Newsletter March 1, 2025

Vees of geese are flying north, robins are chattering away each morning and chickadee whistles are calling the spring thaw.  I have enjoyed the first signs of spring as signals of hope for a weary world.

I spent last night doing the newsletter and it somehow erased in the sending process.  Maybe that is good, as I was in a dour mood.  

This is a delivery week.  Please have orders in by Monday at 9:00 am.  We are out of many of our vegetables and so we will not have a produce box this month.  Instead, we have The Heritage Kitchen Goodies Box.  Use coupon code: PADDY for free delivery of the box, which will include brownies, bread, pie and a charcuterie cheese and meat.  Mixed meat boxes and the Goodies Box will be delivered on the 19th of March.

I have submitted my paperwork and our annual check to NOFA-NY (Northeast Organic Farming Association in New York) for our organic certification.  NOFA-NY has put out a statement relating to having their USDA funding cancelled by the Trump Administration.  They have been an organic certifier for 3 decades, on behalf of the USDA National Organic Program.  Most USDA contracts have been cancelled, meaning that it is very likely that we will loose the certification aspects of the organic program for small farms.  We don't know what to expect exactly and many think that the USDA will reinstate the funding.  I am not hopeful.

Lambing season is here.  We have had two sets of twins.  Two are on bottle feeding as their young dam had a rough birthing.  The other two are a riot in action.  We have one more first time female to birth.  We hope that this is a good start!

Many projects kick off in the next week.

Onions, beets, celery and some herbs get planted this week.  We are building a germination/young seedling chamber inside the high tunnel that will get supplemental heat to protect the seedlings.  We hope this change will make us more efficient and move our production to one place.

Much of our work on the farm relates to using equipment and tractors.  The use of this equipment helps us fit time sensitive work into small windows of time.  It is very important to maintain and fix our equipment in the off season so that we are ready to go when the soil moisture and temperature gets to where we need it.  Often we need to get this work done in a day, or miss the opportunity.  Good crops and animal care takes discipline, equipment and ready hands.

This is the time of year we earn our keep.  Working on equipment, fixing fence, building projects and organization of activities.  Composting manure, pruning trees, planting in the greenhouse, prepping beds, building walkways and a hundred other things all need to get done in a timely manner.  The return of the sun means the return of work. 

Our online application for work is posted.  If you or someone you know is interested in helping us out from May till November, please fill it out.  Positions are full time and part time farm help and Saturday market help is also needed.  We have a great crew, we work hard and have a lot of fun.  There is always good food and laughter all around us. Just go the main menu of our website for details.

We are making a plan to get together for letting the cows out to pasture.  It is one of our favorite things and last year's event was well received.  We will publish the details in the next while, but make your plans to join us on the first Saturday of May.