The good news is that we found local-ish organic wheat for the season, six tons were delivered from Vermont yesterday. With last year’s flooded season we were not able to get any grains from our usual Essex/Willsboro farms. The bad news is that the scarcity and high gas prices mean that we are spending almost twice as much as last year. For a ten dollar item this wouldn’t be such a big deal. But grains are some of our biggest annual expenses. At over $500 per ton it hurts a little more. Following the wheat delivery Racey picked-up our annual amendment order—salt, grit, calcium and kelp for the chickens and cattle. We managed to create one towering pallets worth in the granary. With three tons of wheat in the adjacent bin we are happily stocked for the year, and very hopeful that the floor won’t give out. Not unlike the mice who make their livings and nests in farm granaries everywhere, I am feeling content at the stock-piling, knowing that some of our biggest and most necessary acquisitions are stowed for the year.
Nathan and Racey have set-up a round pen in the barnyard for horse training, with day one of school this past weekend. If you want to see grins of delight and pride, ask them about the kids. Lightning and Abby have seen their share of work in the last week too, shaking off their winter pounds and boredom. We’ve all taken turns with the team, spreading and discing in compost in the vegetable field, dragging manure in the winter pastures and moving round bales.
We’ve arrived at our last pick-up of the season and we’re ready to clean out the cupboards. This means that you should take extra potatoes, beets, cabbage, onions and garlic. Take home enough to get you through until June pick-ups start. We also have extra Freedom Ranger chickens in the freezer. Birds are $5 per pound—first-come, first-served, and can be sold to non-farm members as well, so spread the word.
Willa, Winter and all of the Henriettas don’t go on break, so please come by to pick-up eggs! They will be stocked in the fridge with a money can. Stop by at your convenience. We will see everyone back in June with fresh greens, asparagus and scapes.
In the veggie share: parsnips, carrots, beets, cabbage, potatoes, onions, shallots, garlic, rutabaga, radish, white and red dry beans, sauerkraut and kimchee.
In the meat share: Pork, beef and chicken.
See you tonight between 4 and 6,
Sara Kurak
Full and By Farm
Sara Kurak is one of the owners and operators of Full and By Farm in Essex, NY. She shares updates from the farm with her CSA members and also contributes those letters to the Essex on Lake Champlain Blog to share the news with a wider audience. Learn about farm life week-to-week through her reports!
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