Spring Ledge Farm, a vegetable and potted plant farm located in New London, NH, provides a great example of how crops can be physically protected from climate stressors.

Olivia Saunders, a field specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension, recently hosted a session at the operation to provide New England farmers with tips about climate protection.

When looking at crop management, it’s important to keep in mind any climate changes expected in the near future. Saunders expressed that with climate predictions, “you can make informed decisions about what infrastructure to add to your farm, how to utilize NRCS programs and where your major risk areas might be on your particular farm.”

Each farm will have their own major climate risks based on their soil, proximity to a river, drainage setup, production practices and more. However, all New England farmers can expect the climate to get warmer and wetter.

Greg Berger has been the owner of Spring Ledge Farm since 2005 but has been working on the farm since 1986. He mentioned the farm has grown every year and that the demand for their products “keeps growing and growing.” The farm produces a wide variety of crops including arugula, zucchini, pumpkins and strawberries.

Tasha Dunning, the field manager for Spring Ledge Farm, noted, “Tomatoes are our biggest crop here for sure – not acreage-wise, but dollar-wise.”

She added that the tomatoes were especially successful this year, most likely due to the farm’s ability to control humidity levels in their high tunnels.

Tasha Dunning, field manager for Spring Ledge Farm, noted that their most valuable crop does better in a climate-protected environment. Photo by Kelsi Devolve

Although the farm has been growing crops in high tunnels for a long time, they have been working with NRCS to install higher-quality tunnels with more beneficial features. Dunning explained that their first high tunnel installed with the assistance of NRCS was 100 feet long with one layer of plastic. This high tunnel has been continuously modified to be longer and have more plastic coverage, electricity and even hot water heaters. These hot water heaters are powered by solar arrays on the farm and can circulate hot water throughout the ground in the tunnel.

Dunning said the hot water circulation is important because if “you put a tomato plant into cold ground, it’s just going to sit there and struggle,” but if you “put a tomato into warm ground… off it goes.”

The farm uses beneficial insects to manage disease and pests. They add beneficial microbes to all of their potted plants, hanging baskets and four-packs. They also add microbes on the leaf surfaces of crops to help combat diseases, enhance growth and balance out natural pests.

In total, the farm’s fruit and vegetable growing operation covers 38 acres of outdoor fields as well as nine greenhouses (three heated, six unheated).

The farm staff focuses on reducing environmental impacts and increasing sustainability. They have proof that high tunnels can successfully and physically protect your crops from climate stressors.

For more information about Spring Ledge Farm, visit springledgefarm.com.

by Kelsi Devolve