The Heat Wave Is Doing Our Job For Us — Makeup Pollin-Teer Day Wednesday, July 8
We had to call off Thursday's workday for the heat advisory. Wednesday, July 8, 9 AM to 1 PM, we're back at it — and the sun has been earning its keep in the meantime.
We were supposed to be out on the second field this morning. The heat advisory made that call for us — asking anyone to spread plastic and haul fieldstone in a 98-degree heat index isn’t the kind of workday we’re willing to ask of anyone.
The good news: We will be back in action on Wednesday, July 8th from 9AM - 1PM.
The upside of a heat wave
Here’s the thing about calling off a solarization workday because it’s too hot: the heat is exactly what we’re trying to harness. The first field has been sitting under plastic through every one of these 90-plus-degree days. In a way, this is exactly what we have asked for.
Solarization works by turning the top few inches of soil into an oven. Under white plastic, in full sun, the soil temperatures will climb well past what most weed seeds, root fragments, and soilborne pathogens can survive. A stretch of weather like the one we’re in right now — sustained heat, long daylight hours, no relief overnight — is genuinely ideal. The field we already covered is cooking down there in a way that a milder June and julysimply couldn’t have delivered.
Getting the next two sections under plastic on the 8th means they get the back half of July, all of August, and most of September working for us.
What’s still ahead of us
Portions of two sections, running along the edge toward Cedar Lane, still need to be solarized. On Wednesday July 8th, we spread, weight, and bury the perimeter on both.
We’ll start with a short safety briefing and walkthrough, then move to the fields. Water breaks are built into the rhythm of the day, and the barn will be open and cool for anyone who needs to step out of the sun.
We need your help!
If you’re new to Pollin-Teering and want to jump in, or returning and can't wait to get back out there, Wednesday is a great one to start with. The work is clear, the crew is friendly, and you’ll be able to see what you did before you leave.
If you have questions, email Jocelyn at jocelyn@inworks.llc. Otherwise, sign up below and we’ll send you what you need to know by Wednesday: what to wear, what to bring, where to park.