If you’ve been to the farm recently, you’ve probably noticed it busier than ever, and through the unprecedented busyness we thank you for your help in navigating the challenges we’re all facing. It’s certainly a different feel coming to the farm these days, but I know that our store and land both are a source of nourishment to so many people right now, physically and internally. For me, it comes from the grounding feeling of life and activity on the farm, that I feel as soon as I set foot in the parking lot.
While the store has been a huge source of our focus these days, we are still carrying ahead with the cycles of sustainable agriculture that we practice and improve every year. With our old laying hens and a new flock growing out in the fields North and West of the main farm, our egg production is increasing, and the regular routines of collecting eggs and moving and feeding the animals have begun. The pigs have returned to pasture as well, and we have over 1,000 meat birds growing; signs that our season has truly begun.
Our staff has grown, and we’re lucky to have Eli, Sabrina and Kayla joining us on the farm crew (Kari will be working on Gaining Ground’s crew until she rejoins us in the fall). They bring both familiar and fresh eyes to the farm, and have been working hard to keep things running day-to-day. Along with the store and animal chores, we’ve been planting potatoes and spring vegetables, as well as flowers and summer crops. Personally, I’m looking forward to the PYO Flower Garden in particular as an uplifting source of beauty, a necessary kind of nourishment, for everyone visiting the farm. Daffodils and peonies which were transplanted last year into the garden’s new home behind the greenhouse have sprung up, joining the greening grasses all around our pastures signaling to us the life which is ready to spring forth as we move towards the summer.
It looks like the cold spell has broken, at least for now, and we’re looking forward to the string of nice days ahead. If you haven’t joined our newsletter yet, you can find the signup form here for our Friday updates on the farm store, and any other relevant farm news. Our most recent newsletter can be found here.
As a non-profit, we serve a mission of preserving local agriculture, following sustainable practices, and educating the community about land and food. That plays out day-to-day in the dance of bodies and minds working in the fields, and the thrum of customers, friends and supporters that make up the community of the farm, tied together deeply by their interactions with this place. For us, that’s a beautiful thing to be a part of, and we’re glad that you are here with us.
With any questions, feedback, or concerns, you can reach us here.
Animals Growing, New Staff and The Farmstead Greens Up
The road of the past month has been long and difficult for all of us. The weather has matched that challenge, filling April with cold and wet days that chill the bone and make it hard to face leaving the house. Amid that, the bustle of the farm has been a core of gratitude for me, an inspiring and warming energy even on those damp days.
