New Earth Farm

Ever Wanted To Start A Community Garden?

2009-08-14T13:51:00.003-04:00

Some tips in this article from online news magazine slate.com:
http://www.slate.com/id/2224268/pagenum/all/#p2

Video: A Farmer and A Farmers' Market

2009-08-11T17:56:00.003-04:00

9 min. video about NY's Union Square Greenmarket and one of the farmers who supplies it. (At seriouseats.com, via kottke.org)

Late Blight, The Food Chain & Home Gardens

2009-08-08T23:24:00.002-04:00

An excellently wide-ranging article on the factors that might be involved in this year's severe and wide-spread late blight.

In other news: DEET is a neurotoxin in insects and mammals, study claims.

2009-08-07T12:27:00.003-04:00

More at science daily.

Food Inc. ...

2009-08-01T10:38:00.001-04:00

... plays at the Naro through Thursday, August 6th.

"No evidence of a health benefit from consuming organic"

2009-07-31T21:37:00.002-04:00

A new study from the UK Food Standards Agency finds.

Week 10 (July 25, 2009)

2009-07-25T12:52:00.003-04:00

In this week's share ... basil, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, potatoes, peppers, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, 1 of green beans or kohlrabi or okra

Where are the young farmers?

2009-07-14T13:24:00.002-04:00

A frequent topic of conversation at pick-up. Reported on in
USAToday.

Related: video of Joel Salatin on the topic (and others).

Pilot article on local community gardens

2009-07-12T22:43:00.001-04:00

Here.

Week 5 (June 20, 2009)

2009-06-20T12:11:00.005-04:00

In the share this week .... cabbage, cucumber, kale, lettuce (buttercrunch or romaine), Korean peppers, tatsoi, zucchini, beets or turnips.

Week 4 (June 13, 2009)

2009-06-13T13:21:00.008-04:00

In the share this week ... Arugula, Beets, Broccoli or Chard, Lettuce, Tatsoi, Turnips

Included in this week's newsletter is a recipe for beet chutney. Looks delicious! Please email Kathleen at truehome0802 at yahoo dot com how you like the recipe if you decide to try it. Or you can always post feedback and recipe ideas below in the comment section of this blog.

	Insect Duty: The chickens are now being allowed roam the whole farm during the day, looking for bugs to eat.
	Celery lookin' good. I'm happily anticipating celery harvest. John's celery is much more flavorful than the grocery store stuff.
	Blueberries beginning to ripen.
	Portulaca. Note the red stems. A relative of purslane. When I was chatting with Kathleen during CSA pick up time this morning, she mentioned that she had planted some at the front of the farmhouse this week.
	No need for shovels right now. Harvesting is the order of business on Saturdays.
	Empty boxes at the end of pick up time are always a good sign. See you next week!

Greens, Greens and more Greens!

2009-06-04T12:04:00.002-04:00

Hi, fresh and local organic food lovers,

Here it is, the beginning of June, and though I'd love a big , red, juicy tomato and a cucumber, our fields are dancing with greens: Collards, Kales, Lettuces and Swiss Chard, to be precise.

As I assemble another newsletter for the CSA, I am learning that Greens of all kinds supply so many wonderful vitamins and nutrients- there's no need to worry about the veggies of the hot summer- they will arrive in due time. It is the time to love the greens, clean them,chop them, steam and saute them, put them in a stir fry with some onions and tofu, mix them into a fritatta, slice them thin and pile them on a pizza, swish them in minestrone soup. Yes, delight in the greens while we have them- and this farm's green production is such a treat- after a long winter and a rainy spring!

Week 2 (May 30, 2009)

2009-05-30T11:19:00.008-04:00

In the share this week ... bok choy, collards, kale, lettuce and radishes.

Kathleen and Amber	Chickens under the truck

Contribute to the Blog

2009-05-29T11:53:00.001-04:00

I sent out invitations to this season's members to become authors of the blog. If you didn't get one, or have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at cathalwoods at gmail dot com .

Remember that you can comment without signing up as an author.

Week 1 (May 23, 2009)

2009-05-23T10:28:00.006-04:00

The 2009 season - New Earth's fourth - began on May 23rd. Members put together their own shares in the recently renovated gazebo pick your own and pack them into coolers and bags they had brought. (Produce for the Norfolk group was packed into a few large boxes.) The share included arugula, collards, garlic scapes, kale, lettuces, mizuna, radishes and spinach. I highly recommend the recipe for garlic scape pesto.

The beautiful month of May

2009-05-20T17:04:00.002-04:00

Hello, CSA friends,

As I look out my window over the farm, the greens are brilliant- nearly as lovely as Ireland's landscape- well, not quite like that! The kale, collards, lettuces, and all are ready to be part of your life and a fourth season of CSA is beginning on Saturday.

New folks: welcome to the adventure! Regulars: We'll be ready to see you. Remember, please call if you want to volunteer on Saturdays- the temptation of the farm breakfast brings lots of people over early- so if you want to help with harvesting and washing veggies, Call ahead and get on our list.

We expect the greens to take center stage at this time of the year- you'll just have to wait for zucchini and tomatoes! Call ahead as well if you want eggs.

Our chickens are growing. And one of our laying hens, Eileen is featured in a commercial for Gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe. See it at http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/. John does a great job as the straight man/handsome farmer!

Gardening Classes Begin Now!

2009-05-01T08:51:00.004-04:00

Now that the chicks are out of the barn, and our 2009 staff- Wayne Jones, Farmer John, Melissa Guingona and Nick Broerman can take down their hoodies- it's time to get into the soil with our bare hands- or rather your bare hands! Make a note to tell others about these opportunities on the farm.

Build your own Earth Box! May 9

John and our friend Dave Reilly are offering a Build Your Own earth box workshop on Saturday, May 9 from 10 am-12 p.m. Bring a cordless power drill and a 1/4" drill bit if you have one. The cost is $50.00, and includes all your supplies. You'll bring home an independently designed growing box. Limited to 20 people. Please call the farm to register at 427-6515 or email to farmerjohnnewearth@yahoo.com. RSVP by May 7.

Intro to Organic Gardening May 16 or May 20

For novice gardeners and/or folks who think they are green-thumb challenged!

Farmer John takes you through the basics of organic gardening, with tips on developing good soil, planting, choosing plants, the value and application of compost and how to deal with insects. This class is held in the field and greenhouse. Wear a hat and covered-toe shoes and bring a water bottle along. Saturday May 16 from 10-12noon or Wednesday May 20 10am to 12 noon. This class is $30.00. Once again: please call 427-6515 to register at least two days before a class or send an email to farmerjohnnewearth@yahoo.com.

Deep, Dark, Gorgeous Compost!

2009-04-08T11:04:00.006-04:00

The people who KNOW about compost say that you should always have a bar of chocolate with you to see how good the compost is. In this case, I am holding a 67% organic cocoa bar next to a gorgeous pile of finished compost from Pennsylvania, delivered in a tractor trailer truck to the farm on March 23. John is selling this compost in larger dimensions for landscapers and gardeners- to folks like our new friend Heather Driscoll, one of the only landscapers in the area who had taken courses in organic landscaping and understands the Real from the Faux-green. Heather owns a company called Familycare Lawn and Landscape. She called us one day to find soil amendments because she decided that she was going to work with Organic Only products. Heather is the real deal. You can call her at 673-6981. Heather says she's working on a website which should be up soon : www.familycarelawn.com

Here are a few shots of the compost delivery. The driver left PA at 1 in the morning and arrived just after John fed the chickens. If you have the desire to get a bigger garden going this year, give us a call and we can give you the details on prices/yard of this stuff- plus John can show you all the data- this is certified, high quality stuff.

It's Happening on the White House lawn!

2009-03-20T12:19:00.002-04:00

After a week of rain here on the farm, and watching John wade through the ditches to get to the chickens and collect the eggs, we decided not to have our Potato Planting party this weekend. It's just too muddy- and would be a sad, rough way to introduce folks to the joy of planting.
But in Washington D.C., Michelle Obama and friends will be planting the first food garden on the White House lawn since Eleanor Roosevelt had a Victory garden in the forties. It will be pretty big- 1,100 square feet, with 55 varieties of plants coming from organic seedlings started in greenhouses on the property.
I am over the moon with joy about this. Not only, is our First Lady making a choice for her own family- with a couple of pizza eating girls whose pediatrician urged her to adjust their nutrition-but she's getting help from the fifth graders at a public school in the district- and the Prez himself! What a great example she is setting for the rest of us.
So, once the ground dries a little, we'll get out there and plant the potatoes. And it will be great fun, and we'll be so happy a couple of months later on when we dig up our " precious" tubers.
For more info on the White House organic garden see: www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/dining/19garden-web.html

Signs of Spring in Frigid March

2009-03-03T15:46:00.005-05:00

A flock of fifty chicks of various colors and kinds arrived on Sunday, March 1. It was a cold rainy day, preceding the mighty storm that brought snow and bitter temps to the farm and surrounding areas of Tidewater. John and I had to hurry up and create a nursery for the less than one week old chicks who were shipped via US Post Office special delivery from Iowa's McMurray Hatchery. The chicks were in a small cardboard box, all fifty of them squished together , with only nickel sized airholes for breathing during their journey to Virginia. The two at the left are going to be lovely hens, and there are several with furry feet often associated with hobbits! These chicks are FOR SALE! John will be happy to build you a little mobile henhouse and we have plenty of organic feed for them too! Call us at 427-6515 if you are interested. We're keeping them warm and fed till the spring sunshine makes the earth ready.

We have collected deposits from many of last year's CSA members, and are filling up the spots that remain from the ones who will not be joining us this season. Some of the 08 group are growing their own food this season, and many say they'll be purchasing produce from the Five Points Community Market that moved last year to 26th and Church streets in downtown Norfolk.

It should be a great year- the fourth for our CSA- and we'll be working with some new systems. For one thing, there will be no boxes this year- You can either bring your cooler or a cloth grocery bag to bring your produce home, and we'll use a choice system rather than pre-pack your share. We have enjoyed the calls and emails from our new members as they get ready for the season.

Keep March 21st on the calendar. From 9am to noon, we'll host the first annual PotatoPlanting/St. Patty's Day Breakfast party. Check back for more details! Here's another pic of the chicks gathering under the lamp for heat!

Declining Nutritional Values of Produce?

2009-02-17T20:12:00.001-05:00

An interesting piece from the US Food Policy blog.

A Rainy November Day

2008-11-30T10:39:00.002-05:00

The chickens look more like ducks today, wandering in and out of their "Coop de Villa", while Adam, the young rooster, reminds them that , yes, he is in charge. He's a gentle leader, firm and kind, so far. There are puddles all over the chicken's area. Everything is dripping this morning, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

We finally had to ask our webmaster, Cathal, to make the announcement that we can't take any more names for the CSA waiting list for 09. There are so many people who want fresh, local organic food and our farm is only so big. We are harvesting greens these days, and the young chickens should be laying any minute now, so we may have eggs for market soon.
But it's been frustrating to get emails and calls from folks who are so excited they've found a local farm when we can't meet all their needs. Even Mattawoman Creek Farms on the Eastern Shore has a huge wait list for next year. And we are still holding the idea of selling this farm so we can buy another.
It's more on pause as the winter sets in.
The word is out that fresh and local is the best you can eat, and I only hope that in time, we can provide that to our community. So, in one way, I am thankful for this year, for the third season of CSA and our fabulous committed members, and I am also hopeful that we can do more.
Mostly, I am thankful to John, whose vision opened the whole thing- and to all the farm laborers and CSA helpers who made this year feel easier than we had imagined at first.
And as I cracked enough pecans from one little tree on the farm for a butternut squash cake for Thanksgiving- I was also thankful for the things that come of age on their own, abundantly invested with their own purpose in life. Let's hope more things work like that.

Late Fall on the farm and Edible Chesaopeake magazine

2008-10-29T09:11:00.005-04:00

It's nearly Halloween on the farm. Nick, Melissa, Chris and John are digging up sweet potatoes today and the temps are in the low fifties. The chickens have grown and it turns out we have one young rooster- we're calling him "Adam" ( first man?) and his crow is still developing. He sounds like a rooster with a speech impediment at the moment, more a " ur-uh-urrrr" instead of the true " cock-a doodle-doo".

John is still distributing produce at The Heritage, Virginia Garden and the Norfolk Farm Market. The lettuce is amazing and the greens are gorgeous, collards and kale are ready to pick and eat.

This fall, I still mean to put together a CSA survey to distribute to our members online. Members- look for it in the next week or so.

I've been spending more of my time writing than ever before, now from my upstairs office, where I have a beautiful view of the farm. It's a dream come true!

Speaking of dreams coming true, I have will have two articles in the winter edition of Edible Chesapeake magazine, produced up in the DC area. One is a short piece about Croc's Bistro-a little place with a big green heart- and another is a first person essay about being a farmer's wife. This is great news for me as a writer because Edible Chesapeake has a large distribution from Northern Virginia all the way to Tidewater! It's a beautiful magazine, with lush photography, great writing and delectible recipes, a great addition to the side tables and kitchens of our CSA members. We have a box of the fall edition here at the house if any CSA members want one. They are also available at Virginia Garden and The Boot and some other area locations.

Check it out at http://www.ediblechesapeake.com/

Here's a photo I sent to the magazine. I'm usually the one who takes the pictures at the farm, but I stooped to shameless self-promotion just this once! The apron belonged to Margie Zentz, my daughter Skye's grandma.She was a great cook and a loving woman.

Week 20 (September 27, 2008)

2008-09-28T13:47:00.002-04:00

After the rain, red was the color of the day ...

In this week's share: basil, bok choy (2), eggplant (4-6), garlic (3-4), leeks (2, 1 lb), okra (pint), parsley (bunch), peppers (1.5 lb), potatoes (2.5 lb).

Don't forget that many of the recipes from the last three years can be found at the New Earth web site.

Week 19 (September 20, 2008)

2008-09-20T16:57:00.001-04:00

In this week's share: basil, edamame, eggplant, garlic, okra, parsley, peppers, choice of green beans or tomatoes (shown), choice of bok choy (shown) or tatsoi

Missy trims a fine strand of edamame

The ephemeral okra blossom

A List Of ...

2008-09-04T18:04:00.001-04:00

...One Hundred (Vegetarian) Things To Eat Before You Die

Week 16 (August 28, 2008)

2008-08-28T16:49:00.001-04:00

In this week's share: basil, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, long beans, lettuce, peppers (green and jalapeno), tomatoes

Week 14 (August 16, 2008)

2008-08-16T10:39:00.004-04:00

In this week's share: basil, cucumbers, eggplant (japanese and globe), garlic, leeks, peppers (jalapeño and green), tomatoes (juliet and slicing), one of: green beans, edamame, okra, pattypan squash

Zucchini

2008-08-04T11:33:00.001-04:00

"here are plenty of ideas for cooking them now or saving them for later" - from the Ethicurean

Week 12 (August 02, 2008)

2008-08-02T17:00:00.002-04:00

In this week's share: basil, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, onions, pepper, parsley, tomatoes, yellow squash, with a choice of chard, green beans, okra or more tomatoes.

As you can see, this week's share had a lot of cucumbers, so the recipe of the week is Cucumber and Black-Eyed Pea Salad from eatingwell.com. It requires 4 cups of cucumber.

A massive writer spider adjacent to the out-building.

Week 11 (July 26, 2008)

2008-07-26T15:55:00.002-04:00

In this week's share ... basil, cucumbers, garlic, eggplant, leeks, lettuces, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, choice of beets or chard.

Carry it home in Your own Cooler

2008-07-23T13:33:00.003-04:00

Hi, to all the regular CSA Bloggers and to the world of blog visitors!

Last Saturday morning we had a minor crisis-there were 10 boxes for 26 CSA members. It called on our sense of making do and using larger boxes for the moment, but it also pointed to a flaw in the box situation.
The farm purchases the heavy, waxy boxes each year, knowing that they can be used over and over again many times. Yet, the ideal situation would include members packing their produce into coolers or other containers so that the boxes don't have to travel back and forth to the farm.
Core member Daniel O'Leary belonged to a CSA which used heavy canvas bags- which could work in short trips during cool weather, like a trip from your local store to your house. But if the produce is to arrive at your home with a bounce in it's step, so to speak, it's better if it's cool.
Some CSAs use paper bags. Some require a " box deposit". We're working on this as we go.
In three years of doing a CSA, last Saturday was the first time we were short on boxes. Maybe everyone will return their boxes this weekend and we will be just fine.
We don't have a cooled room to keep the produce fresh, and occaisonally, we can turn on the cooler in the barn for a member who's picking up a little later ( if we know ahead of time!)
Maybe some other members have ideas? We'd love to hear them!

Recipe of the Week - Week 9

2008-07-21T14:10:00.001-04:00

Here's how the gratin came out for us ... It looks good, anyway.

Week 10 (July 19, 2008)

2008-07-19T11:05:00.003-04:00

In this week's share: basil, cucumbers, garlic, leeks, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, zucchini and yellow squash ...

... and a choice of beets, eggplant or tomatoes.

Volunteers packing boxes.

Phoebe, with gloves on for dirty work.

Will these boxes ever come back?

Week 9 (July 12, 2008)

2008-07-12T10:34:00.000-04:00

In this week's share: cucumber, garlic, leeks, onions, potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, choice of chard or kale

On The Cutting Edge

2008-07-10T10:27:00.003-04:00

:)
Cutting Out the Middlemen, Shoppers Buy Slices of Farms

Recent nutrition article

2008-07-06T22:07:00.014-04:00

-
ny times: the 11 best foods your aren't eating...orrrrr maybe you already are
-

Women and Local farms

2008-06-29T11:55:00.005-04:00

This is a shout out and thanks to all those women who have been sharing time, energy and support of our CSA over the past three seasons. Members who help prepare our share boxes, members who weed, members who make muffins and breads and Beet Soup- we are so grateful.

One of our newest farmers is Melissa Guingona,( in the photo on the left) age 19, who carries herself so beautifully in the field- and made breakfast for the crew on the Saturday John and I were away at a family wedding. Melissa is organized, hardworking and kind, and a great asset on our farm- a testament to the younger generation who will be farming and producing food on the planet.

Gina from Virginia Beach Friends School looks relaxed on a tractor. She may be another one of the women who makes sure that healthy food continues to grow.

I'm getting ready to host an event- along with the board members of the Friends of Women's Studies- at The Boot in Norfolk celebrating Women and Local Food- growers, store owners, community organizers, writers, chefs- so many females who realize the strong sense of connection with the earth, our bodies, our commuties, our families and loved ones. And thanks to the men who inspire us, partner with us and share their gifts side by side. Acting locally is really the best thing we can do!

Week 7 (June 28, 2008)

2008-06-28T17:13:00.006-04:00

In this week's share: basil, carrots, garlic, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, pick 2 from beets, bok choy, chard, tatsoi.

Field Notes:

Sunflowers	Dill
Squash	Zinnias (Envy)
	Romaine

Week 6 (June 21, 2008)

2008-06-21T10:57:00.005-04:00

In this week's share: basil, carrots, lettuces, onions, radishes, tatsoi, and a choice of bok choy or broccoli.
	Freshly pulled, freshly washed carrots.

The CSA and the Next Generation

2008-06-19T14:05:00.007-04:00


Tristan wants to drive this tractor NOW!	Melissa, Farmer John and Nick

As John and I prepare to take a short trip for a family wedding in St. Louis, we are leaving the CSA in the hands of a great young crew. And I have no doubts that they will do just fine.

This week we have had a wonderful opportunity to see the dynamic abilities of the new farm staff here. We are luck to have with us a young couple, Nick ( age21) and Melissa( age19) who have great attitudes and work habits( you may have seen them at the Leaping Lizard or the Bayville farms vegetable market), plus a recent transplant, Chris Towne, who has not one but two great -great-great-women in the past who were tried as witches in New England. Chris brings a great energy and this week, he brought his lovely dog, 8 year old Boston bull terrier "BO".

We also hired a young farmer-in-training, 10 year old Daniel Greenspan, who is featured in our newsletter. Daniel is learning how it feels to get dirty and have fun at work.He arrives early in the morning when it is cool, and this week, it has been absolutely lovely.
Teacher Sandy picks flowers while Daniel and farmer John work .

The Friends School Bird Camp came for a short field trip this week as well. And our 6 brave hens- the survivors of numerous fox attacks this winter and spring- are delighted with the new hay in their nesting boxes. We love to share the farm with small groups of children.

Perhaps, one of them may work with us in a few years!

Week 5 (June 14, 2008)

2008-06-14T10:42:00.001-04:00

In this week's share: arugula, beets, garlic scapes, onions, radishes, tatsoi, zucchini

Kale!

2008-06-07T16:00:00.002-04:00

If anyone has any ideas for what to do with kale, they would be greatly appreciated. Post them in the comments! Has anyone ever tried roasting kale?

Week 4 (June 7, 2008)

2008-06-07T15:56:00.003-04:00

In this week's share: arugula, beets, dill, kale, lettuce, turnips.

Be An Author On The Blog

2008-06-05T01:14:00.001-04:00

If you want to be an author on this blog (that is, be able start a new topic) write to me at cathalwoods at gmail dot com and I'll add you. (Becoming an author also requires registering with google - something well worth doing: their e-mail has excellent spam filtering, and you should also check out google groups (discussion fora), google reader (newspapers and blogs), picasa (photo sharing)). If you don't want to be an author, remember that you can still leave a comment on an existing post whenever you want without registering. You can comment anonymously, or, click 'Other' and type your name.

Week 3 (May 31, 2008)

2008-05-31T12:51:00.002-04:00

This week's share includes: arugula, dill, kale, lettuce, spinach, turnips, garlic scapes or radishes or lamb's quarter, strawberries

John and Nick had some helpers this weekend ...Ella and Nathan

Spinach

2008-05-27T23:24:00.002-04:00

All of our spinach (the second half of week 1, and all of week 2's) went into this spanikopita, along with week 2's turnip greens.

Week 2 (May 24, 2008)

2008-05-24T23:20:00.000-04:00

In this week's share: Arugula, Kale, Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, Turnips, Strawberries

1 lb of spinach.

2008-05-20T15:25:00.001-04:00

So what are you doing with your pound of spinach? We put half of ours into a torta (potato base and sides, eggs and feta filling). If you have any good spinach ideas, please add them in the comments!

Gas Prices and Food Shopping

2008-05-18T15:30:00.001-04:00

Kathleen asks this question ...

Is the price of gas affecting your food buying decisions?

A recent Newsweek article looks at the effect of gas prices on Americans' food shopping habits. Many of the people in the article lament that in order to save money, they have been choosing to buy produce from local farmers who farm with chemicals. There is a school of thought that "organics is the private school of the food industry", with higher prices making it hard for ordinary folks to stay true to organics. What do you think?

Week 1 (May 17, 2008)

2008-05-17T22:09:00.004-04:00

We're off and running! In this week's share you'll find kale, tatsoi, spinach, lettuce, a few radishes and a choice of either garlic scapes or baby red onions.

The brave, the few. (Only 6 hens remain after the flock was attacked by foxes.)

The UN and King Corn

2008-04-21T12:50:00.003-04:00

Last week a UN-sponsored four year study on the global food crisis concluded. The resulting report calls for a departure from "business as usual" agriculture. Less reliance on GM-foods and a return to sustainable, diverse, small-scale agriculture. Could this be the beginning of something? Biotech companies pulled out of the list of contributors to the study becuase they felt their views were being ignored....brings a smile to my face.

Also last week, the documentary King Corn debuted on the PBS series "Independent Lens". It follows two recent college grads who become concerned when they learn that their generation may be the first to have a shorter life span than that of their parents. Feeling that food is the cause, they set about to grow an acre of corn to try to follow it from field to plate. They grow their corn the same way as the majority of the corn in the U.S is grown: with Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant seed that produces corn that must be processed in order to be edible. The farmer they are renting land from refers to it as the worst quality junk ever grown. Check listings online, it should be re-aired several times.

Growing Your Own Garden ...

2008-04-20T19:26:00.002-04:00

... to change your mind. Michael Pollan at the NYTimes.

Foods Unknown in the Middle Ages

2008-03-20T16:36:00.000-04:00

At How To Cook Medieval.

"Miles to the Merc"

2007-11-28T00:52:00.001-05:00

Food miles information on display at a Lawrence, KS market. Via the Ethicurean.

Eating Local at Thanksgiving

2007-11-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

Here's an article of links from WorldChanging on eating local at Thanksgiving.

Fall Produce For Sale - November 3rd

2007-11-02T10:24:00.000-04:00

This Saturday (November 3rd) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the farm will be open (to all comers) for fall produce - probable produce includes sweet potatoes, kale, lettuce, arugula, bok choy, mustard greens, collards, and cilantro. Directions to the farm can be found on the web site.

Organic = Healthier?

2007-10-30T13:57:00.000-04:00

New reasearch from Europe, supporting the claim. At the BBC.

More Nitrogen ... Smaller Yield?

2007-10-29T20:19:00.000-04:00

At least in the long term. Interesting news, via EurakAlert.

Fall Produce For Sale - October 27th

2007-10-21T15:07:00.000-04:00

This Saturday (October 27th) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the farm will be open (to all comers) for fall produce - probable produce includes sweet potatoes, kale, lettuce, arugula, bok choy, mustard greens, collards, and cilantro. Directions to the farm can be found on the web site.

Beets Will Keep

2007-10-17T13:20:00.000-04:00

It's sometimes a challenge to use all your veg before it goes bad, but beets will keep. This beet soup is made from beets we got in July shares.

New Research on the Goodness of Garlic

2007-10-16T13:56:00.000-04:00

In an entry from yesterday's Well blog.

Grist series on Food & Farming

2007-10-15T18:57:00.000-04:00

Grist is currently running a series - Sow What? - on food and farming. Here's an interview with Michael Pollan on his follow-up book to The Omnivore's Dilemma. From here, you can find the other entries in the series.

What's In Store for the CSA ?

2007-10-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

Here we are at the end of the CSA season- yet the farm is still vibrant and green. Twenty-one weeks of growing, harvesting and packing boxes has ended. As the cooler fall evenings settle over the beds, our lettuces and kales are doing so well. You can find them at the Heritage Store and Virginia Garden at the VB Farmer's market. The battle with heat has subsided - yet we are still ready for a good rain!

Over the fall and winter, we'll be firming up our list of sharers for next year, receiving deposits and hopefully, forming our Core Group. These folks, members of the CSA, will help us set policies and guidelines for next year. They'll look over the end-of-season surveys that so many of you kindly completed.

For those of you who discover this web blog and are not members, we have a long waiting list and are not opening to new members at this time. We'll have to see how many of our 2007 members are returning and how many folks from the waiting list we can invite to join the farm.

In the meantime, think about growing some of your own fall or spring vegetables. Call us at 427-6515 and leave a message if you need some plants or soil amendments to get your garden started.

End of the 2007 CSA Season

2007-10-06T21:33:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, John was stretching to get those last fabulous okra on plants that withstood the heat and drought this summer. ( I know it appears that he's trying to chop off the top of the birdhouse- trick photography!)

It was a warm October morning. Kristen, Andrea, Jonathan, Craig and John gathered the produce with CSA member Ted Call to fill the boxes one last time this season. It felt good to see everyone and hand out the newsletters one more time, and wonderful to see how much green is showing in the field as the fall crops take their places of honor on the farm.

Yet, it will be quiet the next several months as we get used to a different kind of Saturday on the farm. John will , of course, be distributing produce to the Heritage Store and Virginia Garden as usual- and Gringo's is going to use more of our produce this fall.

Yes, there will be homes for the vegetables, but we won't have our wonderful breakfast gatherings and get the latest news about Paul and Lori Barnhill's newly married daughter, or how Debbie's new job is going, or how well Ted has learned to Tango! We hope folks will keep in touch. And we wish everyone with fall gardens great success!

For those who wanted to join the CSA and were told we were full this year- there will only be a few openings in 2008 and we'll go straight to our waiting lists for those. But for the 2007 folks, thank you so much for another chance to share the harvest!

Autumn's green beginnings

2007-09-22T16:32:00.001-04:00

Tanya Banks holds a bottle of Green Light Fire ant treatment.
Unfortunately, her little boy, River, stepped in a fire ant mound and got several stings. We treated him with ice water , Sting-Stop and monster tatoo bandaids. It's a shame we have to deal with these imported visitors to the farm.

Here we are nearly at the end of the CSA season with a good crop of Kale. It should be hardy through the chillier days and nights to come.

These little bok choy plants give the impression of new beginnings- which sounds redundant. But on the farm, autumn heralds the Return of the Greens. Last week, volunteers planted many kinds of greens and this week, with cool weather, watering and a little raing- they're thriving.

There's an excitement on the wind as the farm continues to thrive.

Week 17 (Sept 15, 2007)

2007-09-15T13:00:00.000-04:00

Field Notes:

Burgeoning Celeriac Root

James, Kristen and John working on transplants.

This Week's Share: Arugula, Basil, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Peppers, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Squash

This week's squash comes to us from Farmer Patrick. These are delicata squash.

The Value of Volunteers

2007-09-08T16:14:00.000-04:00

Another beautiful Saturday morning at New Earth Farm. The temperature is about 75 degrees, and our farmers are being assisted by Kristin and Andrea, farm volunteers, and Tom Baker and Ted Call, CSA volunteers. I'm in the kitchen slicing cantalope and peaches, checking the coffee and turning off the rice/millet combo. Our Norfolk group driver, Glinda and her daughter, Kylee have called in from London Bridge Road- arriving early to help. Before 8:30, the farm is moving with helping hands.

We've been doing some thinking about the relationship of volunteering to the CSA. It seems that most CSAs require volunteer hours, and some CSAs allow a lower fee for those who do more volunteer hours. Some people think that a CSA is about " getting a box", while others come to walk in the fields and ask what's coming up, what got eaten by not-so-good bugs and so on. For these two years, I've felt the lingering appreciation for the folks who come of their own good will to help turn "produce" into vegetables that will turn into meals. They say " it takes a village " to raise a child, but it also takes lots of willing workers to make the CSA be much more than a food buying club.
Folks who want Organic Food any way they can get it- can get it- online, in big stores like
Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. But the people who want to be connected to a farm do their best to find a CSA near them. Sometimes they have to get on a waiting list. Sometimes a member invites a friend to share the share. It works.

Membership in a CSA isn't like getting married- but it is about staying with it through the season, even when you're tired of okra or eggplant. You hang in there because you belong to a farm.

Today, Farmer John was feeling really tight in his muscles-as a hard working farmer, carpenter, he counts on his body for all his labor. We talked about all the wonderful healers who are members of our CSA, and I suggested that we ask Stephanie or Chris Wall about a massage. Stephanie said she'd be glad to help. When John asked about her fee , Stephanie said, " John, you're my farmer." Of course John intended to pay for his massage, but it was her response that moved me. How many people can say " You're my farmer"?

I want to thank all CSA volunteers anywhere. If not for CSAs many farmers would have given up the thing they love most- growing food. If not for volunteers, there might not be so many CSAs.

Muchas Gracias, Volunteers!

Week 16 (Sep 8, 2007)

2007-09-08T12:55:00.000-04:00

In this week's share:

basil
eggplant
green beans
okra
onions
potatoes
swiss chard
lamb's quarters
this share also has garlic

The Buzz at New Earth Farm

2007-08-20T11:50:00.000-04:00

A week ago Farmer John took a few of us over to look at the beehives. He told us fascinating things regarding bee behavior (bee-havior?). Apparently, if the hive gets too crowded the worker bees (females) will grab up a few drones (males), take them to the entrance of the hive, pull off their wings and kick them to the curb--(metaphorically speaking - I don't believe bees have the ability to kick, although I vaguely remember an old saying involving 'bees knees'). In addition, when mating time comes around the queen flies out of the hive and heads straight up towards the sun. The drones follow her racing to be one of the few to successfully mate with her. The irony being that those who do mate then fall tragically to the ground...dead (sorry fellas). The bees can even sense when the queen is sick and will begin to raise another queen to take her place.

This amazing behavior inspires one to research more about the world of the apiary and also brings to mind Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). I am sure most of the people reading this post have heard about this, but for those who haven't, CCD is the recent discovery that bees are leaving the hive and not returning. They are not turning up dead in hives or near them, they are just disappearing all together. There are many theories about the cause (increased cell phone signals, GMO's and others) and anyone wanting to learn more can research it on the web.

The issue, though, deserves to be more widely noted in mainstream media. If bees go, not only will we lose a fascinating part of nature, but the key to our food pollination as well. There is a quote attributed to Einstein: "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." The validity of this statement could be debated, but is a world without pollinators really a world be want to live in?

Week 14 (Aug 18, 2007)

2007-08-18T11:40:00.000-04:00

In this week's share ...

Eggplant
Green Beans
Lambs Quarters
Lettuce
Okra
Peppers
Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes

"Organic", "Cage-Free" and Other Labels

2007-08-15T16:14:00.000-04:00

Today's Grist includes a brief article on certifcations other than "organic". Indeed, if you're like me, you'll look at this picture and wonder if these "cage-free" hens are much better off than their caged counterparts.

What a Community!

2007-08-12T13:39:00.001-04:00

Hello all CSA Blogreaders!

The CSA pickup on Saturday the 11th of August was one of my favorites this season. Part of the reason may be that I was away on retreat at a Cistercian Monastery for four days, and returning to the farm confirmed for me the good work that is being done here- how farming serves so many people, physically and spiritually. When we formed the CSA, we couldn't imagine the feeling of warmth and community that was being created. Each week, John, Jonathan and Craig are out in the fields by 6 a.m., harvesting. Volunteers arrive a little later and help pack the boxes- this week we had Kristen, Tanya and Olga( from Columbia). Then as soon as Cathal shows up, he's got his hands busy helping, taking photos, assisting with sharers' arrivals. The more the merrier, they say, and in the case of a Saturday morning at the farm, the axiom couldn't be more true!
We have such wonderful families who are members of the farm as well, and the kids are kind, curious and lovely. And let's not forget to mention the canine members of the farm- Dee's dog, Sasha( a miniature dachsund) and Scott's dog Fletcher( the Portuguese water dog). It seemed that this Saturday was filled with energy and joy. I was also surprised by the arrival of another teacher, Ruth, who works with me at All Saints Day School, with our member Kate. We had a grand tour of the farm, snacking on purslane, lamb's quarters and sungold tomatoes along the way
I hope to read more of your thoughts here. The blog is for us all. See ya next time!

Week 13 (Aug 11, 2007)

2007-08-11T13:14:00.000-04:00

In this week's colorful share:

Cucumbers - Market More, Suyo Long, Boothby's Blonde
Eggplant - Globe, Japanese
Green Beans
Okra
Parsley - Italian
Squash - Yellow
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes - Sungold, Juliet, and slicing tomatoes including a few hierlooms.

Field Notes:

Craig Daly - Media Sensation

2007-08-10T00:31:00.000-04:00

Click here for an article in this week's Portfolio mentioning our very own Craig Daly and his summer job on a certain "organic farm in Virginia Beach". It's worth picking up the print version, however, as it includes a ~~centerfold shot~~ charming photo of Craig. Expect to have to wade through throngs of admirers to get to your box on Saturday ...

Organic Tomatoes

2007-08-08T13:52:00.000-04:00

In my experience, the difference in quality between CSA and store-bought produce is nowhere more evident than in tomatoes. But does the improvement in taste and texture translate into nutrition? A new study finds that organic tomatoes are more nutritious.

Organic Trumps Local?

2007-08-06T19:00:00.000-04:00

Here's an article from today's NYTimes on "food miles". I thought the conclusion was going to be "eat local AND organic/grass-fed", but the author has a different suggestion - hub-and-spoke food production. In other words, (if I understand rightly) main-stream agriculture like we have now, with all our spuds coming from Idaho, all our lamb coming from NZ, etc., but organic/grass-fed and (possibly on a somewhat smaller scale to mitigate the cruelty and environmental costs)?

UPDATE: Here are some more, one (from the Times) about food production vs. transportation and two more on the varying costs of how food travels, here and here.

Frittata with Swiss Chard

2007-08-05T17:03:00.000-04:00

The recipe for this Frittata with Swiss Chard comes from Madhur Jaffrey's cookbook entitled World Vegetarian. It calls for 3/4 lb swiss chard, which was a great use for all the chard we received in our box this week. Both leaves and stems went into this dish. The white splotches you see are feta cheese that I added (not part of the recipe). What is your favorite frittata recipe?

High Summer- Great Produce

2007-08-04T14:08:00.002-04:00

Okay now. The daily temps are rising and the produce continues to roll in! John soaks several shirts a day and everyone who works has to hydrate regularly.
This is the time of year when having a volunteer or two or three makes it possible to get farm chores done. Thanks today for Kristen, Ted, and Rich who helped weed the sweet potatoes - completely! John, Craig and Jonathan carried on till 2 p.m., and John continues to make compost with the heaps of ingredients that have gathered beside the barn.

Thanks to all of the CSA members who are bringing positive comments and ideas for using the produce! We had some lovely visits with members this morning, including Daphna Sonenthal, who shared that the CSA membership has enabled her and her children to have deeper experiences of cooking and planning meals! Lori Barnhill offered great words about our eggs, veggies and recipes. We both loved the Thai Basil Cucumber dish.
Hope y'all are enjoying everything that the Farm team is providing!

Week 12 (August 4)

2007-08-04T11:23:00.000-04:00

Two photos from Saturday's pick-up ...

Field Notes: On the farm this week, some peppers were planted, and earth is being readied for fall seeding next week. Other vegetables, such as parsley and peppers below, are coming on.

Week 11 (July 28)

2007-07-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

Some photos from Leah.

This week's share ... carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, okra, potatoes, squash (yellow and zucchini), swiss chard, tomato		Craig is holding his 'garlic staff'.
Cleaning garlic ...		Craig is holding his 'garlic staff'.

Farm Bill

2007-07-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

Kathleen just wrote to folks about the Farm Bill. Here's a link to Michael Pollan's recent article which investigates why junk food is so cheap.

The Countess Kathleen

2007-07-21T19:21:00.000-04:00

Here's a great photo that Jacob took ...

Just add water

2007-07-21T18:32:00.000-04:00

Field Notes: Remember this plot that John planted back at the end of May? Now (July 21st) it looks like this ...

Nearly Halfway through the season

2007-07-17T21:19:00.000-04:00

I don't know how many of you have checked in at this blog, but we have gone nearly halfway through the CSA season and the boxes are still overflowing. John and Craig have done an incredible job of seeding and planting produce, and our volunteers on Saturday have made filling the boxes a less time consuming job than we thought.
From my vantage point, we are seeing one significant difference in the CSA this year- more of the members stay and visit, and there are always extra folks here on Saturdays to see what other produce we have for sale. It makes Saturday a productive, busy day.

We know there are lots of folks who are just finding out about the CSA at this time of the year- when produce is bouncing off the vine. All over the world, it seems, people are discovering the health benefits of local and sustainable agriculture. If you know people who are interested in this CSA, you'll have to tell them that we are full for the moment and they'll have to wait till the fall to get on a waiting list for next year. We want to serve the folks who want to do this, but there is a rhythm to the seasons. Many CSAs require that their members pay before the season begins, rather than during the busiest time, and there are always exceptions. It just makes sense for everyone to begin together, like camp or school.

I also want to thank Cathal Woods for his dedication in keeping this site updated and in order.
It took the will of the universe to get the website together- but it took Cathal to move us through the door.
I hope some more folks will get inspired to write...

Basil

2007-07-02T13:36:00.001-04:00

We got basil in the share for the first time this year, so I thought I would post this advice on storing basil from the vegetables page of the web site:

Very short term: put a handful of cut basil in a jar of water and keep it fresh inside the house; snip with a pair of clean scissors.

Long term: To freeze: strip the leaves (tops can be left on the smallest stems) and place into a container with just a little force from your hand.

(This advice comes from Todd Ewen at the Heritage Store on 314 Laskin Road, down at the beach.)

if you have any other advice about storing or using basil, please add your comments.

Week 7 - June 30, 2007

2007-07-02T13:16:00.001-04:00

This week's veg - basil, beets, bok choy, cucumber, red kale, toscana kale, lamb's quarters parsley, squash (yellow and zucchini), swiss chard. (Sunflower sold separately!)
Tom Ferrebee with Craig Daly.	Leah Ferrebee

Monday's Dinner

2007-06-28T20:54:00.001-04:00

Here is the dinner that we made Monday from our most recent haul from the farm. On the left is a salad with the lettuce, beets, carrots, and sauteed radishes. We added some goat cheese and a sort of dijon vinaigrette. The other dish is sauteed kale, endive, and garlic, as well as some white beans, cous cous, and a few other veggies that we threw in. I thought the beets and the endive were the standouts of their respective dishes. Everything tasted great!

First Summer CSA weekend June 23- Week 6

2007-06-27T14:48:00.001-04:00


Surprise! Farmer Mark Shean still had beets for the CSA Boxes ! Fabulous Bounty!	Skye Zentz and Tanya Cuffee smile and visit with CSA members and young Jordan Daniel, 5 months old this week.

John and Boone Ferrebee choose some lovely lavender for a special spot in Boone's beach garden.	For the first Summer Weekend, Tanya Banks made several arrangements of our summer flowers, including marigolds and Zinnias and strawflowers.

How it looked on 16 June...

2007-06-16T16:39:00.000-04:00

Les and Jager visit the farm with God-Mom, Chris Birdsong. They picked up 9 boxes for our Norfolk members. It's a great way to share the transport and fuel!

Another Saturday on the farm

2007-06-16T16:08:00.000-04:00

Hi, y'all,

How about a period of weather in mid-June with low temps in the 60's and highs in the 70's?
It makes for a beautiful morning picking produce, welcoming CSA members and in general,creates the feeling that all is right with the world.
We are still delighted when members bring children and dogs to the farm. Sam, Lee Ellen Knight's son, and his friend Max came today and went right to the young chickens for their visitation and human-orientation class. Ella Earp brought Farmer John a golden dot to put on his head. Scott Van Gilder's Portuguese Water Dog, Fletcher, brought smiles and joy, and Dee Murdoch's dachsund, Sasha, was on alert for larger mammals and walked on the leash, longing for a run. Barbara Gardner's granddaughter , Deja, was introduced to the glory of squash bloosoms. Chris Birdsong brought godson Jager and his dad, Les for a walk around the gardens.

Living on the farm, one can become complacent at times, feeling that this is a place of work for John, Craig, Jonathan and our wonderful volunteers- including New Orleans visitor Aurin , Skye's friend. Yet, on Saturday mornings, when the farm becomes a well loved destination, where children and dogs romp and the wonders of nature become enchantments, I remember that at least one creation story started in a Garden. I realize that the folks who come to visit get to breathe the fresh farm air, walk among the growing things and feel thankful that somebody has a farm where some of their food starts. Thank you all!

Sweet Potatoes Going in the ground/ Blueberry plants arrive!

2007-06-11T21:57:00.000-04:00

Hi, all you sweet potato lovers-

Farmer John just got in several varieties of sweet potatoes: Japanese,Beauregard, White Yam, Nancy Hall , Vardeman, Georgia Jet, and Vineless PortoRico which are being planted in the morning. Some folks think they are among the most perfect of foods- and to think, I didn't even like them as a child! I think it was when I worked at the Whole Foods Co-op in Norfolk that I learned to love sweet potatoes. We would heat one up in the microwave, open it up , slather it with fresh, Amish butter and then sprinkle it with cinnamon. Oh, my goodness, I thought- this is what all the hoopla is about!

John also picked up 100 blueberry plants from Finch Nursery in Bailey, NC, near Wild and Wonderful Wilson. They'll be available for sale-however, you may want to know they were not raised with organic methods. Talk to John on Saturday if you'd like to try a few bushes.

That's all for the evening! Enjoy the cool nights and lovely days.

Week 4, plus: Be an author on the blog!

2007-06-09T23:16:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pics from week 4. A few more can be found on the web site.

If you want to be an author on this blog (that is, start a new topic) write to me at cathalwoods at gmail dot com . Becoming an author requires registering. If you don't want to be an author, remember that you can still leave a comment on an existing post whenever you want without registering. You can comment anonymously, or, click 'Other' and type your name.

Toad Eggs at the farm

2007-06-05T20:59:00.000-04:00

Greetings from the farm in the first week of June! Temperatures are up and we got a great drenching rain on Sunday, courtesy of Tropical Storm Barry. There are little puddles of water around, but no deep gulleys. Thank goodness for the dinosaur footprint sized pools: Kathleen brought a container of toad eggs from Virginia Beach Friends School today and poured them into one such puddle.
After noticing the strand of eggs at school, Kathleen asked Teacher Denise in Middle School if we could have some for the farm. Toads are great bug eaters, you know. Denise gave Kathleen a plastic pretzel barrel to transport the babies home.
We'll be watching to see what transpires. Did the eggs survive the trip in the pretzel jar and the ride in the Prius ? Will the tadpoles be swimming in the next few days?

New Folks at the Farm (Week 2)

2007-05-27T13:30:00.000-04:00

May 26,2007

Another beautiful CSA morning. We welcomed a few new folks, like Catherine and Dave Earp and their three sweet girls. Above, Teacher Toni Mae Thurow from Friends School shares one of our sweet hens with the Earp family. Toni Mae was raised on a farm in Kansas and comes to the farm often for her " chicken therapy". She loves our girls!

Tanya Banks's son Merrick uses last year's dried broom corn to clean up the CSA Welcome Space.

We still don't have an actual name for this part of the farm. Any Ideas?

Norfolk Member Ann Redding brought her South Korean exchange student, Jue Young Lee for a farm visit. We chatted about Kim Chee and Bee Bim Bop, a favorite dish in Korean households- translated as Mix-Mix Rice. Each person has a bowl of rice at the table and then mixes it up with egg, vegetables, etc. Stir like crazy!

More photos can be found on the web site

Water is flowing fine..

2007-05-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

Hi y'all,

We very nearly had a problem this afternoon. After several days of planting out many crops, our water shut down. Phht. No watering, no flushing.

The good guys from Guildersleeve Geo-Thermal got here at 2:30 p.m. and had to dig down to the well and make some adjustments. By 5 p.m., John was watering the lettuces in the " kitchen garden" close to the house, and made it out to the greenhouse to water all the young plants there.

In the meantime, we pondered about what the CSA produce would be like -going home without a shower- goodness! As for ourselves, I filled up a couple of buckets to flush the toilet, watered my geraniums and didn't worry at all.

I sure did have some thoughts about folks who have to walk up and down mountainsides to get water, in so many countries in the world. I know that we were very lucky to be able to a) call for help and b) pay a professional to do the job.
Yes, water is an important resource!

See ya'll tomorrow

New Planting May 22nd and 24th

2007-05-24T13:14:00.000-04:00

Tuesday and Thursday: basil, tomatoes, peppers, pole beans, kale, squash and marigolds being planted.


	We thought you was a toad...

How's it going with the Greens?

2007-05-22T22:14:00.001-04:00

Hi, Friends of the farm

There's been a little buzz about greens the past few days. Some of our CSA members are already finished with their lettuce, tatsoi, spinach and kale, while others are trying to figure out what to do with all of it.

I hope you take the advice in the newsletter about adding chopped greens to vegetable soup, scrambled eggs, mixing them into hamburgers and even mashed potatoes! Greens don't need to be served in a lump on the side of a plate. They enliven many meals.

Tonight a few of us ate dinner at Pasha, a wonderful Turkish restaurant on the corner of Military Highway and Greenbrier Parkway. They served us a shredded kale salad that was drenched in fresh lemon juice and mixed with grated carrots. Delicious! I think the kale was partially steamed, but definitely not limp.

Give greens a chance! Let's hear from some others about what you did with your greens!

Kathleen

Week 1 (May 19th)

2007-05-21T03:10:00.000-04:00

The veg in this week's box are ...

arugula
broccoli
kale
lettuce
mizuna
radishes
spinach
tatsoi

Enjoy! There's a recipe involving greens (kale) in the newsletter, and there are two more from last year on the
recipe page of the web site.

Here are some pics from the first day ...

Here are our three farmers, Craig Daly, Jonathan Arp and John Wilson, with the completed boxes.
What a handsome bunch of ... lettuce.

Some folks visited with the hens ...

Welcome to the New Earth Farm Blog!

2007-05-21T03:04:00.000-04:00

New Earth Farm & Compost Company is located in Virginia Beach, VA. As well as selling compost, soil and amdendments, we run a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, in which local residents buy a share in the farm for the year and receive a box of vegetable each week throughout the season (20 weeks, from late May to late September). We hope to use this blog to keep our members up to date about goings-on at the farm, and to allow members to share ideas. For more information about the Farm and the Compost Company, check out our web site.