A Peep from White Barn Farm
Posted 3/17/2010 11:29am by Christy and Chris Kantlehner.
Hi there everyone!
It is a beautiful sunny day and the speed at which are sandy soil has drained tells me it is not frozen down there anymore! We've had a heck of a lot of rain in the last week. But what a gorgeous, sunny day today! St. Patty's Day! The vernal equinox is right around the corner - it says Saturday, March 20, on the calendar.
The days outlast the nights beginning very soon!
So. What's been happening at the farm?
We've begun seeding in the greenhouse. Onion seeds went into their flats March 4,5,6 and we have tiny green sprouts from all those little friends emerging as we speak. The transformation from a greenhouse filled with trays of dirt to a greenhouse filled with gorgeous, green, photosynthesizing seedlings is such a miracle every time! Yesterday we seeded all sorts of things - spinach, beets, bok choy, Napa cabbage, small, early red and green cabbages, and some broccoli (yep - we are hoping to do a spring harvest of broccoli this year). The hot peppers seeds are germinating on the heat mat, which should be a coveted spot as it's soon time to seed the eggplant, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and certain flowers.
The pump in the greenhouse is working well. It pumps water out of a long series of 55 gallon drums (all connected by PVC) that hold rainwater we collect off the barn roof. The water gravity feeds through PVC piping in a covered trench all the way out to the greenhouse. Actually, we haven't hooked up the gutters yet this year, but as soon as the threat of freezing, exploding pipe passes, we'll connect it. For now, we just filled the barrels with a hose.
Our woodstove is doing an excellent job this year, with its new-fangled insulated pipe outside. Thanks to my dad who has been materializing to facilitate these projects just as they need to happen. We are enjoying the efficiency of our woodstove AND the comfort of knowing the backup propane heater is on a thermostat so our seedlings can enjoy consistent warm nighttime temperatures and grow, grow, grow!
Most of our other work has been pretty sedentary. Planning, emailing, managing the waiting list, doing Quickbooks, organizing, blah, blah, blah.
Actually, one other interesting aspect of our work recently has been keeping our feelers out for sources of other food that our customers can feel good about eating. The prospects are looking good! There is a fairly new farm in Norfolk specializing in raising heritage breeds of pigs in a very natural way - rooting out in the forest and eating some grain the farmer brings in. He raises lots of poultry - laying hens, turkeys, pheasants, and ducks. He will be raising some cattle, too. The farmer is from Ireland and has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. We are so glad that he contacted us. He is still pretty new - so this year we will probably just be able to offer his eggs to purchase at the pick-ups and you will be able to sign up for Thanksgiving turkeys. Beef and pork will be available through our friend James Elworthy, at Liberty Farm in Poultney, VT. With the help of the VT Land Trust, James and his wife, Sarah, were able to purchase a beautiful 126 acre dairy farm (with a good barn that James deserves so much!). His dairy herd is up to 30 milkers and he will still raise a few pigs and some beef cattle as well. He sells shares, in 25 or 50 lb increments (a mix of assorted 1 lb packages of all different cuts). Also, our friend, Floyd, in Barre, is still raising pigs and selling pork at the farmer's market in Waltham. He is also going to raise meat chickens and ducks this year. His customers just sign up ahead and send a deposit. We'll be able to arrange a pick-up here at White Barn Farm (same for the meat from Liberty Farm). We're also hoping to make our Plant Sale more of an event (pray for sun!!!) and have Floyd here with pork to stock your freezers with. Rosasharn Farm in Rehoboth is another farm I'd like to invite. Anne, the farmer there, does a veggie CSA. She has goats and goat products - great soaps and other stuff - laundry soap, even. She will also be raising meat chickens that can be signed up for in advance. I will organize a blog entry/email that includes all the fine details about these things. Just thought I'd share the positive news!
The daffodils and tulips are all poking up. I saw some crocuses this morning. I checked the garlic yesterday and it is poking through the leaf mulch! Yay!
Finally, a touch of business: Second payments are due if you chose the payment plan for this year's CSA shares. If you sent in a $100 deposit, $262.50 is due now and the final $262.50 is due by June 1, 2010. Thanks to everyone who sent theirs in already! If for some reason you can't swing it at this moment, just email and we will happily work something out. We certainly understand that it is hard times right now.
Thank you, everyone! We are happy to welcome so many new members this year and to see some great familiar faces from last year. Please keep introducing yourselves to us. We often know your faces and your names - but not always together :)
Take Care!
Christy and Chris at White Barn Farm
www.whitebarnfarm.org
It is a beautiful sunny day and the speed at which are sandy soil has drained tells me it is not frozen down there anymore! We've had a heck of a lot of rain in the last week. But what a gorgeous, sunny day today! St. Patty's Day! The vernal equinox is right around the corner - it says Saturday, March 20, on the calendar.
The days outlast the nights beginning very soon!
So. What's been happening at the farm?
We've begun seeding in the greenhouse. Onion seeds went into their flats March 4,5,6 and we have tiny green sprouts from all those little friends emerging as we speak. The transformation from a greenhouse filled with trays of dirt to a greenhouse filled with gorgeous, green, photosynthesizing seedlings is such a miracle every time! Yesterday we seeded all sorts of things - spinach, beets, bok choy, Napa cabbage, small, early red and green cabbages, and some broccoli (yep - we are hoping to do a spring harvest of broccoli this year). The hot peppers seeds are germinating on the heat mat, which should be a coveted spot as it's soon time to seed the eggplant, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and certain flowers.
The pump in the greenhouse is working well. It pumps water out of a long series of 55 gallon drums (all connected by PVC) that hold rainwater we collect off the barn roof. The water gravity feeds through PVC piping in a covered trench all the way out to the greenhouse. Actually, we haven't hooked up the gutters yet this year, but as soon as the threat of freezing, exploding pipe passes, we'll connect it. For now, we just filled the barrels with a hose.
Our woodstove is doing an excellent job this year, with its new-fangled insulated pipe outside. Thanks to my dad who has been materializing to facilitate these projects just as they need to happen. We are enjoying the efficiency of our woodstove AND the comfort of knowing the backup propane heater is on a thermostat so our seedlings can enjoy consistent warm nighttime temperatures and grow, grow, grow!
Most of our other work has been pretty sedentary. Planning, emailing, managing the waiting list, doing Quickbooks, organizing, blah, blah, blah.
Actually, one other interesting aspect of our work recently has been keeping our feelers out for sources of other food that our customers can feel good about eating. The prospects are looking good! There is a fairly new farm in Norfolk specializing in raising heritage breeds of pigs in a very natural way - rooting out in the forest and eating some grain the farmer brings in. He raises lots of poultry - laying hens, turkeys, pheasants, and ducks. He will be raising some cattle, too. The farmer is from Ireland and has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. We are so glad that he contacted us. He is still pretty new - so this year we will probably just be able to offer his eggs to purchase at the pick-ups and you will be able to sign up for Thanksgiving turkeys. Beef and pork will be available through our friend James Elworthy, at Liberty Farm in Poultney, VT. With the help of the VT Land Trust, James and his wife, Sarah, were able to purchase a beautiful 126 acre dairy farm (with a good barn that James deserves so much!). His dairy herd is up to 30 milkers and he will still raise a few pigs and some beef cattle as well. He sells shares, in 25 or 50 lb increments (a mix of assorted 1 lb packages of all different cuts). Also, our friend, Floyd, in Barre, is still raising pigs and selling pork at the farmer's market in Waltham. He is also going to raise meat chickens and ducks this year. His customers just sign up ahead and send a deposit. We'll be able to arrange a pick-up here at White Barn Farm (same for the meat from Liberty Farm). We're also hoping to make our Plant Sale more of an event (pray for sun!!!) and have Floyd here with pork to stock your freezers with. Rosasharn Farm in Rehoboth is another farm I'd like to invite. Anne, the farmer there, does a veggie CSA. She has goats and goat products - great soaps and other stuff - laundry soap, even. She will also be raising meat chickens that can be signed up for in advance. I will organize a blog entry/email that includes all the fine details about these things. Just thought I'd share the positive news!
The daffodils and tulips are all poking up. I saw some crocuses this morning. I checked the garlic yesterday and it is poking through the leaf mulch! Yay!
Finally, a touch of business: Second payments are due if you chose the payment plan for this year's CSA shares. If you sent in a $100 deposit, $262.50 is due now and the final $262.50 is due by June 1, 2010. Thanks to everyone who sent theirs in already! If for some reason you can't swing it at this moment, just email and we will happily work something out. We certainly understand that it is hard times right now.
Thank you, everyone! We are happy to welcome so many new members this year and to see some great familiar faces from last year. Please keep introducing yourselves to us. We often know your faces and your names - but not always together :)
Take Care!
Christy and Chris at White Barn Farm
www.whitebarnfarm.org
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