THE SEASON STARTS IN JANUARY (NOT MAY)

Most people think farming starts in spring. It doesn't.

The 2026 CSA season feels far away—May is still months out. But here on the farm? The season is already starting.

Let me pull back the curtain and show you what's actually happening right now in January.

The Crop Plan (Where I'm Behind)

Right now, I'm finalizing our 2026 crop plan. Every single bed is mapped out. Every succession planting is scheduled. Crop rotations planned to build soil health and prevent pest cycles.

Honestly? I'm behind on this.

Ideally, the crop plan would have been finished in December. That way, January could focus entirely on ordering supplies, preparing infrastructure, and getting ready to start the season.

But farming doesn't always follow the ideal timeline. You work with the reality you've got—and right now, that means finishing the crop plan this week so we can move forward.

Here's what goes into the crop plan:

I'm mapping out 20 weeks of vegetable production for our CSA members. That means figuring out:

• Which beds grow which crops when
• How many succession plantings of green beans, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.
• Crop rotation schedules (we never plant the same family in the same bed two years in a row)
• How many row feet of tomatoes we need to feed X number of families for 20 weeks
• What varieties to plant (chosen for productivity, flavor, and disease resistance)

This isn't guesswork. It's detailed planning based on last year's data, Jean-Martin Fortier's market garden methods, and our specific growing conditions.

And this crop plan determines everything that comes next.

Ready to reserve your spot for 2026? Sign up here before the crop plan is finalized.

Seed Orders (Timing Matters)

Once the crop plan is done—which needs to happen this week—I'm placing our first seed orders.

We grow a mix of hybrid and heirloom varieties chosen for both productivity and flavor. Hybrids give us reliable yields and disease resistance. Heirlooms give us incredible flavor and diversity.

But here's the thing: the best varieties sell out if you wait too long.

Popular tomato varieties, specialty peppers, quality lettuce mixes—these aren't sitting in unlimited inventory at seed companies. When they're gone, they're gone. You have to order early or settle for second choices.

This is why December would have been ideal, but early January still works. Wait until February? You're gambling on availability.

Soil Amendments and Compost

After seed orders come soil amendments and compost.

We're not just growing vegetables—we're building soil. Every season, we're adding organic matter, feeding beneficial microbes, and improving soil structure.

That requires bringing in quality compost and targeted amendments before the season starts. You can't build soil in the middle of the season when you're already planting.

The Greenhouse Nursery Starts Soon

Late January through early February, we start spring crops in our greenhouse nursery.

Lettuce, greens, brassicas—the cool-season vegetables that kick off the CSA season in May. These need 6-8 weeks of growth before transplanting, which means starting them now.

And then in February, we're planting directly in the field. Peas and spinach go in the ground in February, not May. They need cool weather to thrive.

By the time most people are thinking about spring, we're already weeks into the growing season.

We have a few CSA spots left—reserve yours while we're still planning the season.

Why This Timeline Matters for You

Here's the reality: Once we finalize the crop plan and place seed orders, the amount of produce we're growing for the season is locked in.

We're planting for a specific number of families. We're ordering seeds for a set number of plants. We're planning succession plantings based on how many CSA boxes we're packing each week.

After the crop plan is done, there might still be a few spots available—but they're not guaranteed. We're not growing unlimited quantities. We're growing exactly what we planned for.

This is why January matters.

If you've been thinking about joining our CSA for 2026, this is the time to decide. Not in March when we're already seeding. Not in April when crops are already in the ground.

Now. While we're still in the planning phase and can account for your family in our production plan.

What You're Signing Up For

When you join our CSA, you're not just buying vegetables. You're becoming part of the planning process.

We're growing specifically for you. Your family is factored into our crop plan, our seed orders, and our succession plantings.

You're supporting a farming system that builds soil instead of mining it. That grows food the right way, even when it's harder.

And you're getting vegetables harvested within 24-48 hours, at peak ripeness and flavor, grown by people who actually care about the land and the food.

The season starts in January. Not May.

And if you want to be part of 2026, now's the time.

Reserve your 2026 CSA spot here.

Questions about our CSA or how the season works? Please email us at jplhomestead2022@gmail.com or visit jplhomestead.com.