Shares for sale

I've started selling shares for the 2012 season! I am excited both to have returning and new farm members already. It's neat to have a few shares sold already when it is still 2011. This is a flyer I brought to the Leyden Craft Fair. If you would like a copy, I can email or snail mail one to you. So happy about farming. I just planted Red Russian Kale, Swiss Chard and Red Garnet Mustard for the hoophouse today. I am aiming for mid May harvest for the earliest shares. Keep your fingers crossed!

IN CASE YOU CAN'T READ THE FLYER, IT SAYS: Laura Timmerman's Farm A tiny farm with a big heart. Leyden's very own little CSA – really local and really fresh, organically grown vegetables, fruits, and flowers Three sizes to suit your needs: Full Shares, Half Shares and Mini Shares I grow a wide variety of produce and flowers, focusing on delicious and heirloom varieties. In addition to standard garden favorites, such as beans, tomatoes and lettuce, I like to grow vegetables that you might not find in your local market, such as fresh shell beans, Italian and Asian greens, and varieties that are difficult to ship long distances, but are oh so tasty. I have been growing food organically in this same location for over thirty years. I never use chemical fertilizers or pesticides but focus on natural, intensive, sustainable methods of caring for the garden. The farm includes a mixed flock of heirloom, pasture-raised chickens who lay delicious, dark-yolked eggs in a rainbow of colors. I am an experienced gardener but a new farmer. I invite you to become part of my exciting and joyful adventure. BASIC SHARE INFO: Farm members receive fresh, local produce during the growing season. Full and Half Shares last 20-24 weeks, depending on the weather, and include a weekly bouquet. Mini Shares last 16 weeks and include a bouquet when possible. All shares include Pick-Your-Own privileges when possible. Full Shares - $600.00 - $675.00, sliding scale Half Shares - $300.00 - $350.00, sliding scale Mini Shares - $100.00 Pick Up at the farm on Thursdays Contact Laura for more information or to reserve your share for the 2012 season. 413-773-8325, laurat-at-crocker.com

I'll be at the LEYDEN CRAFT FAIR this Sunday with eggs and information about the 2012 Farm Shares. Stop by for a visit!

FARM SHARE # 23 - October 27, 2011

HALF SHARE:


FULL SHARE:

Last share of the season!
I am pretty happy with the size and variety of this last share. Let's hope for winter squash, broccoli and more potatoes next fall. It's been a lovely year in general, despite so much rain. It has always been reassuring to me as a gardener, and now as a farmer, that every year some things do well, some fail or wimp along, and some crops are outstanding. There's always enough to eat and each year has its special flavor. This year I grew the best peppers ever. In fact I will be very glad when the hot peppers are done! I miss winter squash and I look forward to trying corn next year.

Most of all, I am grateful to my farm members for their patience and willingness to try new things, whether it's radish tops or edaname or tiny thinnings of Swiss chard. In fact, our farm members are frequently appreciative of many of the vegetables, fruits and flowers they get in their shares, as well my efforts on their behalf. That gives me courage and hope, no matter what the season.

So to all you farm members, THANK YOU! You are the best.

FARM WEEK # 14 - August 25, 2011 - Minis - Week # 11

August 22, 2011
Hello on this beautiful late summer day!

FARM NEWS
The most exciting news around here is that the TILLER is repaired!! (Thank you, Doug. You are awesome.) Robin spent much of the weekend tilling and weed whacking some of the most weedy, neglected parts of the farm. It made a big difference. (Thank you, Robin! You are awesome, too.) I put my time into hand weeding and planting more fall crops, especially spinach. I also harvested the last of the onions and although they are a bit small this year, they still look good. At the moment my projects are to freeze tomatoes, make pickles and plant more fall items, daikon radishes, Chinese broccoli, kolrabi and pak choy. Hmmm, I seem to detect an Asian theme to these fall items...

Speaking of Asian food, the EDANAME (fresh soybeans) is almost ready. Robin and I tested some and it was so, so good! Still a bit small but, wow. We just pulled the pods off the plants, boiled them a few minutes and then squeezed open the pods so the inner bean could pop into our mouths. Yum.

My thoughts are already turning towards 2012, thinking about what to plant and where and how to prepare the soil this year for NEXT SPRING. One thing I really want to grow is sweet corn. I haven't grown it for quite a few years but I've done well with it in the past. And imagine how delicious our own corn on the cob would be! I also want to plant strawberries and maybe some more raspberries. Feel free to make suggestions about your favorite crops.

I guess I am feeling pretty hopeful and full of ideas today. I think it's a direct effect of all that cleared out brush and freshly rototilled ground. Many things look possible.


THIS WEEK'S SHARES:

FULL AND HALF SHARES -
Carrots or beets
Garlic
Leeks
Tomatoes
Kale
Cucumbers
Beans
Hot peppers
Sweet peppers
Squash
Fennel - this was supposed to bulb up but it bolted instead. Use like dill. Smells and tastes like licorice.
Soybeans? This is very close to being ready. Maybe this week...
Flowers


MINI SHARES - Choose two (plus flowers, as usual)
Tomatoes
Beans
Carrots
Hot peppers
Leeks
Garlic
Kale

Have a great day and maybe I hope to see you during pick up on Thursday, 12:00 - 6:00.

Your farmer,
Laura

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

2011 Farm Shares on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150198790794656.328961.837814655&l=c1ca374ea9

ShARE # 13 - 2011

MINI SHARE



HALF SHARE



FULL SHARE



Everything is picked, sorted, chilled and ready for pick up. Watch full and half share folks, the shares are big this week!

Kale is mostly from Robin's garden. Collards are from here.

No edible flowers today. They just weren't open yet because of all the recent rains. Probably they will open up during the day today so if you want some, bring scissors and a container.

PYO cherry tomatoes.

Half shares get 2 boxes of tomatoes; full shares get 4.

Mini Choices:
tomatoes - 3 portions
beans - 1
collards - 1
carrots - 1
All requests were filled. Actually, I have been able to fill all the mini share requests all year!

I am heading out around 3:30 or 4:00. Good luck!
Laura

FARM WEEK # 9 - July 21, 2011 - Minis - Week # 6

Crocosmia



July 19, 2011
Hello friends of the farm,

I'm going to try to keep this brief tonight so I can get to sleep early and so nothing grows bigger before I get this out to you! When I checked the garden on Monday morning and at that time I thought there would be 3 kinds of beans ready to pick for Thursday. This afternoon I discovered that there are now 5 kinds that are big enough. It must be something about the warm sunshine. Everything is growing fast!

FARM NEWS:

Not a lot of news this week. As you know, I was ill last week and most of my extra time and energy has been devoted to healing. Thank goodness, that seems to be bearing fruit. (couldn't resist, sorry) We did spread plastic mulch over a large area so the pumpkins have lots of room to run around. And I have been tying up the tomato plants; they just get bigger and bigger. And we've been weeding. Sarah watered the young fruit trees and has gone on bug patrol several times, collecting potato bugs, Japanese beetles and cabbage worms. These are two important tasks that need to happen over and over. Thanks, Sarah! Lots more of everything to do and 15 more bales of straw were delivered yesterday so the weekend won't be dull.

Meanwhile, the garden is thriving. There are raspberries to pick every few days, lots of beans, including the first Scarlet Runner beans, AND the tomatoes are ripening! The first tomatoes will be included in half and full shares this week. I must warn you that very soon we will have lots and lots of cucumbers. It's time to think about your favorite salad and pickle recipes.

(I just took a break from writing to go shut up the chickens for the night. With the long summer days, I have to wait until after 8:30 before all the birds have gone in so I can shut the coop door. Two exceptions: there is one young pullet who would like to roost outside on top of a fence. Each evening I have to prod her off with a stick and remind her about nighttime predators. The other exceptions are the two mama hens and their chicks. The mothers bring the chicks in early and tuck them underneath their bodies. By 7:00 all the babies are in bed.)

There will a bit of a lull before the next round of mesclun. In the meantime, we have head lettuce.

Rubeckia


THIS WEEK'S SHARES:

FULL & HALF SHARES:

turnips
radishes
a few small kolrabi?
head lettuce
beans - Provider, Annellino Stortino, Dragon Tongue, Royal Burgandy, Northeaster, Scarlet Runner
fava beans - priority to the half shares this week since they haven't had them yet.
greens - could be chard, kale, turnip greens or a mix, depends on the harvest
green onions (regular onions that are not fully formed yet. very tasty)
raspberries
tomatoes
carrots

snap peas pyo
snow peas pyo

MINI SHARES:

Several of these items only have enough for 2 or 3 shares. There's plenty over all but it will be first come, first serve if you have a preference.

1 - Your Choice of TWO of these:
head lettuce
green onions
beans
mixed greens - turnip, kale, chard
raspberries
or
Farmer's Choice of any of the above or something else entirely that needs picking!

2 - flowers

snap peas pyo
snow peas pyo

I'll be finishing the picking on Wednesday evening so let me know before that if you have a preference.

Have a great day and see you at pick and pick-your-own Thursday, 12:00 - 6:00.
Follow-up PYO on available on Saturday.
Laura

Laura Timmerman
910 Greenfield Rd
Leyden, MA 01337
413-773-8325
laurat-at-crocker.com
Back to the Farm
2011 Farm Shares on facebook:

Sweet peas

SHARE # 8 - 2011

It feels like we are really on a roll. Lots to pick out there! I picked 8 pounds of beans this week and it was the first "small" picking. So get set, think about all the ways you like to eat beans. Dilly beans for the winter or for gifts? Three bean salad for pot lucks? Beans with mint? Frozen beans for winter eating? What are your favorites?

Suddenly we are in the part of the season where things Must Be Picked or they go bad or get too big or whatever. Tomorrow I will be picking raspberries for my own freezer. And there are snap peas, snow peas in the PYO area plus sweet peas for bouquets if you care to come by to pick some on Saturday.

The weeds are trying to get ahead of me so there are plenty of hands-on possibilities here if that appeals to you. Saturday anytime is fine for weeding, mulching or tomato supporting.

YOUR SHARES:
(sizes are approximate)



Half Share-
mesclun 5 oz
garlic 1
turnips 4 oz
pea shoots 1.5 oz
beans 1 pound
raspberries 1 pint
peas 1 pound
sorrel 1 bundle
radishes 20
flowers



Full Share-
Twice as much except for peas and beans
Also: fava beans 1 pound 2oz and squash blossoms



Mini Share-
Your choice of two items: 1 pt. berries, 1 pound beans, or 5 oz. mesclun

Half and Minis got a couple of fava beans each to sample. Hopefully, there will be favas for the half and mini shares in the coming weeks. Favas a bit unusual and their preparation may be unfamiliar. See the recipe blog for some links to some useful web sites.

I forgot to put purslane in the mesclun, but I'll add it next week. This time we added borage and calendula flowers to the mesclun. You can eat the borage whole but it's probably best to pull the petals off the calendula. Another PYO item: If you come by on Saturday and want to pick calendula flowers to dry fo tinctures or salves, you are welcome to do so.

Enjoy!
PS Now that we have Make Your Own bouquets, I seldom have a good picture of a made up bouquet to post here. Feel free to send me pictures of your finished bouquets!