A Farmer's Day, by Angela

'Twas a Monday morning indeed, with weeds to our knees digging potatoes in a little sprinkle that turned into glorious afternoon sunshine. I smell a bit of tractor after pleading with the green machine to start (a plea it refused) and am soaked head to toe thanks to my body's own swamp-cooling system. I am a farmer--these are the events of my day that, though mundane, make for a good day.

Broccoli will be leaving the nursery of the greenhouse to live in the farm fields this week. The plants look hardy and well, with good promise for a healthy share of heads this fall. It's funny how the florets do remind so many (myself included) of miniature trees, as if we were giant people able to eat oak trees as a side dish.

Broccoli forest (source, art by Carl Warner)

I thought about this size dimension again while looking over the newly sprouted rows of salad mix, thinking they look like forests from an airplane's perspective. Oh, to be a bug or a bird for a day would surely explode my brain in wonder.

Week #5, Full Share and Tuesday Bi-Weekly Pickups, by Angela

Hiroshige, Driving Rain, c. 1840, woodblock (source)

"Rain, glorious rain.... There is a silver lining someplace in all this rain.  Brendan will be the farmer in the shareroom this week.  For your menu planning, you may anticipate kale, salad mix, zucchini, turnips (without the greens), and onions. Plus, plan some extra time for the U-Pick, as the raspberries, peas, and green beans are all ready for you to pick! (Please check the whiteboard in the shareroom for the U-Pick quantities.)"

Week #2 Pickup, Thoughts and Ideas, by Angela

Second-Week Share

This year we're trying an experiment on the farm that connects us to the classic traditions of companion planting. The "Three Sisters" (corn, squash, and beans--see below) benefit each other in the use of space and nutrients. The corn will grow up, the squash grows out, and the beans climb the corn. (For more info on the Three Sisters, click here.)

The start of a "three sisters" planting--corn, squash & beans

Our winter squash this year has been planted alongside popcorn and dried beans (see above). It tickles my fancy to witness these plants thrive as they increase in girth and vitality. Among other things, this field is faring quite well in our eruptions of rainfall.

Unhappy lettuces

Like a forgotten bag of wet lettuce, our lettuce heads in the field (see above) have been turning to slime on the bottom, with too much hydration; good thing we plant in successions!

Grass groves next to the tomatoes

Unintentionally, the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants have cover crops, between the rows, of some dormant ryegrass seeded far too late last season (see above). As the picture here shows, it's a bit unruly at the moment, but I have a good feeling it'll be under control by the power of the weed- whacker soon.

Workshares Mary & Sandy washing
salad greens

Josh washing fennel bulbs

All in all, we're coming together over good fresh food. Let us continue to work together both in the fields and in our thoughts.

Week #2 (June 10th to 14th) Pickups on Red Hill Farm, by Angela

This is a "Full Share" and "Friday Bi-Weekly"-pickups week. Brendan will be the farmer in the shareroom this week. If you have any questions or would like to make a purchase, seek out his friendly face (or look for the most "farmerly" man if you don't know him yet).

This is Brendan w/ a
butterfly on his forehead. The 
butterfly will be gone when you
see him this week!

For your menu planning, this week's pickup includes salad mix, Dinosaur kale (aka Lacinato kale), those fabulous romaine lettuce heads, pac choi (an Asian green), and more of the delicious garlic scapes.

All members are welcome to our Farm Event this Friday, "Fridays at the Farm"! That's this Friday, June 14th, featuring a presentation and demo on "New Green Recipes You'll LOVE" by Christa Mantey, RD, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. The demonstration will be at 6:15.

Please join members for relaxation, friendship, and fun. Bring your own beverage/snacks; we will provide iced tea and a light snack.

Saturday April 20th--the Last Winter Market for This Year, by Angela

Our hoophouses are still booming with produce from our Winter Markets, and I invite all of you to one last market this Saturday, April 20th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

To those of you who are unfamiliar, this is not part of the CSA but is how we sell produce in the off season from the CSA, so it is set up like a market for you to purchase what you would like.

This Saturday, we'll have butterhead lettuces, salad mix, arugula, kale, and radishes.

There also will be Jerusalem artichokes (aka Sunchokes) grown organically by a Farm member.