Circling Our Wagons

We move into the autumn every year with a sense of relief. The late winter, spring and summer present with such a fury that we rarely have a moment to come up for air and evaluate how its all going. We are putting out fires and keeping the ship afloat. But as the season winds down, even with work to do: wood to cut for the spring greenhouse heat (not to mention our living space over the winter)

and crops to cover in an attempt to get just a few more precious weeks of greens, we are more available to reflect over the entirety of the season.

We have only been farming since 2002. Back then, eight seasons worth of experience would have seemed graciously enough for us to feel confident and prepared for challenges of the job at hand. But even after a good season, we reflect on the gaping inadequacies of our experience. After a season like the one we have just had, we reflect on the inadequacies of all farmers in our state. Rain and cold weather kept everyone's yields very low. It was a kind of blessing, then, that I found a book documenting the Dust Bowl years between 1930 and 1937.

The lack of rain, and over-plowing of the land ruined 100 million acres of farmland. Deep soil that had been built up over millions of years was blown away in a comparative blink of an eye. That puts things in perspective! Among our many blessings is our access to sustainable farming practices that teach conservation. That advantage goes hand in hand with our community -- our market-- which also values sustainability. In fact, that direct link between us as producers, and our community is our strongest asset. It has allowed us to develop over the years-- from years where we've only had dependable crops of mustard greens and weeds, to years when we've had boons of tomatoes and watermelons. The closer that gap, the more understanding our customers are when the rain comes and does not stop! Thank you for that!
Years ago, one of our dedicated "co-producers" gave us this quote by Scott Nearing, "Do the best that you can in the place where you are, and be kind." We hope to end our day and our season guided by this sentiment.

The last Harvest!

• chard
• parsley
• fennel
• carrots
• Blue hubbard baby squash
• Lettuce
• onions
• Garlic

Sorry for the past weekends cancellation of the work party. We will try again this Sunday, at 9 till noon. We will see you soon!

Blessings on the meal!
--John

Scarborough Land Conservation Trust Workday Cancelled

SLCT has canceled the Invasive Species Eradication work day due to concern for the weather for Sunday, October 18th. They have rescheduled for one week later, Sunday, October 25th from 9-12. Please email Marla (mkzando@maine.rr.com) at the Land Trust with further questions regarding the work party.

Thanks!
Stacy and John

Filling the Larder

This week we want to start of by mentioning 2 very exciting things:

1. Winter shares with Wolf Pine Farm, delivered to your door, picked up at Wolf Pine or delivered to Broadturn Farm for more convenient pick up!

Please read about winter shares with Wolf Pine Farm here and sign up soon to have a certainty of winter goodness in your home each month. Remember to mention you want your share delivered to Broadturn Farm when you sign up.

2. The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust is looking for volunteers to help in the eradication of invasive species in the woods at Broadturn Farm. In plain language, this mean you show up from 9-12 on Sunday, October 18th, with a clipper and a shovel and help remove Oriental bittersweet from the woods at the farm.

This is a work day that would fulfill your CSA membership work requirement. Everyone is invited. Bring gloves, a shovel and pruners of varying sizes. If you don't own these items, no worries, we will have plenty of tools to share.

We look forward to a day of work together with the autumn glory surrounding us.

In this week's share (the second to the last week!)

• Lettuce
• kale
  
• Brussels sprouts
  
• buttercup squash
• spaghetti squash
  
• 5 pounds of storage onions
  
• beets
  
• mizuna
  
• Black storage radishes
  
• broccoli
• parsley

Also, we are looking for leaves to mulch with next season. So, as you rake leaves from your yard, think of them as "flakes of carbon" which, if incorporated into the soil will give worms, bugs, and billions of microorganisms food. The microscopic life in the soil is proportionate to its health. You might become so convinced of this vision that you keep your leaves all to yourselves, and we won't begrudge you on that. But if you-- or your landscaper, or your neighbors want to see these leaves going to a good home, please drop them off on your next trip out to the farm. If you see a landscaping company working in your neighborhood, give them the tip that Broadturn Farm takes leaves without tip fees! Do you have a gigantic pile of leaves (in bags) in your front yard? Enough bags on your street to justify our truck and trailer coming out for a pick-up??? Please send us an email! And send those landscaping companies -- or any other source you may know of-- our way!!! We love leaves!

We look forward to seeing you all Sunday from 9-12. Please call 510-1682 or email with questions
Blessings on the meal,
Stacy and John

Twilight of Agricultural Positivism

The season is winding down at Broadturn Farm. Interns are gone, frosts are regular, and the potatoes are out. (The potatoes? Yes, they are gone... remember? it was not such a good season.) Garlic goes in now:

One of the last chores for Ben and Amanda (volunteer Abby pictured here too) Thanks for your work!
Applesauce for the pantry:

We also make our way over to one of our favorite junk shops where there is lots to look at, including lots of cool tools:

...kniknaks who want to come home with us,

... and a gem of mid-20th century agricultural propaganda: the Dairy Diorama:

Apparently this 3-D demonstration tool used to be on display at one of the fairs in the State, and had (has?) working movable parts: dancing milk-jugs, parading cheese and ice-cream, and a chewing cow with glistening milk pouring from her udders and flowing right into the Milk Plant. Thanks to Maine's dairy industry heritage I have seen a few of these kinds of displays, but none as beautiful as this one, even though it is tucked into the back a storage trailer...

Fall always seems to be the time of year for us to make the pilgrimage to the junk shop. It is this twilight of agricultural positivism that goes so well with falling leaves and the end of the growing season. The county and town fairs all over the state this time of year speak to the same theme: past glory, grandfather farmers... and a sort of submission to what has become of our farm economy. Depressing? ... well, although these days there is not too much good news for our region's dairy industry, I actually feel inspired and hopeful in visiting these artifacts of our "industry". The bare fact that in a terrible season like this one, in a rotten economy, and the many other odds stacked against us, we can still plod ahead. We can pay for our season's expenses. Work out a long term lease. Plant garlic for next year. We are doing something very very fundamental and we are doing it with our community's support. So there is something for which to be grateful.
The Harvest (only two more to go after this week!)
Lettuce
Leeks
Broccoli
Cabbage
Chard
Spinach
Carrots
Daikon Radishes
Celeriac
Butternut squash
Parsley
There are a few challenging items this week: Celeriac is not so well known, but it is a root relative of parsley and celery. It has a great flavor that is somehow nutty and spicy, as well as celery-y and parsley-y. Daikon Radish also may require some thought, although stir-fry is an obvious choice, you will have enough diakon for a week's worth of stir-fry, so hit the books for some recipes. Why don't we spoon feed you a recipe? Because the internet is right in front of your face and we'd rather not plagerize one of the first ten recipes you get when you google "celeriac". If you happen to know a good one, use the Facebook page to post it!
Blessings on the meal,
John and Stacy