Donaldson Farms Education

"Taller Plasticorn" Sweet corn planted on clear plastic growing well

Peach Thinning: Picking off excess peaches now so peaches grow larger. Sometimes picking off 90% only leaving 10% on the tree

New technology of laying clear plastic for more rapid sweet corn growth

Planting sweet corn through clear solar plastic

Foreground - Older technology matted row strawberries covered with straw for winter protection.

Background - New technology of plasticulture strawberries (planting through plastic) allow for harvest 10 days earlier. Plants are covered in white cloth for winter protection in in October and is removed in April.

Strawberries planted through black plastic. Plants are covered in white cloth for winter protection in in October and is removed in April. Black plastic heats soil for earlier harvest and conserves moisture while omitting weeds.

Erosion controlled with the construction of a stone lined waterway that diverts water to a central location to minimize erosion, specifically stopping top soil from washing out.

Frost protecting matted row strawberries - 55 degree water is sprayed on strawberries utilizing low volume micro sprinklers. Heat from the water is dispersed both into the atmosphere and into the plant. Watering must be continuous or process will not work and strawberries will freeze.

Above & Below - Ron our field manager is making raised beds, covering them with plastic while inserting irrigation drip line. We will plant various crops through this process. The field shown will be planted with lettuce and broccoli.

Wilson is harvesting asparagus by hand. Harvesting Asparagus is not an automated process. Asparagus is harvested over a two month period.

Covering Plasticulture strawberries in anticipation of frost to protect the blossoms. The white specs in the photo are the blossoms.

Collecting a swarm of bees from one of our many bee hives.

Tending to our bee hives. Bees are an integral part of pollination and crop yield.

Above & below - Ron and Stacey are sitting down on the job planting what will become "Matted Row Strawberries". We will harvest this field in June, 2003.