Our first real taste of spring this week, and everyone’s spirits are riding high in the sunshine and warm temperatures. The spring that seemed to never be coming has firmly taken hold. We dug into the ground for the first time yesterday, discing in a meager cover crop that never really took hold in the fall. We’re preparing land for a wee, little orchard of 35 apple trees. The vegetable field is waiting its turn now for harrowing and ridge making. The soil is still too cold for seeding, but the ridges will help it warm up a little faster with more surface area to soak up the sun. And you can’t pass up a window this dry for spring-time field work.

We had surprise visitors sunday afternoon to our beef herd. North Country Creamery‘s heifers have been wintering down the road at Black Kettle Farm and went missing mid-morning. They eventually found their way several miles through the woods to our herd and made themselves right at home. Everyone was quite excited for a few new faces, especially our bull. After repairing the downed fences, and separating the herds we managed to drive the girls out of the field and onto the road where many wonderful neighbors helped walk them back to their original home. You can see in the photo how we build a box around the cows with a thin string of fencing wire, and try to keep everyone moving—not too fast and not too slow is the trick. I had separated myself at this point to do other chores, but it sounds like the girls got the hang of it before too long and everyone enjoyed the sunny afternoon stroll. Thanks to the friends who came out on short notice to lend a hand.

In the Farm Shares

In the veggie share: maple syrup, carrots, beets, white and fingerling potatoes, turnips, celeriac, shallots, red and white onions, green and red cabbage, dried red chilies, wheat berries, whole wheat regular and pastry flour, corn meal, dry beans and kim chee. Unfortunately our over-wintered parsnips and scallions did not make it through the extra cold winter this year, so we will have a little longer wait for fresh veggies coming out of the field. Nettles will begin popping up soon, followed by ramps and asparagus in about a month!

In the meat share: Pork, beef, broilers and stew birds in the freezer. Stock and organ meats from beef and chickens, lard and leaf lard.

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