WHAT’S UP ON THE FARM?
Happy New Year from the farm!
Happy New Year from the farm!
Weather in the past month: Snow: 5.0" Freezing Rain: 0.25" High temp: 74° (12/15/21) Low Temp: -8° (1/2/22)
The darkest days of winter are now past us and as each each day dawns we have a bit more daylight. The winter crops really appreciate the increasing day length. Crops in the high tunnel are basically held in stasis from mid December until around Valentine's day. Then, it's as though a switch is flipped and they suddenly start to put on lots of new growth (much to the farmer's and VegEmail customers' delight!)
So what are we doing to keep ourselves busy on the farm at this time of year? Mostly, keeping everyone warm, fed and watered, managing and harvesting for the VegEmail sales and massive amounts of office work! (At least that's how it feels.)
Two big recent projects included the annual tasks of The Great Calendar Transfer where all of the target seeding, planting, harvesting and fruiting data is added to the new year's calendar. This is essentially the farm's brain and operations manual. It is amended daily as we go along with weather, task and sales information so at year's end it is the repository of the farm's season. We archive each calendar and then are able to use them as a resource for historical data. Yes, most people probably do this electronically these days, but a paper copy and a handful of colored pens in still how this farmer's mind works and I relish the ritual at the turning of the year.
The other big January task is establishing the garden maps for the upcoming season. These we do electronically, using spreadsheets to visually represent each plot in the field and high tunnels. This allows us to manage our multiple season crop rotation in a fairly efficient manner through simple cut and paste functions rather than having to recreate the entire system each year. There will always be changes on the fly during the season, depending on a variety of conditions, but this sets us up to know how much seed and how many of each plant we will need to start in the coming months.
Besides paperwork, this is the season of conferences and zoom meetings for farmers. It is also a time of focusing on catching up on fiber work, tool maintenance, organizing, correspondence, ordering supplies and hopefully learning some new things!
A couple of weeks ago we held out annual "Post Mortem" of the season with the farm crew. This gives us a chance to sit down over a cup of tea and reflect on the season while it is still somewhat fresh in our minds. We review crops, equipment, processes and anything else on which the crew members might have an opinion. This is also the time when I ask them about their plans for the future season (while hoping every one of them declares their intent to return!) 
We were half successful on that mark with two of our crew returning for 2022 and two of them moving on to other things. On that note we want to send three big cheers of congratulations to Rebekah who just celebrated her high school graduation and is looking forward to college in the coming year. So what does that mean for the farm? It means we are looking for one additional full-time employee for the coming season and possibly a part-time as well. Do you know someone who might be interested in spending a season outdoors in a beautiful setting, working with great people, eating great food and getting lots of physical exercise? Is it you?? A son or daughter, niece, neighbor or friend? Send them our way, we'd love to talk to them about the possibilities!
So what are we doing to keep ourselves busy on the farm at this time of year? Mostly, keeping everyone warm, fed and watered, managing and harvesting for the VegEmail sales and massive amounts of office work! (At least that's how it feels.)
Two big recent projects included the annual tasks of The Great Calendar Transfer where all of the target seeding, planting, harvesting and fruiting data is added to the new year's calendar. This is essentially the farm's brain and operations manual. It is amended daily as we go along with weather, task and sales information so at year's end it is the repository of the farm's season. We archive each calendar and then are able to use them as a resource for historical data. Yes, most people probably do this electronically these days, but a paper copy and a handful of colored pens in still how this farmer's mind works and I relish the ritual at the turning of the year.
The other big January task is establishing the garden maps for the upcoming season. These we do electronically, using spreadsheets to visually represent each plot in the field and high tunnels. This allows us to manage our multiple season crop rotation in a fairly efficient manner through simple cut and paste functions rather than having to recreate the entire system each year. There will always be changes on the fly during the season, depending on a variety of conditions, but this sets us up to know how much seed and how many of each plant we will need to start in the coming months.
Besides paperwork, this is the season of conferences and zoom meetings for farmers. It is also a time of focusing on catching up on fiber work, tool maintenance, organizing, correspondence, ordering supplies and hopefully learning some new things!
A couple of weeks ago we held out annual "Post Mortem" of the season with the farm crew. This gives us a chance to sit down over a cup of tea and reflect on the season while it is still somewhat fresh in our minds. We review crops, equipment, processes and anything else on which the crew members might have an opinion. This is also the time when I ask them about their plans for the future season (while hoping every one of them declares their intent to return!)
So what does that mean for the farm? It means we are looking for one additional full-time employee for the coming season and possibly a part-time as well. Do you know someone who might be interested in spending a season outdoors in a beautiful setting, working with great people, eating great food and getting lots of physical exercise? Is it you?? A son or daughter, niece, neighbor or friend? Send them our way, we'd love to talk to them about the possibilities!
Speaking of the upcoming season...
CSA 2022:Veteran member sign up has begun. If you were a CSA member in 2021, you should have received an email last month with the details and a link to the sign up form. If you didn't receive your membership email for the 2022 season, please let us know ASAP. Veteran members have until the end of January (just a few more weeks) to lock in their spots and then we will open any remaining shares to our waiting list. Huge thanks to those of you who have already responded and an additional farm-fresh round of applause to those who have already paid (that helps us cover all those new seeds!) If you are interesting in joining us as a new member this season, you can email us at mail@bluegatefarmfresh.com and ask to be put on the waiting list.
Want to get some great local food in the meantime? VegEmail deliveries continue every two weeks throughout the winter. You can order your farm-fresh produce, preserves, seasonings, Ebersole Cattle Co. eggs & meats and Lost Lake Farm LLC cheese from the comfort of home. It's like a farmers market in your Inbox! If you want to order and aren't already getting email announcements about the deliveries, be sure to let us know!
That's about it from us this month. Thank you for making it all the way to the end of the newsletter and for joining us on all our farming adventures. It is such a privilege to live in this beautiful place and to raise safe, healthy food for so many amazing people. We wish you all the joys of the season and a bright new year!
Speaking of the upcoming season...
Veteran member sign up has begun. If you were a CSA member in 2021, you should have received an email last month with the details and a link to the sign up form. If you didn't receive your membership email for the 2022 season, please let us know ASAP. Veteran members have until the end of January (just a few more weeks) to lock in their spots and then we will open any remaining shares to our waiting list. Huge thanks to those of you who have already responded and an additional farm-fresh round of applause to those who have already paid (that helps us cover all those new seeds!) If you are interesting in joining us as a new member this season, you can email us at mail@bluegatefarmfresh.com and ask to be put on the waiting list.
Is a monthly newsletter not enough for you? Do you want to read more about our life on the farm and see more pictures? Follow us on Facebook at Blue Gate Farm or on Instagram at bluegatefarmfresh. CSA members can also connect with other BGF members to share recipes or ask questions on our FB community page at Blue Gate Farm Community.
If you have any questions or comments, be sure to let us know.
Best from the farm,
Jill & Sean (and the whole BGF crew)
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| Indigo, Luci & Sky |
