Fare Thee Well, Dear Angela, by Melinda

Angela, the woman clothed with the sun, suffered practically Biblical plagues at the farm this summer--plague of tractors, plague of floods, plague of drought, plague of "rust," plague of water pump; the list goes on. We lost many crops we'd hoped for because of this, but Angela, bless her heart, never lost her spirited enthusiasm and love of the farm!

Thanks to Joanne Rosenbaum--and to you all--we were able to put together a little going-away celebration of her time with us. If you'd like to see a video of her gratefulness for her time with us, just slide on over to our Facebook page (the video's got too many MBs to insert here). The Facebook page is "Red Hill Farm, Sisters of St. Francis," and here's the URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Hill-Farm-Sisters-of-St-Francis/286057566249.

A very good time was had by all. Joanne is a wonderful hostess, and her house is beautiful. The firepit outside was a lovely added touch. Keep the homefires burning....

Silent Auction at the Harvest Festival, by Joanne

Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 19th, 4 to 7 pm

We could really use your support for our
Silent Auction to be held at the Fest.

Do you have a service, a skill, a vacation home, or are you willing to contribute to a "themed" basket? Red Hill Farm would appreciate your participation!

Here's Why:

• We are a special, small community of neighbors, friends, and like-minded people, all wanting to support and enjoy local organic food.
• Red Hill Farm has been in existence since 2000. We were the first CSA in Delaware County!
• Over the years we have held very successful silent auctions to support our farm.
• Like all things, the cost of running a farm has gotten more expensive.
• Some of our equipment needed costly repairs this season, and we really could use help to maintain the current number of seasonal-worker positions for next season.

If you would like to participate in the auction, or have questions, or have a donation, please email Mimi Hall at runner203@verizon.net or call Nancy Bernhardt at 610-565-8387.

Many thanks to the members who already have made a donation! Some of the items are:

• Use of a Cape May house for a weekend
• Use of a Vermont house for a week
• A gift certificate to Forrest and Main Brew Pub, Ambler, PA
• Oil paintings, pottery, and other artisan items made by our members
• Web page consulting

Thanks so much,

Joanne Rosenbaum, Farm Education Coordinator

jrosenbaum@osfphila.org 

Week #17, by Angela

This is a Full Share and Bi-Weekly Tuesday Pickup week.

Brendan will be in the Pickup room to assist you this week.

Our Harvest Festival is coming up on October 19th. Please view Joanne's flyer, below, for more details and mark your calendar for the date. We will be having a silent auction that evening as well--you could be a winner!

Poster by Joanne

This week you may anticipate (in addition to U-Pick):

• yellow onions
• garlic
• winter squash
• bunches of cooking greens
• green peppers

Red Hill Farm Week #10, by Angela

This is a Full Share and Bi-Weekly Friday pickup week.

Sunny on Monday, but our rain is back in the forecast for the rest of this week.  Man, seriously getting a good dose of regular rain showers this year.

Our Salsa Contest is coming up on August 16th!  Check it out (see poster) and start your own test batches for the event with all the wonderful tomatoes on the horizon.

Poster by Joanne Rosenbaum!

Unfortunately, we will not be putting on the Farm-to-Table event this year. Instead, all of our end-of-season efforts are going into the Harvest Festival--FUN for ALL!  This family event will be Saturday, October 19th, from 4 to 7 pm--details to come later.

This week, in the barn, you may anticipate:

• heirloom tomatoes
• garlic
• sweet white onions
• blue potatoes
• eggplant *or* green peppers (limited quantities of each at each pickup for a choice)
• and some surprises!

Don't forget to do your U-Picking, the best way to maximize your farm membership.

Drexel Neumann Academy at the Farm, by Joanne

Hi, I've been working with Drexel Neumann Academy's 3rd-grade class, 23 children and their teacher Cindi O'Hanlin, since April. I am very fortunate that Mimi Hall, Red Hill Farm workshare, has been able to help out with the classes and their visits to the farm.

Class portrait!

Topics in the classroom have included how plants grow, planting seeds, making hummus, nutritional information on food groups, and the sugar content of drinks. Amazing--apple juice has about as much sugar as Coke! While apple juice has the added benefit of vitamin C, its sugar content suggests fruit juices should be limited to one cup a day.

The kids, w/ Mimi at back right and Cindi front right

At the farm, the students planted the plants they grew from seeds, learned about chickens, bees, and how we grow organic foods. They had a chance to look under the microscope at the soil and, of course, bugs! On their last visit, they planted and harvested beans!

Students with green beans!

Our relationship will continue with Drexel Neumann Academy in the fall, as well as schools in the Penn Delco school district, St. Francis de Sales School in Lenni (click here for more info), the Neumann Child Development Center (click here), and the Girl Scouts.

Another group shot--cool kids!

PLEASE NOTE:  in the shareroom we're selling bright, cheery grocery bags to help fund our educational outreach progams. They're only $6 and are made of 80& recycled materials. Your support would be *much* appreciated!

Thanks from Joanne Rosenbaum, Farm Education Coordinator
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
610-558-6121

***A note on Drexel Neumann Academy:  St. Katharine Drexel School was the last Catholic school in Chester, PA, in 2005, yet it was scheduled to close due to declining enrollments that year. To remedy the situation, the Diocese of Philadelphia, Neumann University, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and St. Katharine Drexel Parish decided to create Drexel Neumann Academy, an independent Catholic school run on Franciscan principles of love, peace, and caring for people and the environment. The new school opened in 2006, with no discrimination on religion, financial resources, or race--in fact, over 85% of the students are non-Catholic!  For more on the wonderful work done by Drexel Neumann Academy, click here.  If you're wondering who St. Katharine Drexel is, she is Philadelphia's first woman saint (1858-1955, canonized in 2000)! She came from a wealthy background (her father founded Drexel University) but was moved by the plights of poor Native Americans and African Americans, becoming a nun in 1889 (the Philadelphia papers proclaimed in large headlines, "Miss Drexel enters a Catholic Convent--Gives Up Seven Million!" (For more on St. Katharine Drexel, see here.)

First Week of Pickups, by Angela

Beautiful Romaine lettuces

Our first week of pickups was a wild one, with rain "book-ending" our Monday and Friday.

865-gal. rain-harvesting tank irrigating the
sunflower patch

Great fun to have everyone back on the farm and feel the farm come alive again. Joanne worked with kids in the children's garden on Tuesday, planting and exploring.

Joanne with Lily and her mom Caroline smelling herbs

We also had a visit from the third-graders at Drexel Neumann Academy, which was lively and delightfully loud.  Ahhh, the transplanting continues as my brain sprawls in a few million different directions peacefully, as we move into the time of just nurturing our growing crops.

Brendan & Josh transplanting summer
squashes

Tomato Tale, by Angela

Herein tells the story of the gargantuan greenhouse tomato plants. Where once they were but wee bitty seeds, they were watered and given space to grow. Now these wonders shade the aisles of the glass abode longing for their future home. A home among the acres of vegetables, out under the sunshine and rain, roots stretching gloriously into the rich clay loam soils. A home to reach toward the stars at night and burst forth with pounds of sweet delicious fruit for members who cherish the efforts of their life's work. Alas, their time has come this week, without delay, to transition from the warmth and friends in the greenhouse to the canvas of the farm-scape.

Joanne in the greenhouse with tomato plants

Red Hill Farm Open House & Plant Sale, by Joanne

Flyer by Joanne

We're having our annual Open House and Plant Sale--all are welcome--on Saturday, May 11th, from 1 pm to 4, rain or shine!  This is your opportunity to become acquainted with all the aspects of the farm, as well as meet Farm Manager Angela and other farmers and staff (our beekeeper and our Purple Martin consultant), sample our off-farm products and meet the vendors, and discover the latest addition to our offerings, artisanal breads made from locally grown grains by Jerry Sheehan (see the post just above this one for more information on the breads and their maker).

We will have well marked parking areas for the event--just follow the signs on South Convent Road; you'll be parking across the street from the main convent, then walking from there over to the farm (not a long walk).

If you plan on attending (these are always a lot of fun!), please RSVP by calling or emailing Joanne Rosenbaum, our events coordinator (610-558-5396 or Jrosenbaum@osfphila.org).  See you there!  Buy a few organic plants (or a lot!) for your home garden, or as a nice Mother's Day gift!

Children's Tours of the Farm, by Joanne

Do your children know where their food comes from?  Do they understand the differences between  conventional and organic food?  Or the importance of that?  Our new Farm Educator, Joanne Rosenbaum, is coordinating tours that take about an hour, discuss/demonstrate the principles of organic growing, include visits to the fields & hoop houses, as well as the chickens, children's garden, & compost heap, & provide a seedling to take home!  There are additional lessons on specific topics (see poster below). We cater to children's ages & conform to PA learning standards. For more info, contact Joanne Rosenbaum at 610-558-5396, or email Jrosenbaum@osfphila.org. We're at the corner of Legion Road and Red Hill Road (click here for map), just across Red Hill Road from the large convent of the Sisters of St. Francis (Our Lady of Angels). You also can check our website at www.redhillfarm.org!

Poster by Joanne

Michelle Jacobson, Organics Expert, to Speak Here about GMOs on April 25th!--by Joanne

Michelle Jacobson is a certified clinical nutritionist, as well as a writer and the host of a cable television show, "Just Because You're an American Doesn't Mean You Have to Eat Like One"!  She'll be speaking at Our Lady of Angels Convent (609 S. Convent Road, Aston, with parking directly across the street--there are signs) on Thursday, April 25th, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The cost is only $5.00, but it must be paid in advance--you can send a check, made out to the Sisters of St. Francis, to Attention: Joanne Rosenbaum, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA, 19014. For more information, email Joanne at jrosenbaum@osfphila.org or call 610-558-5396. For directions to the convent, see www.osfphila.org/about/directions.

Poster by Joanne

Bloggin' for Your Noggin--Spring Growth & Additions, by Angela

The three inches of wet heavy snow on Monday, March 25th, was a big shocker this late in the year.  So happy am I, that we waited to put plants outside a little later this year. Nonetheless, our tender young seedlings were kept nice and warm in the regulated, 70-degree greenhouse. The first transplants will go out in the field next week.

Seedlings in the greenhouse with March snow outside!

The month of March was blessed with ten hard-working Neumann nursing students providing eight hours each of service-learning on the farm. With their help, the blackberries and all the raspberries got a good spring pruning as well as the beginnings of a new trellising system. The raspberry trellis will help provide air circulation to the berries as well as a bit more ease in harvest.

Black Raspberries' trellising

Brendan & Josh framing the coop

The chickens are due to arrive April 15th! We began the chicken coop construction in March and have really been plugging away now to be ready in time for our new feathered workers. Thanks to a wide variety of members, roadside pickups, and a big chunk of gratitude to Joanne Rosenbaum, for providing us with lumber from your garages for the construction. Most of this coop is built with reclaimed wood. My joy explodes with delight in re-purposing materials in this fashion. Our birds will be living in style!

Front of the chicken coop with reclaimed closet doors!

New Farm Education Coordinator, and an Invitation to You, the Members, from Joanne

[The "backstory," from Melinda:  the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who own our Farm, see the Farm as fulfilling part of their environmental goal of shepherding the land, which it does admirably. But  among their other goals are outreach and education. This led to the idea of finding someone already conversant in the hands-on life of the Farm, as well as versed in food science and the health sciences in general, who could guide and coordinate the Farm's educational mission(s). As is so often the case, the person we sought was right under our nose:  Joanne Rosenbaum! Many of you know her as a long-time workshare, but you may not realize that she has extensive professional experience in life sciences (biology and chemistry), health sciences, health administration--particularly but not exclusively in women's health--conference and workshop organizing, and new-program development in those areas. We're thrilled to welcome her as our new Farm Education Coordinator!  Below is Joanne's story in her own words.]

Joanne's Story

Joanne, photo by Melinda

"Back in the day when I was working full-time and had five weeks' vacation, I spent Fridays at the Farm doing my workshare. I came home sweaty, smelling of the earth and whatever veggies I harvested that day. Since then, Red Hill has become my sanctuary for peace, relaxation, introspection, and meeting new and like-minded friends.  Oh, and how could I forget?--the most beautiful, luscious veggies ever! (See my essay on why I love my CSA on the Sisters' site--click here.)

So, one might ask, how and why did I end up taking the Red Hill Farm Education-Coordinator position?

I loved my previous job:  working in women's health had always been my dream. But after sixteen years and many difficult life events, I started thinking that I wanted to work in the community where I live and try to make a difference there in people's lives. I am passionate about "health promotion and disease prevention," especially the importance of good nutrition and the prevention of childhood obesity.

Angela Kidder, our Farm Manager, mentioned that the Sisters wanted to get back to one of the core missions of the Farm, "education."  To make a long story short (as I usually do), I quit my job and here I am!

The Invitation

Part of my charge is planning events and programs for our CSA members and community. I also want to build on the existing farm tour and develop at least two further age-appropriate tours.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in joining a "working committee" to plan the two tours.  Now please don't be frightened by the term "working!" I will do the leg-work for support materials, contacts, or other things that need to be done during the working day. Ideally, we'd have a group working on each topic of the tour:  e.g., bees, soil health, compost tea, weeds, etc. I'd like to have our first meeting at the beginning of February.

It is also very important to the Sisters, to Angela, and to me to develop relationships with local schools, including Drexel Neumann Academy (see here). I will be planning interactive lectures to take into the schools, in turn supporting them with tours of the Farm.

The most important part of this plan is to include as many members of the community as possible:  school students and teachers, dietitians, clinicians, farmers, Sisters, and of course, YOU, the CSA members!  You can call me at 610-558-5396; or email at Jrosenbaum@osfphila.org. Looking forward to seeing you all again!"