First Seed of the Year!
Summer Shares Filling Up Fast!
It's national CSA week and we still have a few shares left for members before they are all gone! Right now we are about 70% sold on the summer season. I expect to be sold out by the beginning to middle of April, so if you want a share for the 2023 season, now is the time to do it!
I'm getting excited for summer shares this year. The farm is switching to a market style pickup this year, which means members that come to the farm for their share will get to build their own basket with the produce we have available. I think our members are going to love the new model!
Fall CSA shares are available, as well. We still have plenty of space left in the fall CSA, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!
Seeding for the New Year has Begun!
It's finally starting to feel like winter, but on the farm spring has begun! I spent the beginning of the week getting our heated greenhouse up and running to start the first seeds of the year. In all, 62 trays of onions, kale, beets, fennel, bok choy, lettuce, and microgreens were seeded. Onions were the big one, taking up 30 trays and over 10,000 seeds sown!
Onions and Garlic are two of my favorite things to grow on the farm I try to keep them both as a regular inclusion in our weekly shares as soon as they are ready for harvest. Our garlic was seeded last November and the cloves are sitting comfortably in the ground under a hearty layer of mulch, just waiting for enough warmth to start poking the first bits of green out of the ground. Onions are usually the first of our crops to be planted outdoors in the new year. The beds were prepped last fall, and in about 10-12 weeks we will be out there laying biodegradable mulch, amending the soil, and planting the starts!
The greenhouses are the place to be at the moment. All they need is a little bit of sunshine and they heat right up to the point that you forget its winter outside of them, especially because you are surrounded by lush green crops growing up for spring shares!
Speaking of, spring CSA shares are right around the corner. We'll get started up on March 15th and I will be in contact with members as we gear up for the beginning of share season. I can't wait to start sharing the harvest with you!
16th Annual Seed Celebration & Sustainable Community Fair!
Join us for The Sustainability Projects annual event! Dog Days Farm will be setup with a booth and an afternoon session on Microgreens!
Each year, farmers, gardeners, and activists working for sustainable communities have come to know this event as a great opportunity for networking and a day of enjoyment. The celebration focuses on stewardship and other skills necessary for living well in a changing world. The schedule includes presentations that explore local food, environmental and sustainable community initiatives. Participants will have the opportunity to plan their gardens and stock up on seeds. There will be lunchtime music and a café featuring soups, stews and baked goods from local restaurants and kitchens. Children’s activities will be offered throughout the day.
This year's event sponsors include: Aloha, Dog Days Farm, Green Energy Options, the Monadnock Food Co-op, Savings Bank of Walpole, and WS Badger
For more information, visit https://emersonbrookforest.org/seed-celebration/
Monadnock Farm Share Program Now Accepting Applications!
The Monadnock Farm Share program makes farm shares more accessible to limited-income community members who otherwise would not be able to participate in a local community supported agriculture (CSA) program.
CSA programs are an opportunity for community members to enjoy farm fresh produce, while supporting local agriculture!
Through the program, community members pay 50% of the total farm share cost. View
program eligibility here!
This year's applications are due by March 30, 2023, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis (first come, first served).
Community members choose from a listing of participating farms throughout the region!
Access this year's program information, eligibility, application, and participating farm list below!
Program Information and Eligibility
What is a CSA?
Farmers face many costs in the operation of their farms. Community Supported Agriculture programs, or CSA's are designed to alleviate the financial burdens of farmers before the season begins. CSA customers provide an upfront cost to reserve a share of the season's harvest.
The cost of the CSA can be viewed as a deposit for the season! This upfront cost allows farmers to purchase needed seeds, materials, or equipment for the upcoming season, while customers are able to reap this investment by taking home delicious produce once
the farm season begins!
Many farms offer half share or full share CSA options. These options vary from farm to farm, but half shares are smaller to feed smaller households, while full shares are designed to feed larger household or households that eat a lot of vegetables.
Some farm's offer on-farm pick up days, while others offer delivery! Some farm's pre-package their CSA shares for a quick pick up, while others allow customers to pick your own (PYO!). Pick up days provide a unique experience to see where your food is grown, and interact with other community members! While delivery offers a convenient way to
bring produce to your household!
Through purchasing a CSA, you are supporting local agriculture, while also eating delicious, nutritious, and locally grown produce!
For additional information, questions, or for assistance in completing your application, contact
Benée Hershon: info@cheshireconservation.org or
603-756-2988 x3011
