Planting Season Underway!
The fields are prepped, the beds are made, and we're off! Planting season is in full swing over here, which means that the farm is getting pretty hectic. Every week we've got something new to go into the ground--this week it is cabbage, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, escarole, and raddichio. Seeding is underway, as well, and I was able to get some beds of carrots, spinach, turnups, radishes, dill, and cilantro seeded before the rain moved in on Sunday morning. The farm is feeling alive!
We're trying out a new tomato method on the farm this year (pictured above) because I got tired of waiting for tomatoes to come in from the field. With our new greenhouse, we now have extra heated space in the smaller heated tunnel. We planted 80 tomatoes in grow bags in the back of the tunnel for an early first round. I've never had a heated space we could plant in before, so this is the earliest we've ever planted tomatoes in my 9 years on the farm.
We also started digging out tulips last week and are picking most days trying to keep up with them as they reach their prime. I'll be honest, tulip season is not what I was expecting. Flowers on the farm are usually something we do at the end of the day when we can use a slow task to wind down. Not tulips. They have to be harvested once they are fully dry, but also before the sun gets too hot, which means as soon as the dew is off, it's a race to get them in the barn. I was also expecting more of a show, but because we want to harvest them for longest shelf life, we're picking them before they are fully open so that they can open in your home! Next year we're going to be planting a display garden for all of our CSA members to enjoy when they pickup their shares as well as for picking into bouquets.
Lots of great stuff for the spring CSA this week, the farm store, the plant stand, and the Keene market. We'll have lots of tulip bouquets for Mother's Day this year, I hope you'll consider us when looking for flowers for mom!
Farm to Table Dinner Saturday, June 29th
Buy Tickets Here!
We are hosting two more farm to table dinners on the farm this season, one for the spring palate and one for fall. Chef Arianne of Rindge will be cooking again. The menu prominently features produce from our farm, as well as local protein from neighboring farms. There is something special about eating a meal prepared and served in the very same spot it was grown, and we had a great time last fall doing it.
Spring Farm to Table
Saturday, June 29th 4:00pm - 9:00pm
$125 per ticket
Four courses accompanied by live music and preceded with a tour of the farm as we gear up for the summer harvest season.
Menu
Starters
Rhubarb chutney tartletts with Parmesan espoma
Beet Basil and olive bread with herb dipping oil
Radish butter toast topped with black garlic molasses
Golden beet carpaccio and sesame crunch
First Course
Roasted carrot ginger soup with pepitas and microgreens
Second Course
Sweet pea gnocchi with tarragon pea cream
Third Course
Spring vegetables with mint and housemate halloumi
Grilled chicken or mushrooms with spring onion chimichurri
Final Course
Strawberry tiramisu or Strawberry rhubarb almond tart (gf, vegan)
Menu Subject to Change
The Plant Stand is Open!
We've got a great selection of cool season annuals and bedding plants in the stand at the moment.
In the stand now:
Flowers
Pansies
Petunias
Snapdragons
Veggies
Broccoli
Lettuce
Brussel Sprouts
Chard
Kale
Bok Choy
Celery
Onions
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Beets
Herbs
Thyme
Lavender
Oregano
Parsley
Tulips in the Farm Store for Mother's Day!
Veggies Stocked Fresh Every Friday!
We started picking tulips this week and will have an abundance for Mother's Day weekend!
In the store this week:
Radishes
Chard
Cilantro
Head Lettuce
Kale
Lettuce Mix
Microgreens
Spicy Salad Mix
Spinach
Tot Soi
Tulips
Eggs
Ice Cream
Find Us at the Market!
The Keene market has started up for the season! The other two will start up in June!
You can find our produce at:
Cheshire Medical Center in the Cafeteria
Thursdays 10am - 2pm
June through November
Jaffrey Farmers Market
Fridays 3pm - 6pm
June through October
Keene Farmers Market
Saturdays 9am - 1pm
April through October
2024 CSA SHARES
Close to Sold Out! Sign Up Today!
Join us for another great growing season in 2024! Our summer CSA will run from June to September, and fall shares will finish out the year from October to November.
We're getting close to capacity for our summer CSA shares. If you want to sign up, I recommend doing so ASAP!
Pickup on the farm is market style on Wednesdays from 3:30pm-7:00pm. Delivered baskets are pre packed and delivered on Wednesdays by 7:00pm.
Spring Shares Week 10
We have got some absolutely gorgeous greens ready for shares this week. I'm excited for y'all! This is the first week that CSA members will receive the new lettuce mix we are growing this year. It's a variety called salanova which produces heads of small, individual leaves. Lots of body, crunch, and texture. I think it's a major upgrade over the lettuce mix we've grown in the past, although we still grow that early in the spring because it matures faster. Other greens you're getting this week are the spicy salad mix--first cut from a new bed and delicious--as well as chard from the newly planted bed. Radishes need another week to size up for CSA, but they are looking great for next week. Spinach is on its last legs. We'll pass it out for the last time this week, but I'd suggest using it for cooking since it has lost its sweetness with the warm weather.
Spring Week 10
▪Chard
▪Cilantro
▪Head Lettuce
▪Lettuce Mix
▪Microgreens
▪Spicy Salad Mix
▪Spinach
Workshare With Us!
Want to help out on the farm and get a free basket of veggies each week? The workshare progarm is th perfect spot for you!
Our workshares trade a day a week on the farm in exchange for a CSA basket with eggs and bread included! We also do half days if folks would prefer a half CSA share. Although it is a lot of weeding workshares get to experience all the differenet aspects of the farm from planting, to harvest, to trellising, and more! We love having new folks on the farm and meeting our neighbors. Many of our workshares have even been coming back for years at this point!
If you're interested, send me an email at jack@dogdaysnh.com and I will get you more details!
Help Make our Produce More Accessible!
Dog Days Farm tries its best to serve all members of our community, and our members often do the same! Many of you have already contributed to the Share Care Fund, which we use to offset the cost of CSA shares that we donate, provide at a lower cost through the Monadnock Farmshare Program, and draw from when members are unable to finish paying for their share due to emergency.
The Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association (our local food pantry) buys CSA shares from us each year and the farm matches the amount of shares they purchase. We also work with the Jaffrey and Rindge Food Pantries to provide fresh produce during their pickup days.
I am extending the match offer to any member that would like to purchase a share for any of these organizations, the FDNA, Jaffrey Food Pantry, or Rindge Food Pantry. A half CSA share would be matched to make a full CSA share donated to one of the pantries, and a full CSA share would become two shares to the pantries.
If you would like to donate a CSA share to any of these local organizations, please send me an email jack@dogdaysnh.com and let me know the size share you would like to donate and to which pantry. We have long standing relationships with each one of them, and every summer we get to hear how happy their patrons are to see farm fresh produce as part of their weekly pickup!
