EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
With only two full time, year round staff, plus volunteers and part time folks, we have a small staff here at CCF but we manage to get quite a lot done each day and each season. But their comes a time when Jared (our assistant farm manager) or myself are due a break from the non-stop pace of farming. And it never really fails, and I dare say NEVER fails, that each and every time one of us is away, the unexpected happens. You know, something happens where you actually do a double take, hardly able to believe your eyes. We come to expect it in a way, I suppose....and this week Jared was on vacation. So, true to form, we had a few unexpected events. Nothing terrible, and we always get through it, but there were a few memorable moments for sure. I'll tell you about one.
Did you know our critters are located on fields throughout Lincoln and Concord? Each morning to carry out our chores we have to drive to the various fields where they are all located; the meat chickens are at Mt. Misery field, cows at Farm Meadow, Codman South and Page Road, pigs are at Minuteman National Park and on Codman North field, turkeys at Van Leer field, laying hens at Farm Meadow- you get the idea. They are spread out, miles apart. Each of our fields are unique and are better suited for one species or another. Since we raise ALL of our animals on pasture, we need to decide each season where they will all go taking into account factors like the field size, how we get in and out of each field, are there neighbors that wouldn't want to hear a dog barking all night, are the soils wet or dry, how far away is the field etc... But one thing is common to just about all of our fields.... none of them have any permanent infrastructure at all, so that means each season we set up temporary electric solar powered fencing, we create mobile watering systems, if the animals rely on grain then we also have feeders or portable grain silos, then we also have some sort of natural or man made shade structure to keep the animals comfortable in summer. We have a lot of "stuff" to manage in addition to the animals. And the more "stuff" you have, the more you have to keep track of it all and the more likely something will go wrong. And finally, there is the fact that animals are innocent opportunists...and if a farmer makes a mistake, the critters will no doubt take advantage of the situation...
On Thursday of this week I headed out on the tractor from the farm, with the water trailer in tow, hauling 1000 gallons of water to Farm Meadow field. As I drove down the narrow dirt path, next to the railroad tracks, under the canopy of trees, bumping along as we do on that pot holed road, I slowly emerged from the road next to the open 20 acre field. I had just moved the cows a couple days before into this lush one acre section in the corner of the field, and expected to see them - right there in front of me in that front paddock as I pulled up to the field. I looked for the cows, expecting to see them lazing in the shade. I looked again. I looked and scanned a third time. No cows! What the...Not one cow was in that part of the field. My brain almost exploded. Seriously. I thought "how could ALL the cows have disappeared? 11 cows, 10 calves and a bull. Gone!?" Then I looked up and scanned the entire field...I saw the chickens, I saw Andy the dog, and then, finally...I saw all of the cows. They were clear across the field standing next to the chickens, calmly chewing their cud. My mind was racing...how did this happen? Did they walk through the electric fencing, are they totally on the loose? Then I scanned the field again and realized it was my fault! When I had moved them into their new paddock the other day, I forgot to do what's called "back fencing". When we rotationally graze animals on pasture like we do, we shift animals from paddock to paddock to move them into a new area, to fresh pasture, and away from the area they just grazed. This prevents over grazing and allows the grass to regrow. But when I moved them forward a few days earlier, I forgot to put the electric fence back up and at some point they got bored and walked through this opening and all the way around the entire field until they ended up next to the chickens. It was a relief, in a way, because at least I knew how they got there and what the problem was. It's the times when you don't understand the root of the problem that are the most worrisome. But this time, once I realized what happened I quickly devised a plan to get them back to where I wanted them. I first had to move the shade haven, then water wagon, then a new line of fencing, then herd them back. It all worked according to my hastily made plan and once again proved my theory to expect the unexpected....
 
cows on the loose, hanging out next to the chickens....then herding them back...photos and story by Pete Lowy
BULK BEEF BONES AND CHICKEN BACK SALE!
Due to our robust inventory of bones we have added a new freezer to the barn stocked with bulk packs of beef bones and chicken backs. They are bar coded and priced and ready to go at your convenience!
Beef Bones - SALE PRICE: $1.99 lb -for 20 lbs or more!
Chicken Backs - SALE PRICE: $1.99- for 10 lbs or more!
KITCHEN RENOVATION UPDATE
With lots of planning behind us we are just about ready to begin renovating the kitchen and office! It's been a long road but we have finally finished jumping through all the hoops. We hope to have the contract signed this week with construction starting in the next week or two! So keep an eye out for work trucks, dumpsters and workers. The Farm Store will remain OPEN of course. We expect the renovation to take two months or so, we will provide updates and photos along the way.
TURKEY TIME. part cinq!!
Reminder to once again ORDER YOUR TURKEY for Thanksgiving NOW!
FRESH PRODUCE- THIS WEEK
Each week availability of produce and fruit shifts a bit. Some of these items are grown by us using organic growing methods (We are not certified organic), most of the other veggies we buy in from local farms ARE certified organic and most fruit is NOT certified organic, but IPM (which means low spray or low use of chemicals, when possible).
Available this week
Sept 11-18th
FRUIT
Peaches and Apples (honeycrisp, mac, zestar)
from Clearview Farm and & Kanner Family orchard
VEGETABLES
Codman farm cherry and slicing tomatoes,
beets, chard, kale and Green Beans
LOCAL organic loose carrots, fresh onions, garlic
lettuce mix, eggplant, cucumbers, winter squash, shiitake mushrooms
and sweet corn.
MOST ALL THE PRODUCE WE BUY FROM LOCAL FARMS IS CERTIFIED ORGANIC
THIS WEEK WE PURCHASED ORGANIC PRODUCE FROM:
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Beverly
Lindentree Farm, Lincoln
Red Fire Farm, Granby
Fat Moon Farm, Westford
Picadilly Farm, Winchester NH
MORE BEEF AND PORK SOON!
As we head towards fall many of our animals are approaching harvest time. We have many appointments lined up with our processors and over the coming weeks our freezers will once again be brimming full of our tasty pasture-raised, Lincoln grown proteins! Thanks for hanging in there with us as our inventory has fluctuated over the spring and summer. We have worked hard all season long to grow some beautiful animals and hope you have room in your freezers to stock up for winter!
U-Pick FLOWERS...get them while you can!
We still have tons of flowers our there....pick by the stem and pay for on the digital terminal in the farm store!
FARM STORE DELIVERY and SCHEDULE
As we get into more of a routine we wanted to share what to expect each week as far as product arrivals and days to expect certain items...here goes!
MONDAY
High Lawn Farm (early morning)
Fresh milk, butter, cheese, ice cream deliveries
Myers Distributor (early afternoon)
Our local distributor from Massachusetts grown farms -
Local and Certified Organic fresh veggies, fruit, cider, donuts, flowers, and other items
TUESDAY
Bread Obsession (by 11 am)
Fresh bread baked in Waltham; baguettes, whole wheat slicing loaf, durum levain, sourdough, multigrain
WEDNESDAY
Bread Obsession (by 11 am)
Fresh bread baked in Waltham; baguettes, whole wheat slicing loaf, durum levain, sourdough, multigrain
Cape Ann Fresh Catch
Fresh local fish usually including haddock, scallops, salmon, swordfish, grey sole, and catch of the day
12:30-2:30ish
THURSDAY
High Lawn Farm (early morning)
Fresh milk, butter, cheese, ice cream deliveries
Myers Distributor (early afternoon)
Our local distributor from Massachusetts grown farms -
Local and Certified Organic fresh veggies, fruit, cider, donuts, flowers, and other items
FRIDAY
Bread Obsession (by 11 am)
Fresh bread baked in Waltham; baguettes, whole wheat slicing loaf, durum levain, sourdough, multigrain
Mi Tierra Tortillas (by 11 am)
Fresh, local, organic corn tortillas
Sweet Tahini
Fresh, gluten free breads, and Israeli inspired sweets made with no processed sugars
Local Veggies
We will be harvesting our own veggies and buying seasonally available produce from local farms, as available
SATURDAY
Bread Obsession (by 11 am)
Fresh bread baked in Waltham; baguettes, whole wheat slicing loaf, durum levain, sourdough, multigrain
C&C Fresh Lobster and Fish
Fresh fish and lobster
10am- 12pm
MISC INFO...
1. We remain OPEN 24/7, so if you want to avoid contact with others, visit in the wee hours of the night!
2. MANDATORY MASKS: Please wear MASKS in all public places so be sure to have one on when you visit the store. They are a pain for sure but JUST DO IT! ;-)
3. THANKS: Farm store sales remain brisk and we appreciate your support!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please contact pete@codmanfarm.org.
WEEKLY PICS by Pete
CCF Barn at night
Curious turkeys
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Check out our bi-weekly blog for updates about what's happening on the farm! We cover the flow of the seasons, the movements of our animals, the different projects coming up and more.
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Want to spend a day on the farm? Itching to get some dirt beneath your nails? Looking for a group service project? Volunteers are welcome at Codman. Click below to read more about volunteering.
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Our community depends on our dedicated members to keep farming alive and well in Lincoln. Your support allows us to use the most sutainable practices and produce the highest quality proteins.
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