Today is Wednesday, March 3. Snowing!

We still have a waiting list for the 2010 CSA. Right now 40 names remain on the list.

There are 9 shares available. Seven for Fridays and two for Tuesdays.

I have notified the latest members of the waiting list that these shares are available and given them a week to respond. As spots are declined, I notify the next person on the list.  When the CSA is full, I will make a blog entry (like this). I will keep any remaining members of the waiting list to roll over and become the start of the waiting list for 2011. If you sent your form and a check and the CSA fills before we can add you as members this year, I will return your check and keep you on the list for next year.

We are truly grateful to have such an enthusiastic community here. Thank you so much!

Chris and Christy at White Barn Farm

As of today, Tuesday, February 23, 2010, there were sixteen shares available. I emailed the first 16 members of our waiting list and gave them until March 2nd (one week) to accept or decline.

As soon as someone declines, I will notify the next member of the waiting list and so on. At one point I had claimed I would institute a free-for-all, but now we have a waiting list of 53 people!!!! So I am notifying folks in the order in which requests came in.

I will make a blog entry when all of the shares are filled. I'll keep what's left of the waiting list from this year and make it the start of the wait list for 2011.

If you mailed in a check, I will email you to let you know we have it and I'll add you to the waiting list (in the order in which they were received). We won't deposit your check until we definitely have a share for you. If the CSA fills up before that, we'll return your check.

Thanks so much for being so interested, everybody!!! It warms my heart.

if you'd like to be added to the waiting list, tell us so via email: info@whitebarnfarm.org

HOURS: Tuesdays and Fridays 3pm to 7pm  and  Saturdays 10 am to 2pm.

OPENING: Should open in the first week of June. Stay tuned on the website.

We will also email our mailing list to announce opening day.

PARKING: Pull right into our parking area in the field. Please observe our enter and exit signs and be careful pulling off and on of busy 1A!

PACKAGING: Bring your own bags, boxes, crates, baskets,  etc.

PAYMENT: We can accept cash and checks. 

LOCATION: We are right on 1A, across from the farm,

between Wampum Corner and Wrentham Center

POISON IVY: BEWARE! If you're allergic - keep a lookout for poison ivy popping through the grass and especially growing on the trees. Especially parents of scrambling children and wearers of strappy sandals . . . . 

• What if my preferred pick-up day is not available? 

•  What if I forget to pick-up my share?

• Can I get half of a share or split my share?

We have decided not to complicate our distribution system by offering half shares.  You are welcome to find someone who wants to split your share with you, but we ask that you deal with the logistics at your own site, and remind you that our shares are not designed to be split (you may need to actually use a knife to divide a cabbage, for example). One simple way to split a share is to alternate pick-up weeks.  

There has been such an overwhelming interest in half-shares that we are keeping a list of those interested in splitting a share so we can link these people up.  Send us an email if you want us to share your email with others on the list.

•  What if there is something in my share I know I won't use?

We will have a box for swapping at the pick-up site.  You can leave behind something you don't care for and perhaps pick up a treasure that someone else has left behind.

***To request we add you to the waiting list, please email us at: info@whitebarnfarm.org

Don't Despair - You can still come pick out whatever you want at our

Roadside Stand:

Tuesdays and Fridays 3 pm - 7 pm   &   Saturday Morning 10 am - 2 pm 

The CSA begins in early June and runs until late October, for a total of 22 weeks.  We will aim to provide a value of $20-35 with each share.  We will pack your share into a box that can be quickly and conveniently toted away. This should be enough for a family of four or a couple of vegetarians.  Do take note, however, that part of the CSA model is sharing the abundances and setbacks with the farmers.  This means accepting that there may be more to offer at the height of the summer than in the first week of June and that some years are better for growing tomatoes than others.  As growers, we will do our best to grow enough diversity to offset any perceived losses.

We have two pick-up days, Tuesdays and Fridays. You choose which day to sign up for and then pick up at our roadside stand 3 pm - 7 pm on your day. The stand is right across the street from the farm, on 1A (South St.) between Wrentham center and Wampum corner.

A CSA is Community Supported Agriculture.  It is an economic model that creates a direct link between a farm and its supporters.  Basically each supporter buys a share of the farm before the season begins.  This allows the farmers to purchase seeds, supplies, and to work on the infrastructure to grow the farm.  The farmers design a crop plan to provide a certain value of fresh, seasonal vegetables for every week of the season and arrange for the shareholders to pick up their share once a week. 

• Why a CSA? 

A CSA allows farmers to focus on growing great crops.  CSA shareholders can develop a relationship with the land and the farmers who raise their food.  You can be assured that we use no pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers and your food dollars are sure to stay within the local economy.  You will be able to feel good about helping a small farm sustain itself and feeding your family truly fresh and vibrant vegetables.

• Who should join a CSA? 

The produce provided will be seasonal and varied,  including vegetables that you may have never tried before.  Members should thrive on variety and take inspiration from the beauty and freshness of the selection in their share each week.  The farmers at White Barn Farm love to eat and cook and will enthusiastically give you ideas for using the veggies.  If you don't think you can use a whole share or if you are a family of picky eaters, probably shopping at the local farmer's market or our Roadside Stand is a better choice for you.  However, many skeptical CSA members have found themselves and especially their kids turned onto new vegetables or even just fresh versions of the familiar grocery store versions. At White Barn Farm CSA we are hoping to match your expectations with the experience to develop a band of happy customers.

• How do I prepare to be a CSA member? 

If you are game for eating with the seasons, get ready for some delicious results.  You should be prepared to be cutting up more veggies - you are sure to appreciate a great knife and cutting board.  A salad spinner is terrific for washing your lettuces and greens and keeping in your fridge ready to throw together in a salad or sneak into a BLT.  You will probably find yourself dining out less since you have such good food at home already - your wallet and waistline are sure to thank you.  Eating more vegetarian entrees is also likely; fresh produce lends itself so easily to a quick pasta or stir-fry.  We encourage you to be realistic with your time and energy, but we feel confident that preparing our produce will be a joyful and rewarding experience you will consider time well-spent.

Ha! We’re Back! (that’s a little Car Talk reference)

We want to welcome you back to White Barn Farm CSA for another rousing round of “How to Use those Veggies”!!!!

 I thank all of you for so graciously letting us fall off the face of the earth for two months without one blog entry about our travels. More importantly, thank you for so patiently waiting for an email confirming that back at the farm, Grammie has been checking the mail, filing commitment forms, and depositing your checks.

 Just for a little chit-chat, our winter roadtrip was excellent. The goal of our trip was to see all the friends and family that we never get to see (even when they come visit us and we’re too busy farming to stop and play!). Without getting too long-winded too fast, we basically made a loop of the country, visiting every state in the perimeter of the contiguous US except Maine, North Dakota, Washington, and Oregon. We got to reunite with old friends, spend good leisure time with family, see how beautiful our whole country is, including places we had kind of negative preconceived notions about. We are so impressed with how nice everyone is everywhere and how much we like our country, despite it all.  Our zeal for food and drink and the lack of an exercise bike built into the passenger seat of our Subaru have rendered both Chris and me a little bit larger than when we left. I have reached a new height of “muffin top” and boy, am I ready to get working again! I am thrilled to be able to get back into a healthy routine and have a kitchen to make good food in!! We got back late Thursday night and flopped into our bed. Friday morning we checked out the farm. A few flapping tarps were out of place. The frozen, never harvested red cabbages looked like little goblins, with their dead leaves fallen to the ground around their heads like a cape. The big greenhouse is hot when it is sunny and the little greenhouse is still growing spinach, which my family assures me tastes delicious, despite its sad appearance, in my opinion. The root cellar had a few survivors – enormous Gilfeather Turnips were miraculously still hard as a rock and some potatoes are left too.  Our garlic is in decent shape, shallots held up like champions, and there’s a decent array of yellow and some red onions. Saturday morning we visited the Winter Farmers Market in Pawtucket and found some similar suspects, but it was the end of the market and I think most of the greenery flew off the stands before we arrived. We found some good yogurt and feta from Narragansett Creamery, a whole chicken, a dozen eggs, some pea tendrils and several old friends. Then it was off to Whole Foods to round out the grocery trip. Hurray for beets, celery root, sweet potatoes, parsley, scallions, cilantro, celery, and carrots! We are rejuvenated, even invigorated and our potting soil gets here Wednesday and seeding begins in the greenhouse next week!

I want to reiterate a few changes to the CSA this year. All shares will be boxed this year, so you just pick up your box at the farmstand between the hours of 3pm and 7pm on your pick-up day. We will have our farmstand open to the public during those hours, both Tuesday and Friday. We will still do our Saturday morning market at the same location, Saturdays 10-2.  We are not offering flower shares this year, but there should be cut flowers available at the stand during all of the markets. I want to do a good job of making a “display share” each week at the pick-up site so you can see what is in the share without rooting through the box – that way you can ask questions or use the take-it-or-leave-it box, which I also aspire to instituting for real this year! Please hold me to these aspirations, everyone! I think they are good ideas that will help you more fully enjoy your shares.

Next, I will email you all individually, confirming your pick-up day and the balance due for the share. We thank you so much for putting your faith in us again!

It’s good to be home and I look forward to seeing you all again!!!

Christy and Chris at White Barn Farm

(the church is right on 140 in the center of Wrentham. Just a few driveways towards Foxboro from the center traffic light at the intersection of 1A and 140.
The address is 47 East St., Wrentham, MA 02093)

We've been hauling in roots and cutting and picking and washing and packing. The van is ready to roll, stacked to the ceiling with: leeks, carrots, red radishes, parsnips, turnips, bunches of arugula, swiss chard, kale, potatoes, yellow and red onions, green and red cabbage, butternut squash, shallots, a wee bit of garlic, bunches of popcorn on the cob, crates of pumpkins, spinach, mustard mix, pea tendrils, bok choy, escarole, frisee, little lettuces, and lots of broccoli. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. and more I am sure!

We've bagged up 50 lbs of organic cranberries that we picked up from Cranberry Hill Farm in Plymouth. 

Nate, Floyd, and Roger are all on board to round out our selections: 

Cook's Valley Farm will bring their Wrentham grown apples and more produce - including literally tons of potatoes :) The Cooks grow Brussels sprouts, something we passed on this year.

One of the beekepers who has hives at our farm, Roger from Franklin Honey, will be there with local honey and bee products like healing hand salve and lip balm.

My friend Floyd who raises pork in Barre at Burnshirt Valley Farm will be bringing meat for your freezer, fresh eggs, and beef that his friend raises in Barre.

Pay by cash or check. Bring bags, boxes, or baskets if you've got 'em. 
Consider storing locally grown potatoes, onions, apples, turnips, cabbage, and winter squash to feed you all winter. A little consideration of the ideal storage conditions for each veggie will take you pretty far  - you'll be surprised!

Email us if you have questions or can't make it but want to buy bulk onions or potatoes. info@whitebarnfarm.org 
Thank you for making this such a great first season, we look forward to seeing you all there!! Tell your friends and neighbors :)