IHartHarvest, Inc. - The Potato Project

06/20/2026

Today, I found a way to get the MF275 Tractor started - it isn't 'safe', but it's a way. The thing has been cantankerous of late. I think it's with the transmission safety-start position, inside. 😭Attached the tractor to the Perfecta and drove the rig over from The Historic Dreibelbis Farm to Process Masters for work.

When I got there, the CIH4210'b' attachen to the disc that simply will not go down, had a flat front tire - bu**er. 💩 Picked up a big 'RV' can of 'Air-Slime' and filled the tire. And then pumped 40 pounds of air into tire with my portable compressor plugged into the F350. Did some shallow chisel plowing for next plot of string beans with the tractor, and the tire held so far - we'll see the next time I show up. Will let this worked plot 'open' for the rain expected Monday - it's DRY.

Fetched the 4210'a' with the mower attached and cut the flag plot off of greens. Likely will plant the next plot of sweet corn here. Would be good to 'burn down' the w**ds first, but I can't spray because of the high sustained winds we're having. Ditto conventional field corn plots - in holding wait pattern. Sigh 😕.

06/17/2026

Today, and yesterday; This day the Process Masters Field is so hard, I had to shallow chisel plow the next plot to plant string beans into. THEN, the disc would not go down, so I used the Packer for a half-arsed job making a seed bed - at least the planter got seed into the ground this time - planted string beans into THAT. Followed up with herbicide spray as some rain to activate forecast Thursday some time. In the morning I tried to move the MF275 Tractor and there's some problem - I ran it, shut down, and then it would not turn over again, no matter how much I fiddled with the transmission 'start' mode. Dropped Culti-Hiller equipment off the 4210'b' and trucked that over for works at Process Masters. Tuesday, ran the 30" 2 row cultivator in the first, 2nd, and 3rd planted string bean plots at Process Masters, and then planted this week's Sweet Corn plot at HC. In the beans, I'm not sure the cure for those 2 w**ds with the cultivator, leaves them much better off.

Mov1 is shallow Chisel Plowing the perspective string bean plot at PM today.
Mov2 is planting Sweet Corn Plot at HC Wednesday

06/15/2026

'Jake's' Butternut Squash is sprouting as planted in the wings of the potato field last week at The Historic Dreibelbis Farm field. For September harvest along with the taters.

06/15/2026

Follow-up pesticide application today for CPB at Becker's, and added in an anti-early-blight agent (Fungicide), since I beat the plants up some Culti-Hilling last time. WaltZ on the Case IH 4210'a' Tractor with the 6row 3point CropCare Sprayer attached, "lay'n it down".

06/13/2026

Scouting Becker's 3.5 acre potato plot this morning. Looked better than I expected to see. Taters are starting to bud up and bloom out. Needs follow-up CPB pesticide application, foliar fertilizer, and an advance fungicide treatment would likely be good as well. A little inter-row w**dy - but there's nothing I can do about THAT now. My Job, is 1/3rd done here...

06/13/2026

Busy day today, after being down and out for 2 days, I HAD TO come out to meet expectations; Sprayed the w**ds in the sweet corn patches. Planted another 'acre' patch of sweet corn. Relocated the bins delivered from Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank Wednesday - All at The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center. Sprayed herbicides on the string bean patch I planted Wednesday morning at Dave Owen's Process Masters Plot. Fetched the JD1050 tractor with the raised bed maker from The Historic Dreibelbis Farm to homebase (End of Day), so I can cultivate the Candain Thistle and that other w**d that the herbicides did not inhibit at Process Masters string bean plots, SOON ASAP. Becker's needs follow-up CPB sprayed very likely ASAP as well! Will scout that tomorrow. Looks like the conventional field corn w**ds may need to be addressed - but I did a drive-by and didn't walk out there and actually scout and asses that situation. Ditto Noecker's Shoey FC Plots. And Ziggy's now sailing Europe at the moment...

06/11/2026

School's out for summer! 🚌🍎👋

Classes have wrapped up for many students in our area. While some kids look ahead to summer with excitement for extra play time, family vacations and splashing in the pool, for too many others summer can be a scary time due to food insecurity.

1 in 6 children in our communities do not have access to the food they need to grow and thrive. No school means no cafeteria...which means no breakfast or lunch.

This summer, help us ensure that every child has access to the food they need to enjoy their summer, prepare for next school year, and reach their full potential as they grow.

Join the fight against childhood hunger: helpingharvest.org

06/11/2026

SOMEONE IS HACKING OUR EMAIL - AND SENDING OUT AN eVite 'INVITE' FOR SOMETHING OR OTHER. ITS NOT REAL. IT'S NOT ME. -/WaltZ

Send a message to learn more

06/10/2026

I am re-applying herbicides (forecast is for rains) to the Culti-Hilled potato field which was done by Jake yesterday, and putting down some special insecticide for CPB (Colorado Potato Beatle), at The Historic Dreibelbis Farm. Jake is prepping and planting some butternut squash on the wings of this field south and north sides. He made raised beds on the JD1050 with the 'raised bed maker', which we had for the carrots we raised in the past, and is planting that seed singularly by hand. I hope we see a good bountiful harvest in his project and his hopes aren't 'squashed'. All for local neighbors in need, via the Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank.

06/10/2026

Ziggy's new String Bean repair, is like a deck back there. I wanna put a grill and lawn chair on it...