We had our first CSA pick up yesterday which was very exciting and a bit anxiety producing…. But all in all it went really well. We only have ten members, which feels like the perfect amount at the moment. Our first box contained little gem romaine lettuce, pac choi, lacinato and red russian kale, easter egg radishes, salad mix, a bundle of bergamont mint, a garden bouquet of daisies and geraniums, and a pair of beeswax candles that we make through the winter. It was wonderful to have people come out to the farm and know that our produce is feeding their families this week. These first few weeks definitely feel a bit sparse in terms of what we have to offer, so it will be nice when we hit midsummer and all the boxes will be overflowing.
Besides our first harvest day, the last few weeks have been busy with emptying out the hoophouse and planting peppers, eggplant, winter squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and direct-seeding corn, basil, summer squash, and more root crops. Things have been pretty overwhelming, and I’m realizing just how tied to the land farming really makes me. Watering has to be done every day, and an eye kept out for the leaf-miners on the chard and how much flea beatle damage is on the pac choi, and all those daily occurences that cannot be missed. I’ve never been so knowledgable about one spot of land, the kinds of weeds that grow there, the local snakes and butterflies, where the water pools. It’s amazing to see it progress as the land dries out and one wildflower replaces another and the grasses begin to turn brown and produce seed. I’m also realizing that I’m more committed to a place than I’ve ever been. Even if it is just through the season, as it’s quite hard to grow things through the winter here.
After 2 long months of hot weather, it appears that we are in store for more hot weather. That means, more irrigation, more aphids, more tomatoes, and less salad mix.
My season started in February, full on. I just completed month 6 in the season. The CSA still has 2 more months, while the markets go for another 3 around here. If I had more space I would be a little more excited about the fall, but as it is, there isn’t much room for a huge fall thing. I am making space for sugar snap and snow peas, arugula, daikon radish and lots of lettuce mix. However, there really isn’t space for broccoli or cabbage. That’s okay. I like snap peas better.
Our friend Zoe just left to go to law school at Berkely. For 1.5 solid months she volunteered on the farm and she turned into a great farmer in that time. Her favorite activities were harvesting carrots and planting carrots, followed closely by watering carrots and preparing carrot beds. I miss her, but I’ll get over it someday.
adios
Andrew
They are turning the dirt and hoping to be successful enough to turn a profit, and to become a valuable part of their communities as suppliers of organically grown food.
Peaceful Valley is giving them a head start by offering them special pricing as part of this Freshman Farmer program.
| Freshman: | |
| New Farms Coming Soon! | |
| Sophomores: | |
![]() | Laughing Duck Farm Newcastle, CA |
![]() | Starbright Acres 12575 Polaris Dr, Grass Valley, CA |
| Graduates: | |
![]() | Coyote House Farm Palermo, CA |
![]() | Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA |
![]() | DeepSeeded Community Farm Arcata, CA |
![]() | Driftwood Farm Fort Bragg, CA |
![]() | EarthDance Farm St. Louis, MO |
![]() | Ellwood Canyon Farms Goleta, CA |
![]() | Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT |
![]() | Hand Sown Homegrown Heritage Farm Poulsbo, WA |
![]() | Home Plate Organic Farm Orleans, CA |
![]() | Honey in the Heart Farm Nevada City, CA |
![]() | Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA |
![]() | Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |
| Coyote House Farm Palermo, CA |
| Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA |
| DeepSeeded Community Farm Arcata, CA |
| Driftwood Farm Fort Bragg, CA |
| EarthDance Farm St. Louis, MO |
| Ellwood Canyon Farms Goleta, CA |
| Four Frog Farm Penn Valley, CA |
| Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT |
| Hand Sown Homegrown Heritage Farm Poulsbo, WA |
| Home Plate Organic Farm Orleans, CA |
| Honey in the Heart Farm Nevada City, CA |
| Laughing Duck Farm Newcastle, CA |
| Starbright Acres 12575 Polaris Dr, Grass Valley, CA |
| Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA |
| Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA |