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Established 1912
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Parkland student, Highlanders star takes her soccer skills to NCAA Div 1 university, page A15
Privately owned James Island listed for sale, page A7 Watch for breaking news at www.peninsulanewsreview.com
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Some farms fare well in frigid spring Leafy greens growing quickly this year Christine van Reeuwyk News staff
Cool weather crops are faring well and the warm weather stuff is about a week behind in farmers’ fields across the Saanich Peninsula. “The weeds are growing great in this weather,” Diane Williamson of Firbank Farm said with a chuckle. “The cool crops are doing awesome like lettuce and that type of thing.” “Most of the leafy stuff loves cold weather, like leaf lettuce and chard,” agreed Jack Mar of Mar Farm. season’s just about a week behind, “I think last year “The I think most of the stuff is going to come on.” we started roughly Farmers say the cooler weather has the same time, but in pushed back crops about a week. previous years we’ve “The growing season’s been a little bit behind normal, it’s been the same about had them May 25, the last three years,” said Terry Michell, May 26.” fifth generation farmer on the Michell family farm. – Terry Michell, They started picking last week, just to Michell’s Farm get the fields into rotation. “There’s lots coming on there, so it looks like [this] week it’s going to really ramp up,” Michell said. “I think last year we started roughly the same time, but in previous years we’ve had them May 25, May 26.” The extra time appears to be good for the plants, providing bigger, better, stronger plants that will bear similar fruit – and lots of it. He expects to be picking 400 to 500 pounds a day. “We just need now some warmer weather, then we won’t be able to keep up,” Michell said. “There’s lots of B.C. veggies on the go now,” Michell said, “The leader raspberries will be up in about three weeks … They look good right now and there’s lots of blossoms on them. PLEASE SEE: Deer continue to hurt crops, page A10
Christine van Reeuwyk/News staff
Mackenzie Williamson, 10, tends to celery at Firbank Farm in Central Saanich.
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