Planting Season Marches On
Grateful for some rain this morning! I was going to spend the morning on the tractor, like I've done most mornings and evenings for the past few weeks, but I'll take the forced break. My anxiety is high over field prep and planting this time of year because of weather we've had the past few years. We need rain and I look for it in the forecast, but you also never know when it will start raining and then just not stop. It best to have everything ready if/when it does happen. Last year we had planting schedules pushed back weeks through the end of June into July because of non stop rain. It's been that way probably 6 of the 9 years I've been on the farm. You can't control the weather, but you can control your preparedness. By now I've come to expect the unexpected and learned to seize fortunate moments so I'm ready for the unfortunate.
Even though field prep is still underway, it looks like this weather will pass and we'll get a few more dry days through the weekend to keep working. The plants in the fields are gonna love some moisture and I was out cultivating our early crops prior to the rain yesterday. Everything is looking great for the start of our Summer CSA season which is less than a month away!
For now we're finishing up our Spring CSA which just has a couple more weeks. Tulips are still coming out of the field. The forecast for the rest of the month is looking favorable to start putting tomatoes and warm season plants out in the stand. And our farm to table dinner will be at the end of June! Read on for more info.
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.
We've got temps in the 40's and 50's through the full moon in May, which bodes well for avoiding a late frost. I've always been told that the full moon in May brings low temps, so going off that we're ready to start offering up our warm season annuals in the stand. Tomatoes, Dahlias, Verbena, Peppers, Cukes, and so much more! The greenhouse is open for shopping out of, as well. Stop on by!
In the stand now:
Flowers
Begonias
Dahlias
Geranium
Pansies
Petunias
Snapdragons
Sunflowers
Zinnias
and more!
Veggies
Peppers
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Squash
Zucchini
Melons
Watermelons
Broccoli
Lettuce
Brussel Sprouts
Chard
Kale
Celery
Onions
Cabbage
Beets
and more!
Herbs
Basil
Thyme
Lavender
Oregano
Parsley
Check out the Farm Store!
Veggies Stocked Fresh Every Friday!
Still lots of beautiful tulip bouquets plus lots of other delicious veg!
In the store this week:
Radishes
Chard
Head Lettuce
Kale
Lettuce Mix
Microgreens
Spicy Salad Mix
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 11
Spring Shares Week 11
It's the penultimate week of spring CSA shares! It's crazy that we're already almost done with spring shares. March feels like yesterday!
Spring Week 11
▪Baby Kale
▪Chard
▪Chives
▪Head Lettuce
▪Kale
▪Lettuce Mix
▪Microgreens
▪Radishes
▪Spicy Salad Mix
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!
