August Update: We are growing!

All photos taken on 7/26/25. Click on photos for close-up. 
 Good Willow Farm,  freshly mowed, all current beds doing great!

 

So here we are in August already. The last time I posted, the willow was just getting started and we were diligently watering and cleaning up and crossing our fingers. The best thing to happen, did. It started to rain, regularly. Luckily, our valley was avoided by the torrential rain that flooded nearby areas, but yes, it has been plenty wet, alternating with sunny hot days. The willow loves it, but also, we didn't have to lug water jugs out there to keep the new babies hydrated. We lounged at home, celebrating the willow's ability to thrive in the weather this year. 

Our current new babies. 

We did have a few problems with fungus, and there are still some evidence of die off in some varieties, but it's not widespread. There is evidence of leaf munching at the taller tips, and one variety - Harrison B - has been infested with Japanese beetles. But overall, the damage is minimal. 

We are grateful to not need to be out there in the extreme heat. Keeping the grass and  weeds in check is another story. They also love the wet weather and it has been a struggle to get out there to mow, trim and weed. The photos with the beautifully mowed lawn still has a bank of weeds to mar them, because it was just too damn hot to do more than one thing at a time. A riding mower is going to needed and soon, if this heat and rain continue. 

I'm also getting close to an irrigation system and a plan for a storage building is next. By fall, I also hope to line up some helpers for harvest and preparing next year's new planting. Oh to be young again! these old ladies exclaim!

Summer and winter seem to be down-time for willow in general. I see other farmers turning to other endeavors during this time as well. We are still dealing with our RV rehabbing and packing up the house, and hopefully can get most of it done before November, when we'll start harvesting.

Two year old bed in front, 3yr olds 
peeking out in back, Rubykins on the left.

Last year I posted photos of growth winners in the 1st year beds, and our 1yr beds are matching and exceeding those measurements! But the exciting news for me is the 2yr and 3yr old growth winners! 

Miyabeana is just loving this property! Even in the middle of the summer, our 2 yr olds are 11+ feet! I planted a solitary stand of Miya - just 11 plants in a 10 foot row - in a low place away from the other beds. I wanted to see what kind of hedge it might make.  I guess the answer is yes! a good one! 

2 yr old Miya. I'm holding a 10 ft PVC 
pipe for measurement. Zoom in to see.

Another view of the 2yr Miya.

3yr old Rubykins. The wind is not
cooperating but just under 10ft. 

The other winner is the 3 yr old Rubykins. About 9-10ft tall, but so dense and so straight!  I love everything about this row, which is outperforming all the other varieties I first bought. 

Overall, we are really happy with the progress. I'll do another inventory in September, but with an estimate based on last year's harvest, our new bed will reproduce itself times 3, so potentially about 1800 new stalks. I don't have any idea of the output of the 2 and 3yr old beds, but say it's just 200 plants times 4 - 800 new stalks. So, potentially 3600 new plants. Hence, needing helpers for preparing and planting new beds. *Deep Breath* We might even be able to sell some this spring! Stay tuned. 

While we are off-duty, I've been making row
ID plates for the beds, using oven-bake clay.