Farm Journal
In subtle and blatant ways, farmers are professionally discounted and personally discouraged. I adamantly believe agriculture can be a rewarding, and healthy full time career. By writing about my work and sharing my progress, I hope to show how organic farms and farmers enrich and strengthen the communities they serve. ~April
Joyful Farming is:
aligning life, land, and community
believing in power and possibility
restoring health and home
nurturing relationships
honoring abundance and vocation
celebrating creativity and change
“I love your newsletter. The produce is so delicious, but the spirit of the farm lives in how you both communicate with us. So grateful for you all.”
— April Joy Farm CSA Member
April Jones Thatcher Named 2022 National Organic Farmer of the Year
On May 9th, 2023 I was honored as the Organic Trade Association’s National Farmer of the Year. Because the awards ceremony was on the other side of the country and I have a farm to tend, I wrote a condensed version of this acceptance speech and pre-recorded it.
The Roots of Change
This week is quite a milestone for me. Friday will mark the completion of the fifteenth year of my farming adventure. Over the last fifteen years, I’ve been told a lot of things.
I’ve been told that bigger is better and yet in my heart I’ve always had a fondness for the small and precious.
Cover Cropping | Part 4
So how does one balance the importance of thriving, lush cover crops with the desire to sow vegetables in that same space?
Cover Cropping | Part 3
Cover crops can play a big role in supporting these guiding principles of soil management and successfully integrating cover crops into your gardening or farming system means thinking through three main elements: type, timing and techniques. I previously covered the types of cover crops and now it’s time to focus on timing.
Cover Cropping | Part 2
The plant species you use in your cover crop mix is a crucial decision. We always start at square one– and you can too. Square one is: What is it exactly you are trying to accomplish? Planting stuff to feed the soil because April said it was a good idea isn’t an appropriate answer!
You need to be very clear about your goals.
Cover Cropping | Part 1
In response to my last essay about cover cropping, I received a note that said, “This is going to sound strange, but do you till in your cover crop? If not, how do you get all that green manure into the soil? If you do till, isn’t that bad for the soil community? Help my tiny brain please.
Community Voices
“Your writing is superb, April! Profound, insightful, clear, honest and generous - like you. I always find some wisdom to share with the kids or illumination of my own journey. Thank you.”