Soaking Up the Sun
Who else has been waiting around for the last of the snow to melt away? I sure am! Joe and I were just talking today about how its our least favorite part of the year. At this point it's just a nuisance. We don't get much sun, or really any at all, behind the barn, so there is about a 6 foot high, 50' long snow bank where it all slid off the roof that probably won't thaw out for another couple of weeks. I was following a hose today and the end is somewhere under that snow bank. I guess I won't be coiling that one up for a little while, whoops! There are also tables and other storage back there that isn't going to be accessible until we get some more warm days like today.
Today was gorgeous all through the work day! It feels good to soak up the sun and not be working with icicle fingers. A produce safety expert from UNH is coming to do a walk through of our wash/pack station this week, so Joe and I spent the morning prepping it for inspection. I have been using a temporary washing station in the propagation greenhouse while it's still cold out. Even when the sun is shining, the water coming out of the hose is cold as can be when your hands are submerged for hours at a time. It's nice to do it in a warm greenhouse out of the wind this time of year. Alas, our greenhouse is filling up with plant starts, so it is time to move it outside again. I cross my fingers for warm Wednesdays anytime we have to wash outside, it looks promising this week!
The heated greenhouse is showing some serious signs of life! I started transplanting flowers and herbs for the plant stand this week, and the trays that used to take up one 10'x6' table are now taking up six tables! We're getting into the crunch time where it's not quite ready to start moving the hardiest plants outdoors, but we are running out of space in the small greenhouse. The first to go out are onions, lettuce, and brassicas. Onions are the hardiest and could feasibly be outside by now, but I prefer to wait until nights are more consistently in the upper 20's to 30's. I was just watching a video of plants I put out early last year getting pummeled by a small hail storm last spring. That was a real bummer. All the beautiful starts we had lined up for the plant stand were suddenly all pock marked from the hail. I'm hoping to avoid a similar fate this year. It looks like night time temps will rise as soon as April arrives, crossing my fingers that that is the case!
Summer CSA shares are still available. There are just a few shares left up for grabs. I'm leaving shares open for the last stragglers to sign on, but at this point shares could close any day.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CSA!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FALL CSA!
Spring Shares Week 3
We're saying farewell for now to carrots and scallions, and non-greens, in shares for the next couple of weeks. I loved having the overwintered carrots in shares to mix it up a little bit from a greens heavy CSA season, but we should have some radishes and turnips come in in the next few weeks, and hopefully towards the end of shares we'll get another round of carrots! For now though, it's all greens, baby.
Brassica Mix is our own blend of a number of different brassica greens. Arugula, tot soi, mizuna, and mustards! It's a spicy mix, super flavorful, and one of my favorites. Chard is cycling back into shares this week. Kale is in its last week, for now. We're going to be lopping the tops off the plants to pass out to members, then we'll pull up the plants and replant the bed into head lettuce! Microgreens are a weekly share item, same with Spinach.
Spring Week 3
Brassica Mix
Chard
Kale
Microgreens
Spinach
Egg Share: Weekly + Every Other Week Eggs
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.
The Farm Store is OPEN!
Our store is officially open for the season! Stop in for some fresh greens or delicious ice cream!
We'll keep adding new products in to the store as spring carries on. This week available in the store is:
Spinach
Microgreens
Carrots
Kale
Spicy Salad Mix
Ice Cream
& Eggs!
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
