FARM NEWS - May 10, 2010

Hello to all you 2010 Farm Members! Welcome!

(This is a long message with details about getting started up for the season. Other messages will not be so long.)

FARM NEWS
I have been planting and planting every chance I get. Things are on schedule for planting so let's hope they will be on schedule for harvesting and eating! It's been such a beautiful spring. So sunny, and right now at the farm, the air smells lovely, full of lilac blossoms. It's a beautiful world.

The soil was dry so I am very grateful that Mother Nature will gave the garden a good soaking rain this past weekend. Thanks to farm member Doug Pratt I now have water pressure which makes the watering a lot less time consuming and a whole lot more satisfying. And many thanks to my son Rob for all the tilling, mowing and vine support building that beens happening around here lately. It looks good!

This is a time of year when I generally feel a bit of anxiety. There is lots planted but the plants look tiny and I worry about having enough for the shares. BUT, every year there is enough. It's just that plant growth really takes off in May. For instance the pea shoots are twice as big as they were a few days ago and the baby leaf lettuce has been picked three times for my dinner but the plants are so thick, you can't tell at all. I also peeked under their protective cover and the first arugula is getting quite big. *So never fear, we will have plenty for all.* I think my nervousness is a symptom of being a new farmer. In a few more years, I'll be more confident.

For recent PICTURES around the farm:

EARLY SHARES & CROPS
At this point I expect the earliest shares to include mesclun, pea shoots (for stir fry), white turnips, baby spinach, and radishes. Coming soon after will be garden peas, snow peas, carrots, baby spinach, head lettuce, and kohlrabi. This year I managed to plant potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. And I have planted more fava beans and peas than in previous years. We have okra, pea shoots, Chinese broccoli, and pak choy for new items. So you can start thinking about recipes and feel free to ask about any vegetables. I hope to grow some sweet potatoes as an experiment this year. I am always open to trying out new crops. This is your farm. Let me know what you would like to see in the shares.

This week I am preparing the ground for beans, squash and tomatoes, transplanting flowers into the cutting garden, and planting Swiss chard and radicchio.

PREPPING FOR THE SHARES
It's time to start thinking about your share.
If you are picking up your share, make sure I know which day you plan to do so - Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

WHEN DO THE SHARES START?
Full and Half Shares will start on Friday, May 28. Mini-Shares will start on Friday, June 4.

RE-THINKING YOUR COOKING:
Some of you farm members are old hands at this, but for new members, here is something to think about. Often, a person will think of what they want to eat and cook, go to the store, buy the ingredients and make their food. Or perhaps, they go to the store, see what is looking good, buy that and plan their meals from what they bought. (These items may have come from all over the world but they are in season somewhere.) With a CSA membership, we are all more closely tied to the growing season right here in Franklin County, MA. Each crop is ready at a particular time. Some, like pumpkins and peppers, take most of the season to grow and be ready; some, like spinach and peas, only like to grow in the coolness of spring and late fall; some can be replanted and harvested all season long. And then there is the weather! Cold rain can slow maturity, which sometimes means waiting for a crop to be ready and sometimes means a particular crop is available for a longer time and then bolts when the hot weather arrives. Hail can make holes in beautiful chard leaves just before they are ready. Or the weather can be just right for a bumper crop of tomatoes! Things vary every year. (Oh yes, and then there are insects and larger predators...)

This variation makes each season special. (Last year was marked by lots of rain and the terrible Late Blight on the potatoes and tomatoes, sharply reducing the harvest on those crops.) Every year there are some crops that do Really Well and are a source of delight.

So what happens in a CSA is that I work hard planting and tending those crops, Mother Nature does whatever she will, I pick what is ready as it is ready and give it to you and THEN you get to figure out what to make for dinner! It's actually fun, as well a delicious. I hope you enjoy it as well.


COMMUNICATION:
Each week I'll be sending out an email on Monday morning with a bit of news and a list of what will most likely be in the shares that "farm week". (I count the start of the farm week with the Friday delivery - Don't worry I'll label the email.) Nature sometimes has other ideas about it but usually I can make a close guess as to what will be ready. The most common surprise is that something is ready sooner than I expected. For the mini shares, I will include a list of what is available for minis that week. If you have a preference, email me before your picking day. I can usually accommodate your requests. If I don't hear from you, I'll just give you the "farmer's choice".

This email marks the first of these Monday morning emails, just to get us all in the habit.

EGGS: The hens are laying well. Eggs are available most every day. You can call or email. I also maintain a separate email list for eggs. Let me know if you want to be on that. It happens about 2-3 times a month, only when the supply is accumulating. If you would like eggs added to your share on any given week, let me know. They are $4.00 a dozen and like everything else at the farm, raised organically but not certified. The baby chicks have arrived and are happily peeping and growing. You can see photos at the facebook link.

CONTAINERS:
If you are picking up your share, you can gather together or make a couple of large bags or boxes to use for your share. I will exchange them each week. I will keep track of your containers, if you label them.

If your share is being delivered, make sure you have a large cooler, preferably with cold packs, that can left in a safe and convenient spot. I will be delivering on Fridays, usually in the early afternoon. (11 - 3)

For all of you: I can use help gathering containers and packaging for the shares. These are all useful:
Large paper bags
Large plastic containers with lids (The ones that hold 1 pound of greens are a good size.)
Clean and dry produce bags from organic produce
Small glass jars for the mini bouquets - ones with a narrow opening, like olive jars or jelly jars.
Quart sized canning jars for the larger bouquets.
Large (2-4 gallon) heavy food grade plastic bags, big enough for greens. These get washed and reused.
Cardboard egg cartons

PAYMENT: Everybody has been really timely and reliable about paying their deposits or more. Thanks! Final payments are due by July 1, 2010.
Mini Shares: $100 (plus $25, if delivered)
Half Shares: sliding scale, $300.00 to $350.00
Full Shares: sliding scale, $600.00 to $675.00

Well, that's all I can think of to tell you. I will make an effort to keep future emails short.
Thank you for being part of the farm!
Laura

Laura Timmerman
910 Greenfield Rd
Leyden, MA 01337
413-773-8325
laurat@crocker.com