What's in the Share
Lettuce
Asian Greens
Kale
Leeks
Onions
Scallions
Daikon
Carrots
Basil
What's in Upic
Beans
Basil
Dill
Cilantro
Perennial herbs
Flowers
Prior to farming in Maine, two decades ago I worked on a farm in California. Of the many differences between west coast agriculture and east, I was most looking forward to two things, winter (i.e. vacation) and regular rain. Midcoast Maine's 36 to 40 inch annual average put the monthly rainfall at three to four inches, perfect for the one inch weekly needs of most vegetable crops. We knew we would still need irrigation (as averages are always just averages) so we put in one well, assembled a makeshift system to move water between fields using portable pipes, and ran water a few times a year in the early seasons. The past three years we have been running water about twenty weeks of our thirty week active growing season. This increase has caused us to improve the irrigation system, burying some of our above ground pipes and adding new ways of delivering water to crops that are more portable and put water on faster. Over the past 3 years we have spent about $13,500 in new equipment, and increased labor time running the system, which is a significant addition to our annual budget. We are just a little postage stamp of a farm in Maine. When I think of all the changes farms large and small across the country have had to make because of our changing climate my mind goes into astro physics mind blown mode.
Thankfully I am grounded everyday on the farm by the incredible people I have the deep honor of working with in the fields. Our crew is simply the best. Focused, committed, and with a sense humor through it all, they make this farm live and breathe. Every day that we have a crew that is willing to share their passion and vigor with us in the field is a day that we make this little postage stamp a better place.
What's in the Share
Arugula
Lettuce
Baby Boy Choi
Tatsoi
Grilling leeks
Scallions
Summer onions
Chickories
Daikon
Summer Squash
Cukes
Broccoli
Kohlrabi
Cabbage
Baby Kale
What's in Upic
Peas (waning)
Herbs (basil, dill, cilantro, sage, parsley, chives, oregano)
Flowers!
Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Newton must have worked a farm crew as a kid, getting that first law percolating in his young brain (maybe that pushed him to hit the books a bit harder to get off the farm). This time of year if we stop our forward motion we are done for. The rails that guide our inertia are the lists of things to harvest, weed, pick-up and put down. The process of making them and checking them off is almost tidal. Tasks wash up one day and are swept away the next. From the passer by it might look static but to those of us rolling in the surf the gain and loss is constant.
Our full hearted crew has been plowing through the backlog of tasks in pouring rain and blistering heat. Smiles and laughter are present from 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. If they are in any way representative of the future I feel confident the next generation will kick this country back on track.
What's in the share
Kohlrabi
Summer onions
Scallions
Red/green Cabbage
Broccoli
Cukes
Summer Squash
Kale
Arugula
Garlic scapes
Lettuce Heads/Mix
Mini Daikon
Chickories
What's in Upic
Snow/Snap Peas
Basil
Cilantro
Thyme
Marjoram
Savory
Chives
Parsley