We’re in the Fields!

Our 2023 summer season is officially underway! We got into the fields today, the first time this season, and it felt good to be working in the soil out of the greenhouse. I love growing in the greenhouses, especially in the winter and early spring when the rest of the farm is hibernating, but there's nothing quite like getting out under the sun and putting some seeds in a wide open field. There is a lot to look forward to this time of year.

Most of the day was spent on the tractors, though. Aside from some potatoes that were ready to be planted, the priority was getting all the fields prepped and ready to go for later in the week. We're aiming for Thursday and Friday to be our big planting push. We're going to use a water wheel transplanter for the first time this year, and we'll spend tomorrow getting it all rigged up and ready to go for planting. Anytime we add new equpiment on the farm, I try to take a day to get familiar with it instead of diving in head first. Hopefully then when we go to plant we don't have to spend extra time troubleshooting unforeseen errors.

The water wheel transplanter is one of the farms answers to the dry springs and summers we have had over the past few years. We still don't have irrigation in the fields. There are rough plans to do so, but it is going to be a big project and will take some time. I fiured the next best thing would be a water wheel transplanter. It rides along the back of the tractor, dibbles a hole in the soil, and deposits some water for the plant to get established with. In the past we could only plant when there was rain in the forecast (hasn't worked out so well the past couple of years). The water wheel will allow us to stay on schedule with our plantings and give the starts a little boost when they get transplanted. I'm looking forward to seeing the results!

Getting into the fields adds another layer to the farm, but a lot of the work still resides in the greenhouses. We keep seeding well into June and plants for the stand require weekly maintenance. Spring harvest is almost entirely out of the greenhouses and we are starting to prep beds for their summer crops. It's a tricky time of year balancing everything happening on the farm, but its a steady progression and carries with it a lot of excitement. There is lots to look forward to!

Read on for recipes, harvest list, plant stand and farm store info, and more!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FALL CSA!

Flowers Going into the Plant Stand this Weekend!

Happy Mothers Day!

We're going to do a big stock of the plant stand on Friday in advance of the weekend. The extended forecast is looking favorable, and barring any changes, we should have most of our flowering plants out, as well as hanging baskets.

Some tomatoes will be put out as well, although our full selection of summer veggies will go out in advance of Memorial day weekend.

Currently available in the stand:

Hanging Baskets

Veggies
Beets
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Napa Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Green Curly Kale
Red Curly Kale
Flat Kale
Red Leaf Lettuce
Romaine Lettuce
Leeks
Red Onions
Tomatoes
White Onions
Yellow Onions

Flowers
Begonia
Cosmos
Dahlia
Geranium
Pansy
Petunia
Snapdragon
Yarrow

Herbs:
Lavender
Thyme
Sage
Mint
Parsley
Oregano

Spring Shares Week 9

We're into the final quarter of shares! It will look like a similar share as last week, except that radishes will be back in baskets. Cilantro is also in shares so I'm going to include one of my favorite spring recipes, radish salsa!

Spring Week 9
Bok Choy
Cilantro
Microgreens
Radishes
Spring Mix
Spinach

Egg Share: Weekly Eggs Only

The Farm Store is OPEN!

Open to the Public.

Dawn - Dusk

Honor System

In the store this week:

Spinach
Bok Choy
Microgreens
Spring Mix
Kale
Radishes
Cilantro
Kielbasa
Maple Breakfast Sausage
Hot Dogs
Pesto
Ice Cream
& Eggs!

RECIPE LINK:Radish Salsa

One of my favorite recipes of the spring! I like to include red onion or carrots, as well!

Ingredients

▪2 C radishes, finely chopped*

▪3/4 C jalapeños, seeded and small-diced

▪6 green onions, finely chopped

▪2 garlic cloves, minced

▪2 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

▪2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed

▪1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1.Prepare the salsa ingredients and place them in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until evenly combined.

2.Store in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Pickup Location for Archway Farm Meat CSA

I heard back from a few of you interested in an Archway Farm meat CSA share, so Mark has added the farm as an additional pickup location. Now if you want to sign up, you can pick up your meat share from the same place you get your veggies! It makes choosing what to make for dinner a breeze!

Visit www.Archway.farm to explore options and order a share delivered to the farm!

Support the Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association!

Each year our farm provides CSA shares to the Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association for their food delivery program. The FDNA has been providing food for members of our community for decades, and Tracie's Farm, and now Dog Days Farm, has been providing CSA shares as a part of their programming for over 10 years. Last year we packed 8 baskets per week for their food delivery program. The FDNA is run by a group of volunteers that are passionate about not letting members of the Fitzwilliam Community go hungry. We are lucky to have them as our neighbors.

I am putting out a call for members or friends of the farm that would like to pitch in to help purchase CSA shares for the FDNA this season. I match shares purchased for the FDNA, so if we are able to get four shares paid for, we will be able to offer another 8 baskets per week for our community members in need. Shares can be purchased directly from the farm and receipts for your donation from the FDNA are provided upon request. Donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to help purchase a CSA share for the FDNA, please send me an email at jack@dogdaysnh.com. Additionally, if you are in need of food assistance and would like to be on the delivery list through the summer, please send me an email and I will put you in touch with a member of the FDNA.

Workshare with Us!

We are looking for workshares to come help out on the farm one day a week for the summer season in exchange for a CSA share. Workshares are one of my favorite parts of the farm. We often get returning workshares year after year, and they almost always become longtime friends of the farm. It's a great way for me to get to know our CSA members and for members to get to know their farm.

Physical labor is a given for workshares, but we are often able to find tasks that suit the abilities of those that are able to help out. We have seen workshares of all ages on the farm over the years. It is a full day commitment, and we ask that members pick one day out of the week and come in that day for the duration of the season. Workshares are allowed to miss up to three days during the summer to accommodate vacations. In exchange, you receive a full summer share plus bread and eggs, as well as lunch on the farm on the days you work and access to deals on bulk veggies.

If you are interested in worksharing, please email me at jack@dogdaysnh.com