Notes From The Field | March 7, 2023 Unofficially, Spring has Sprung by Farmer Derek
Harbinger of incoming springtime.
The farm's winter slumber has ended.
We began seeding in the greenhouse last week, spending two full days, 49 man hours, delicately dropping about 100,000 seeds into 50,000 cells in 225 trays. I believe it's our biggest seeding week of the season. We'll be seeding weekly through September and every day those seeds and seedlings in the greenhouse and hoop house (where they harden off before going outside) will require adequate water and temperature regulation. Crops and varieties spend anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks in the greenhouse and hoop house before being planted outside.
And it begins! Farmers Gabby and Connor embark on seeding 25,000 onions, 2/cell, into 288-celled trays.
Oddly enough, outdoor field preparation actually commenced prematurely in February, for the first time in 15 seasons.
Each season there's a very brief window of opportunity to get into the fields with the tractor to open the soil with the chisel plow and follow with a couple of passes of raised-bed making. This year that window opened a few weeks ago in February and may now stay shut until later in March. We're in good shape. I was able to prep beds for basically all of the early April planting space needed. The beds aren't finalized, but they're formed well enough that when there is a large enough gap in precipitation events they will dry out fairly quickly and allow us to get the next round of work accomplished.
Farmers Gabby and Adeline loosening the soil in one of the caterpillar tunnels.
Under cover, we're busy preparing four tunnels for early spring crops of spinach, chard, kale, arugula, bok choy, radishes, turnips, and lettuce mix.
This is all done manually. Actually, that's not quite true this year. We did have Farmer Dana's sheep go in there and mow down any crop residue or weed growth, which did save us time and resources mowing. We'll be forking, hoeing, and raking and removing any crop competition over the next few weeks before we plant in late March.
We began seeding in the greenhouse last week, spending two full days, 49 man hours, delicately dropping about 100,000 seeds into 50,000 cells in 225 trays. I believe it's our biggest seeding week of the season. We'll be seeding weekly through September and every day those seeds and seedlings in the greenhouse and hoop house (where they harden off before going outside) will require adequate water and temperature regulation. Crops and varieties spend anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks in the greenhouse and hoop house before being planted outside.
And it begins! Farmers Gabby and Connor embark on seeding 25,000 onions, 2/cell, into 288-celled trays.
Oddly enough, outdoor field preparation actually commenced prematurely in February, for the first time in 15 seasons.
Each season there's a very brief window of opportunity to get into the fields with the tractor to open the soil with the chisel plow and follow with a couple of passes of raised-bed making. This year that window opened a few weeks ago in February and may now stay shut until later in March. We're in good shape. I was able to prep beds for basically all of the early April planting space needed. The beds aren't finalized, but they're formed well enough that when there is a large enough gap in precipitation events they will dry out fairly quickly and allow us to get the next round of work accomplished.
Farmers Gabby and Adeline loosening the soil in one of the caterpillar tunnels.
Under cover, we're busy preparing four tunnels for early spring crops of spinach, chard, kale, arugula, bok choy, radishes, turnips, and lettuce mix.
This is all done manually. Actually, that's not quite true this year. We did have Farmer Dana's sheep go in there and mow down any crop residue or weed growth, which did save us time and resources mowing. We'll be forking, hoeing, and raking and removing any crop competition over the next few weeks before we plant in late March.
Expected Harvest | March 7, 2023
Expected Harvest | March 7, 2023 Harvests to Begin in Mid-May by Farmer Derek
These hakurei turnips won the race to be the first germinated and visible crop of the 2023 season - congratulations!
Let's start by listing crops we seeded over the past two weeks that we can look forward to eating in 2-4 months: onions, scallions, head lettuce, romaine, radicchio, lettuce mix, escarole, chard, beets, spinach, arugula, kale, bok choy, radishes, turnips, cabbage, kohlrabi, snow peas, carrots, celery, fennel, cilantro, dill, and parsley.
The harvest season runs for 28 weeks this year and should commence the week of May 15th. Depending on early spring weather and how the tunnel crops perform, there's a slight chance it could be earlier.
The first couple of harvests should be: green garlic, lettuce mix, head lettuce, kale, bok choy, chard, radishes, turnips, herbs, and hopefully some of our trial spring crops of arugula and spinach.
Shares and pick up schedule: Full and Medium Shares pick up weekly; Half Shares every other week. Half Shares will be assigned Week A or B. Returning Half Shares will be assigned the same week as prior seasons.
You can log in to the website to view your share selection, pick up day, and balance. Share balance is due by May 1, 2023.
These hakurei turnips won the race to be the first germinated and visible crop of the 2023 season - congratulations!
Let's start by listing crops we seeded over the past two weeks that we can look forward to eating in 2-4 months: onions, scallions, head lettuce, romaine, radicchio, lettuce mix, escarole, chard, beets, spinach, arugula, kale, bok choy, radishes, turnips, cabbage, kohlrabi, snow peas, carrots, celery, fennel, cilantro, dill, and parsley.
The harvest season runs for 28 weeks this year and should commence the week of May 15th. Depending on early spring weather and how the tunnel crops perform, there's a slight chance it could be earlier.
The first couple of harvests should be: green garlic, lettuce mix, head lettuce, kale, bok choy, chard, radishes, turnips, herbs, and hopefully some of our trial spring crops of arugula and spinach.
Shares and pick up schedule: Full and Medium Shares pick up weekly; Half Shares every other week. Half Shares will be assigned Week A or B. Returning Half Shares will be assigned the same week as prior seasons.
You can log in to the website to view your share selection, pick up day, and balance. Share balance is due by May 1, 2023.
Warm fuzzy feeling over future harvests.
March 7, 2023
March 7, 2023 CSA is Almost 90% Full by Farmer Derek
Garlic, the first outdoor crop to begin converting the suns energy into nourishing substances! You can just about see the three rows on each bed poking through the straw and snow.
CSA shares are almost sold out. Thank you for your support!
If you haven't signed up yet, please try to do so soon! We really shouldn't go over our CSA membership goal because that is what we base our crop plan on.
Garlic, the first outdoor crop to begin converting the suns energy into nourishing substances! You can just about see the three rows on each bed poking through the straw and snow.
CSA shares are almost sold out. Thank you for your support!
If you haven't signed up yet, please try to do so soon! We really shouldn't go over our CSA membership goal because that is what we base our crop plan on.
Farmer Dana's sheep helping out with the tunnel prep by eating leftover greens and weeds.
Notes From The Field | December 19, 2022
Notes From The Field | December 19, 2022 Happy Winter Solstice! by Farmer Derek
The sun sets on the 2022 growing season.
We made it! And just in time, with the challenging cold and wet weather headed our way late in the week and over the weekend. Thank you for your support during this brief Late Fall CSA season, it sure flew by. I hope you enjoyed the produce mix this time around. It's a bit different every year thanks to the vagaries of Mother Nature, as well as our own decisions, but we do try our best to craft a balanced share.
Because we are adding two additional weeks to next year's Main Season, which will probably extend that season until the week before, of, or after Thanksgiving (depending on when distribution begins in May), we aren't sure what the 2023 Late Fall CSA will look like. At this point anything is possible. The farm could hibernate earlier and descend into winter slumber with the conclusion of Main Season, there could be flash sales in December, or there could be something like a 4-week Late Fall season. This winter I'll be developing our 2023 Crop Plan and there will be plenty of updates and edits to make for growing and harvesting next November since we'll have 300 members picking up each week instead of the 100 we now have for Late Fall. Timing and space arrangements in the tunnels will need to be heavily adjusted and modified. We can all look forward to more spinach!
We began our late season experiments following the 2011 season, so I think this was our 12th Late Fall CSA (or maybe 11th). It has been an interesting journey, one where we've learned a lot, realized what's possible, made many mistakes, and tried our best to get better every year. We couldn't have done it without your support, and we're grateful. A lot has changed since those early days. Growing under the protection of tunnels went from nothing to more than a quarter acre of sheltered growing this year. Two additional rodent proof climate controlled produce storage rooms in the barn were built. Proper storage techniques for roots, tubers, cabbages, alliums, etc. and having fresh quality greens from protected spaces are the bare essentials for a successful winter program and we realized early on that that was what we needed to figure out.
I hope you have a nice winter and are able to enjoy the holidays. We'll be in touch.
We made it! And just in time, with the challenging cold and wet weather headed our way late in the week and over the weekend. Thank you for your support during this brief Late Fall CSA season, it sure flew by. I hope you enjoyed the produce mix this time around. It's a bit different every year thanks to the vagaries of Mother Nature, as well as our own decisions, but we do try our best to craft a balanced share.
Because we are adding two additional weeks to next year's Main Season, which will probably extend that season until the week before, of, or after Thanksgiving (depending on when distribution begins in May), we aren't sure what the 2023 Late Fall CSA will look like. At this point anything is possible. The farm could hibernate earlier and descend into winter slumber with the conclusion of Main Season, there could be flash sales in December, or there could be something like a 4-week Late Fall season. This winter I'll be developing our 2023 Crop Plan and there will be plenty of updates and edits to make for growing and harvesting next November since we'll have 300 members picking up each week instead of the 100 we now have for Late Fall. Timing and space arrangements in the tunnels will need to be heavily adjusted and modified. We can all look forward to more spinach!
We began our late season experiments following the 2011 season, so I think this was our 12th Late Fall CSA (or maybe 11th). It has been an interesting journey, one where we've learned a lot, realized what's possible, made many mistakes, and tried our best to get better every year. We couldn't have done it without your support, and we're grateful. A lot has changed since those early days. Growing under the protection of tunnels went from nothing to more than a quarter acre of sheltered growing this year. Two additional rodent proof climate controlled produce storage rooms in the barn were built. Proper storage techniques for roots, tubers, cabbages, alliums, etc. and having fresh quality greens from protected spaces are the bare essentials for a successful winter program and we realized early on that that was what we needed to figure out.
I hope you have a nice winter and are able to enjoy the holidays. We'll be in touch.
December 19, 2022
December 19, 2022 Pick Up Only Wed 1-7pm This Week! by Farmer Derek
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas Eve and the following week too many folks (including us) will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas Eve and the following week too many folks (including us) will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you cannot make Wednesday 12/21.
Expected Harvest | December 19, 2022
Expected Harvest | December 19, 2022 Food For All by Farmer Derek
Late Fall Harvest #5 (Week A+B) should include carrots, red cabbage, rutabaga, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, bok choy, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Regarding carrots, due to a failed first sowing and a late and much smaller second sowing, the haul is a bit small. This will be a sampling of sweetened winter carrots. It's the first time we've harvested carrots in December. Roots only; tops didn't like the nights in the teens.
Late Fall Harvest #5 (Week A+B) should include carrots, red cabbage, rutabaga, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, bok choy, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Regarding carrots, due to a failed first sowing and a late and much smaller second sowing, the haul is a bit small. This will be a sampling of sweetened winter carrots. It's the first time we've harvested carrots in December. Roots only; tops didn't like the nights in the teens.
The humble stalwart curly kale.
Expected Harvest | December 12, 2022
Expected Harvest | December 12, 2022 Frost Sweetened by Farmer Derek
Hooray for spinach!
Late Fall Harvest #4 (Week B) should include rutabaga, potatoes, beets, spinach, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Farmer Sarah harvesting curly kale in the hoop tunnel.
Late Fall Harvest #4 (Week B) should include rutabaga, potatoes, beets, spinach, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Farmer Sarah harvesting curly kale in the hoop tunnel.
December 12, 2022
December 12, 2022 Late Fall CSA Pick Up Info by Farmer Derek
Late Fall farm scene.
Pick up days are generally Wednesday 1-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm but there remains one exception:
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas Eve and the following week too many folks will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you wish to switch any of your pick up days.
Log in here to view your pick up schedule and/or balance.
Bring your own bags/boxes/crates/etc to collect your share.
Pick up days are generally Wednesday 1-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm but there remains one exception:
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas Eve and the following week too many folks will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you wish to switch any of your pick up days.
Log in here to view your pick up schedule and/or balance.
Bring your own bags/boxes/crates/etc to collect your share.
Late Fall CSA schedule:
Week 4/B, Wed 12/14 & Sat 12/17
Week 5/A+B, Wed 12/21 only
Notes From The Field | December 12, 2022
Notes From The Field | December 12, 2022 Thankfully Green by Farmer Derek
Wonderful morning sunshine.
What's happening outside on the farm these days? Mainly harvesting, with some clean up and maintenance thrown in. We're harvesting lettuce mix, spinach, arugula, mustard, sometimes kale, from the tunnels, and outside kale when the weather allows.
About a third of total tunnel space is devoted to lettuce mix so we can have a consistent late season supply. We finished harvesting the two plantings from the 450' of beds in the upper caterpillar tunnel and are now pulling from the 160' of beds in the hoop house. Soon we'll switch over to the 210' of beds in the minimally heated greenhouse where quality is more consistent probably due to keeping the temperature from dropping below freezing, constant airflow, and dry heat at nighttime (set for 35 degrees). The greenhouse is our guaranteed harvest space for mid and late December lettuce mix. The other two plantings have interior hoops and supplemental row cover on top to prevent cold injury.
We're thrilled to have a good supply of spinach again. It caught illness each of the previous three seasons and we were close to giving up on it. Hopefully its productivity this season will be replicable in the following years. Our goal is to have spinach for a longer period of time next fall. We may even try to grow it in the spring again. Spinach has a much higher tolerance to low temperatures so it doesn't receive extra hoops and cover on the inside of the lower caterpillar tunnel. We do close it up on subfreezing nights though.
Two plantings of arugula and one planting each of mustard, bok choy, and red russian kale live in our high tunnel. These are treated the same way as lettuce mix with interior hoops and cover. We've been growing winter brassica greens for over a decade now and are fully confident in their abilities, though bok choy is the most sensitive to airflow/cold/moisture issues. This year's batch will hopefully be harvestable but it currently looks a bit unhappy.
Curly kale currently occupies 560' of beds in the hoop tunnel. Like the spinach, this also doesn't get hooped and covered due to its exceptional cold tolerance. We've barely touched this crop and will probably have a lot leftover after Late Fall for some flash sales in January and February. Currently field curly and toscano kales are holding up well. Toscano kale is almost done. I think this is my favorite variety.
What's happening outside on the farm these days? Mainly harvesting, with some clean up and maintenance thrown in. We're harvesting lettuce mix, spinach, arugula, mustard, sometimes kale, from the tunnels, and outside kale when the weather allows.
About a third of total tunnel space is devoted to lettuce mix so we can have a consistent late season supply. We finished harvesting the two plantings from the 450' of beds in the upper caterpillar tunnel and are now pulling from the 160' of beds in the hoop house. Soon we'll switch over to the 210' of beds in the minimally heated greenhouse where quality is more consistent probably due to keeping the temperature from dropping below freezing, constant airflow, and dry heat at nighttime (set for 35 degrees). The greenhouse is our guaranteed harvest space for mid and late December lettuce mix. The other two plantings have interior hoops and supplemental row cover on top to prevent cold injury.
We're thrilled to have a good supply of spinach again. It caught illness each of the previous three seasons and we were close to giving up on it. Hopefully its productivity this season will be replicable in the following years. Our goal is to have spinach for a longer period of time next fall. We may even try to grow it in the spring again. Spinach has a much higher tolerance to low temperatures so it doesn't receive extra hoops and cover on the inside of the lower caterpillar tunnel. We do close it up on subfreezing nights though.
Two plantings of arugula and one planting each of mustard, bok choy, and red russian kale live in our high tunnel. These are treated the same way as lettuce mix with interior hoops and cover. We've been growing winter brassica greens for over a decade now and are fully confident in their abilities, though bok choy is the most sensitive to airflow/cold/moisture issues. This year's batch will hopefully be harvestable but it currently looks a bit unhappy.
Curly kale currently occupies 560' of beds in the hoop tunnel. Like the spinach, this also doesn't get hooped and covered due to its exceptional cold tolerance. We've barely touched this crop and will probably have a lot leftover after Late Fall for some flash sales in January and February. Currently field curly and toscano kales are holding up well. Toscano kale is almost done. I think this is my favorite variety.
I hope you're enjoying all of the greens!
Expected Harvest | December 4, 2022
Expected Harvest | December 4, 2022 Root for Rutabaga, Radical Radishes by Farmer Derek
Farmers Sarah and Gabby harvesting curly kale in the Hoop Tunnel.
Late Fall Harvest #3 (Week A) should include rutabaga, potatoes, beets, spinach, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, radicchio, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
The humble and oh-so-nutritious - and tasty - rutabaga!
Farmers Sarah and Gabby harvesting curly kale in the Hoop Tunnel.
Late Fall Harvest #3 (Week A) should include rutabaga, potatoes, beets, spinach, salad + watermelon + daikon (purple & red) radishes, hakurei turnips, radicchio, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
The humble and oh-so-nutritious - and tasty - rutabaga!
