Hello Shareholders:
The farm is now open for 7 days a week during daylight hours for you pick harvest. Enjoy the great new growth of spring and remember these steps for a farm visit:
1. Bring your own containers or bags to bring home the produce.
2. Wear a mask in the washstand area or in the field with other households.
3. Wash or sanitize your hands when you first arrive, everyone in the household.
4. Write date by your name on the sign-in sheet.
5. Check the board to see what’s available, where it’s located and if any items have quantity limitations.
6. If using our harvest tools or baskets, take clean tools located on the shelf.
7. Harvest!
8. When leaving the field, wash or sanitize your hands before entering wash stand area.
9. If washing produce on site, use hose and washstand at center of washstand area.
10. The farmers will clean all harvest tools; leave used stuff in galvanized metal tub next to three-bay sink.
Farm Happenings
We got to help some little ones (and their parents of course) with their first greens harvest this week during farm orientations!
The “switch,” to summer got flipped it seems, so clear skies for days and consistent heat. The greens beds are bursting and we have some early diversity to enjoy. Our winter squash/cukes are growing well (new seedling pictured above).We also got the spring transplant delivery from our friend and fellow producer, Megan Bowdish at Never Tire Farm in Lisbon. For the items we can’t grow in our passively heated solar greenhouse, we supply Megan with the seeds, and she grows awesome transplants in her heated greenhouses. The tomatoes are looking great, along with flowers, herbs and more which we will transplant next week.
Crops Available
Subject to change, remember to check the whiteboard each visit for most up-to-date information.
- Spinach, abundant this week
- Arugula
- Mixed salad greens
- Rhubarb
- Chives
- Oregano
- Sorrel
- Lovage (relative of celery, young greens used in soups)
- Lemon Balm (great in sun tea!)
- Cilantro
Tips for Success
- Greens are tender! For longevity: avoid harvesting in peak heat of the day, dunk into cold water rather than spraying directly with hose (to avoid bruising) and spin to remove excess moisture before storing in a container/bag in the fridge.
- Kids are welcome at the farm, we just we ask that someone from household stays with them the whole visit.
- Harvest mixed greens 2-3″ above the soil surface cutting evenly. These crop are called, “cut and come again,” and will re-sprout from the center growth crown.
- Food scraps from your household can be brought to the farm compost pile, remember to cover all fresh deposits with ample hay found next to the bin.
Dutchess apple in blossom
It’s peak transplant week- time to get all the long-season crops in and well-watered. Stay tuned, next week we’ll introduce the two apprentices that help make all this delicious food possible!
Take good care,
-Flip & Bob