Now only $5.00 for all deliveries to Lewes and Rehoboth Beach on Saturday mornings!

Yes, farmers do like snow. It is a terrific insulator. Under the snow, the ground in our area is usually not even frozen, or not frozen very deeply, so plant roots are alive.

Temperatures under the snow are stable, and crops covered in snow are able to avoid the constant freezing and thawing that is much more damaging than a more stable temperature. In this way, cold hardy crops are preserved much better in a snow covered garden or field.

Snow protects soil and provides needed moisture. Snow is also called the “poor man’s fertilizer” as it absorbs nitrogen from the air as it falls and then releases these nutrients into the soil as it melts. In fact, if you have a garden with paths, take your shovel and move the snow from the paths onto the garden itself for even more benefit … or stay inside and drink hot chocolate.

Please order as usual! We are happy to continue to provide great food in the middle of the winter.

Some of the produce grown outside at Chesapeake Organic may be compromised after this cold snap, but much of what they have is grown in unheated greenhouses and will be fine and if the wind doesn’t blow away all the snow, much of the outside produce will be protected by this snowy layer of insulation.

Meats from Bohemia Lea and cheese from Chapel’s, as well as mushrooms, honey, plenty of eggs and jellies and jams, continue to grace our tables all through the winter. We are truly eating well and hope you do too.

And what about produce outside in this frigid weather? Some produce is very hardy, especially kale, collards, head lettuce, leeks and scallions, but can definitely face damage with temperatures as low as they are now. Fortunately after tomorrow, temperatures will rise.

That brings me to the topic of this blog. Why farmers like snow.

If you have any questions at all, please email Hattie directly for a prompt answer.

Yours in the garden and shoveling the driveway,