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Field Walk…
Here we are. Somehow and some way another farm season comes to an end. Summer gives way to the holidays. Work gives way to the giving of thanks and celebration. Green gives way to brown which gives way to white. Day gives in to night.
Goodbyes are bittersweet. On the one hand, it's time to rest. The land needs to stop and slow down to let nutrients breakdown and re-accumulate. The farmer needs to stop, sleep, think about other things, and refresh those tired limbs.
On the other hand, the rhythm of harvests and sowings is reassuring and nurturing. It's hard to stop. It's hard to think of what I'll do next Tuesday morning when there are no more crops to harvest. And mostly, it's hard to know that my weekly visits with all of you will be taking a hiatus.
It's been a real joy seeing all of you on distribution days. It's the highlight of my week to watch the crops in the fields fill up your bags and baskets. I love to hear the latest on how your kids are doing, or your jobs, or your enjoyment of the farm and the food. This is ultimately why I farm. Growing food and stewarding land are grounding and highly fulfilling. Knowing each of you is invigorating. Stewarding land is a tad empty without the people. Providing the foundations of your home-cooked meals is what gets me up in the morning.
Parting for the winter is a good transition, though. Several of you ask what I do during winter. My priority is to spend time with my family. Before that, though, I will plan next season's crops, field maps, weed strategies, harvests, workdays, etc. This is arguably the most important stage of any season. It's where next season begins.
Before Christmas, I will have ordered seeds, greased tractors, and put the fields to rest in cover crops and green manures. Sometime in mid-January I will begin with repairs, infrastructure improvements and preparing the farm for the upcoming season. By mid-February, I will be digging beds in the greenhouse. By March I will be sowing seeds for Spring Greens and the first crops of May.
Winter is a wonderful and much needed break. But, I am already preparing for next year and will soon be impatient to jump right back into it.
So…for now I wish you all a wonderful last week of 2006 and many blessings for the holidays! I wish you safe travels and warm homecomings. I thank you for making this happen, for giving the support needed through the long and hard summer and for giving hope for the future.
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What's in Your Share
Roots and Greens!
Carrots
Turnips
Beets
Radishes
Lettuce
Spinach
Kale and Chard
Salad Mix
Bok choy
Plus… scallions, onions, herbs, etc.
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What's for Dinner?
What have been your favorite meals this year? One of the benefits of membership is the exchange of ideas between members. We can learn a LOT from each other…. and should!
So, I encourage you to jot down your favorite farm-fresh meals over the winter and we'll pull together a wonderful and tasty collection of the best recipes of Alton, Godfrey, St.
Louis, and points surrounding!
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Many Thanks!
Thank you! To all Greeters, work day participants, committee volunteers, event planners and… Core Group members… and everyone who came out and put time into making this work…. Thank you! I hope you feel the gratitude of a job well done!
Also, many thanks to Michael Frazier, our Farm Assistant, who has stuck through thick and thin.
And… to my wife, Stacey, who has invaluable to getting through this season!
Thank you all!
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