Wet Spring Delays Start of Growing Season for Herb Farm in Central New York (2024)

MARATHON, N.Y. — In mid-May, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) co-sponsored a field event at Northland sheep farm owned by Maryrose Livingston and Donn Hewes.

This is where Becky Frye, owner of Horsetail Herb Farm, moved just over two years ago thanks to connecting via Draft Animal Power Network (DAPNet).

Frye started the herb farm in Maine in 2020 using human power, but with experience with draft power for farming she was anxious to use it for her herb farming.

Now renting land and living accommodation from Livingston and Hewes, Frye is able to run her herb farm using draft power.

Frye’s farm is certified organic through NOFA-NY as well as through the Real Organic project. Horsetail Herb Farm is also a member of the local group, Cortland Harvest.

The start of this growing season has been delayed for many in the region and Frye is no exception.

“The heavy soils and the wet weather this spring have made it difficult for me, there is so much mud and standing water,” said Frye.

All the feed preparation work is done using draft power and Frye was excited to show the bed shaper used with two horses to make her 60-inch wide beds. They had recently plowed some pasture for production and Frye is trying to decide how best to utilize it.

“I have been wondering about cover cropping for this year, and then wondered about buckwheat and letting it winter kill,” she said. “But then I keep coming back to wanting to put red clover in as there is a huge market for it.”

Since the ground didn’t freeze last winter, Frye did experience some crop loss. This can be discouraging as a number of species she grows can take quite a few years before they are ready for harvest.

“Echinacea takes up to five years before the roots are ready for harvest,” said Frye.

She is having disease issues with some of her crops. Echinacea and also Calendula are both being affected by aster yellows — a disease transmitted by leafhoppers and hence very difficult to manage, particularly for an organic producer.

Row covers would be an option. But Frye said she isn’t anxious to go that route, as the fabric has a relatively short life and then you need to dispose of all the waste.

Poly tunnels, a feature on many herb farms, are noticeably absent. Frye said she isn’t going to introduce plastics, it isn’t in line with her farming philosophy.

Even though she does mulch her plants with discarded hay from the sheep and horses, Frye hasn’t experienced too much loss to rodents. However, deer have caused damage to some sections of her plantings.

In the fall, Frye applies compost and manure obtained from the sheep and horses on the farm. She is anxious to be a good steward of the soil and tries to limit soil cultivation.

Asked about pollination, she said it was excellent as just down the road was a blueberry farm and they had hives. She hopes eventually to be able to add hives to her operation.

Frye cultivates over 20 species of herbs with the majority so far being medicinal. She did point to her garlic that was doing very well.

She is adding more plant species to her farm each year and plans to increase her plantings of culinary herbs as soon as possible.

She sells both fresh, and dried herbs with an emphasis being on quality. She said some of the most popular medicinal herbs for her farm are milky oats and marshmallow.

Frye markets through social media and local markets. She opens her farm on occasion for you-pick for certain crops.

Ithaca Farmers Market is up and running for the season. However, Frye, who is a full member with a Saturday stand, isn’t there.

“I have sold out of all my dried herbs,” she said.

Even though she expanded her drying facilities significantly last year, Frey said it wasn’t enough. At the top of her “to-do list” is to modify and increase this aspect of her facility for this coming season.

Those attending the Ithaca Farmers Market in the mid- to late summer will be able to find Horsetail Herb Farm’s stand.