Shares 2009

This past week I sent out an email to previous farm members, farm stand regulars and some people who have expressed an interest being members of the farm. I have been delighted with the response. Out of 5 1/2 shares and 4 mini shares, I have already sold 3 1/2 or 4 shares and 3 minis. That only leaves 1 1/2 - 2 shares and 1 mini left!

I decided, as usual, to keep the farm small and to increase only a small amount over last year. In 2008 I did manage to increase the amount of area I have available for farming but not as much as I had hoped. I'm getting out the rototiller this year to help me expand a bit more. The other thing is that I am not satisfied with the shares as they are so far. (My members think the shares are terrific but I want the shares to be even better.) Because of the space limitations, in 2007 and 2008 I never got around to planting some crops that I consider basic, such as potatoes and lots of tomatoes and broccoli. Some things I started in pots but never had a spot to put them. The result was that the shares are not up to my standards yet, even though they are large and tasty and fair value. So this year I am determined to plant everything! I would be pleased if this year became known as the year of the tomato.

The other little blip related to learning to be a farmer is that there were some things that I usually have in storage for myself in the winter that just never got planted. The items mentioned above plus storage carrots, tomato sauce, hot peppers, etc. It really bugs me to have to buy these things at the store. So that is the other things that needs correction this year and the other reason I am not expanding further in terms of selling more shares. Instead I will be growing more for me!

The fun news around the farm these days is that the chickens are laying eggs. Yesterday they laid 7 eggs! A new record. Speaking of which, it's time to bring them some water...

2008 in Pictures

Here are pictures from most of the shares in 2008, with the later shares at the top of the 'list'. Check earlier posts for specific descriptions. Each week throughout the growing season I try to post both an estimate of what the share will include that week and a picture and list of what it actually included. I will be using the same system in 2009.

Delivery #21 - October 17, 2008

LAST SHARE OF 2008 - Delivery #21 - October 17, 2008

Hello friends,

Well, this is it, the last delivery for 2008. You all have been wonderful. Thank you so much for being part of my little farm! I have really enjoyed sharing the harvest with you. Year 2 for the farm has been great for me. It's a ton of work but I love doing it so it doesn't feel like work at all. It has been terrific to have Karen as a working member, scheming and drudging and chattering along side of me. Thanks, Karen!

Next year I plan on selling 2 or 3 more shares plus a few mini-shares. And just as important to me, I will be doing my best to add in some crops that just never got planted this year due to lack of prepared ground and will be working on my replanting schedule so we can have larger and steadier supplies of our favorites.

Right now my focus is on preparing the garden for next year, expanding, planning, prepping some of the beds for early planting, planting garlic and tulips, and thinking and evaluating. Yesterday I bought 2 huge bags of gemination mix potting soil so I can be ready to start my seeds in January and February. Next weekend I hope to put up the hoop house so the extra hardy greens will be protected. Some of the chickens have a date with a butcher in a few weeks and the others need me to work on the chicken house some more. The farm never really shuts down but the chores change with the seasons. I'll be in touch with you in January to see if you are interested in being part of the farm in 2009.


COMING THIS WEEK
beets
chard
mesclun
NZ spinach (One member reported this as being very astringent when eaten raw this time of year. I haven't found any information about that yet. It might be that as it ages, it's better cooked.)
Any other greens I can gather.
Baldwin apple drops and Stayman Winesaps (the winesaps are good keepers and tasty eating apples; you might stick them in your refrigerator or any cold, moist spot)
floral decoration
surprise item

Have a great fall!
Laura

Delivery #20 - October 10, 2008

Hello farm members,

Here we go again. It's so amazing to me how the garden keeps producing. It is getting cold and it's starting to feel like time for me to wind down and prepare for winter so this will be your penultimate delivery. (Wow, I don't think I have ever used that word in my entire life!) I have already started looking at seed catalogs and dreaming and planning for next year.

I have a fair amount of the garden under cover and plan on covering more, just to see how long things can go. Keep your fingers crossed and we may have some more tomatoes and peppers for the last delivery.

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY
kale
turnip greens? (The chickens got into these a bit.)
Baldwin apple drops
radishes
beets
bok choy
bouquet - Karen and I keep adding more and more wild things lately. Look for Kousa dogwood berries and wild rose hips in this week's bouquet. --As it turned out, I couldn't find any rose hips but found other bright red berries - NOT edible though.

See you Friday,
Laura

Delivery #19 - October 3, 2008

Dear farm members,

We made it to October! Yay!

The garden is slowing down and yet there are still things to pick. Every time I pick for the shares I am surprised by how much is there. The Farm Stand is closed, so the garden is now just for you and me. My expectation is that we will have a few more deliveries but they will get smaller each time. I wish I had potatoes and winter squash and many, many roots to share with you. Next year!

Every time I visit the green house I feel the extra warmth in there and it's starting to feel really nice. A friend told me that his greenhouse, of the same type, had 70 degree temperatures on sunny days last February. That reminds me, I need to leave space in there for a chair... It all seems amazing to me but I am prepared to be delighted.

Generally this spot does not get hit by the earliest light frosts so the pole beans may still be producing this week. The greens are slowing down their growth rate but there will be some. The chickens are out of the garage at last. Some will be butchered in a few weeks and the rest are supposed to start laying in December. I will have extra eggs for sale, if you are interested. Raised organically, of course.

Horseradish: The best way I know to keep horseradish (and ginger root) is to wash it and stick it in the freezer. Then when you want some, just grate off the amount you need and put the rest back in the freezer. The horseradish you buy in the store is basically grated root plus vinegar so that's very easy to make. No more moldy horseradish or shriveled ginger! See the recipe blog for an easy recipe for beets using horseradish.

COMING THIS WEEK

mesclun
chard
beans
a few tomatoes
red onions
beets
carrots
horseradish root
bouquet

Laura

Delivery #18 - September 26, 2008

Hello farm friends,

Gosh it is cold out there in the mornings! Growth is slowing down but the plants look happy. This is the start of my September farm week so I have time to think, prep the garden for next year and make tunnels to cover some of the beds. It will be interesting to see how the vegetables respond to just a little more warmth. I hope to keep the mesclun and leaf lettuce growing for a while yet and there are young beets and rutabagas and daikon radishes out there that I hope will become full grown.

I have also planted 3 beds with extra hardy greens for the winter. (Now to build hoop house over them.) This is a total experiment. The books say I might be picking kale, cress, arugula, and corn salad in January and February. I hope it's true. The greenhouse still has ripening peppers, tomatoes and black eyed peas. We'll see how long they last into the fall. Later I will be planting the very earliest of greens for 2009 in there.

I hope to continue the shares through October but Mother Nature may have something to say about my plans. The shares will be getting smaller each week. The squash and cukes seem to be done now, for instance. But the kale and mesclun are fine and there are still occasional new items like the kolrabi and endive this week. Thank you for being patient as I learn about extending the seasons. Next year at this time there should be winter squash, turnips, eggplant and potatoes and a lot more carrots, beets and tomatoes, at least that is my plan.

COMING THIS WEEK

mesclun
kale
broadleaf endive
beans
a few tomatoes?
Asian onions
kolrabi
BOUQUET

Have a great first week of fall,
Laura