Sunday, December 29, 2019

BGF News - December, 2019-Vol. XLIII, No.2

Wishing you a Happy, Napa New Year! 


What’s up on the farm?

Precipitation in the past month: Rain: 0.65"
                                                             Snow: 1.5"

It seems like every year the holidays sneak up on us at an ever increasing rate. This year again,  November was a rough month. It was unseasonably cold and we lost most of the fall field crops due to those frigid temperatures. Then the day before Thanksgiving, we had a windstorm that destroyed the brand-new (6 week old) cover on High Tunnel #2. Luckily, our friends, family and farm crew rallied around us yet again and with many hands, we got the cover replaced the first week of December. Even though the crops were exposed to some tough conditions, both high tunnels continue to produce beautiful, tasty produce for our indoor farmers markets and VegEmail sales. 















Speaking of, our next VegEmail sale will be 1/7/20 with order forms going out on Wed the 1st.

Between vegetable deliveries we are getting some seasonal tasks done like mulching the garlic and strawberries, cleaning up the packing barn, updating to the 2020 farm calendar, shelling popcorn and spinning & dyeing fiber. In the next week it will be time to dive into the stack of seed catalogs and get our orders placed for the upcoming season. Then the farm maps need to be updated and winter farming conferences and meetings attended. So much indoor work to do, now that winter has made it's return!

The new laying hens are well settled in and laying LOTS of eggs!! Given our warmer daytime temperatures recently, the chickens are spending lots of time outside in the sun (and mud). 
The alpacas too are enjoying the extra dose of sunshine. We've moved them to their winter location (closer to the house (and electricity for their water heaters) but they still have full time access to The Big Pasture. They weren't too sure about the move, but have now settled in.

Percy inspecting the winter set up for the alpaca shed.

Next month we will start sign-ups for the 2020 CSA season. Returning members who sign up and pay during the month of January can take advantage of our Early Bird Special and take $20 off their membership fee. More details to follow on that in a couple of weeks.


For now we wish you all the joys of the season and a bright new year!

That’s about it for now, if you have any questions or comments be sure to let us know. 
Best from the farm,
Jill & Sean (and Indigo, Luci & Sky)