real. I rely on soil health, timing, and natural balance rather than quick fixes. When conditions are this dry and hot, it makes everything harder, from keeping moisture in the soil to growing healthy, productive crops.

It also impacts what you see at market.

Some of the crops people look forward to most each summer, like greens, lettuces, and certain fruits, are also the hardest to grow in this climate. They need steady moisture and milder temperatures, which are getting harder to count on. I am planting everything I know my customers love, and hoping for the best.

On top of that, the cost of farming continues to rise. Seeds are more expensive, and organic fertilizers and soil inputs have gone up as well. These are essential parts of growing good food, but they add to the pressure each season.

I share this simply to give some context.

Farming is deeply rewarding, but it is also unpredictable in ways that are hard to see from the outside. I plan as carefully as I can, but so much depends on the conditions each year brings.

Your support at the farmers market truly matters. When you choose to buy from a small, local farm, you are helping make this work possible, even in challenging seasons like this one.

Thank you for being part of this sweet little dream of mine.

-Brett