There is in fact a town in Florida, optimistically named Frostproof. Unsurprisingly, they grow a lot of citrus in Frostproof.

Florida growers gamble with the weather every year. Much of what can be cultivated profitably here in the winter (tree fruit, tomatoes) can also be killed by frost. And even here in Homestead, which is about as far south as it gets, frost happens. Not often, but it happens.

Most commercial growers just turn on the irrigation and pray when the temperatures dip. The water encourages the ground to release radiative heat, which is sometimes enough to protect the crop. Bee Heaven Farm is small enough, and the crops valuable enough (Margie gets $5.50 a pound for heirloom tomatoes, which is more than I get on the Vineyard), that we covered all the beans and tomatoes with row cover. It is a spun breathable polymer that helps insulate the plants and provides a few crucial degrees of protection. Right now the farm looks like some sort of weird art installation, cross-hatched by long white sheets on the trellises.

Temperatures are supposed to be low all week. It didn’t freeze last night, but sleeping in the drafty barn it felt pretty damn cold. We’ll see what happens.