2020 CSA Week 2 Newsletter

Greetings from Dancing  Hen Farm!  Happy Independence Day!!!

Welcome to Week 2 of our CSA.  Week 2 is not an egg week.

A few CSA logistics updates and then onto some farm news.  Delivery to central drop off sites are always guaranteed by 4 pm, but we want to give you our delivery schedule for this season in case you want to pick boxes up earlier.  Mountain Top boxes should be at the pharmacy after 10 am.  Boxes will be at the Dallas location after 11 am and to Balance Yoga, in Forty Fort after 12, noon.  We will have boxes to Bloom Naturally by 2 pm.  Remember if you are running late, please let your site host know.  Our sites are not able to hold your box for you. 

A quick word on boxes, green pint and quart boxes and egg cartons.  In an attempt to keep farm costs down, we do re-use these items.  Please leave them at your pick up site for us to collect when we deliver.

It does not seem possible that we are already celebrating July 4th!  It seems we have just recently started to get summer weather.  May and the first part of June were very cool and wet here on farm.  This delayed our planting quite a bit.  We also had a very late freeze this year.  We were lucky and although we lost some transplants in an unheated greenhouse, we did not suffer any real losses.  Other farmers in our area did not fare so well.  We have heard reports that the peaches in the area were hit very hard and some orchards are reporting close to a 100% loss.  That is a scary and hard loss for orchards to absorb! 

So the saga of my herb bed continues.  As some of you may remember, several years ago I had couple of snakes take of residence.  We even had some of members try and help us catch them!  They spent one season enjoying my herbs and had moved on by the next summer.  This summer in the same herb bed, even in the same location we have a groundhog!  Yes, a groundhog, basically right off the porch/patio!  We noticed it about a month ago and had the dogs watching the area for us and I was convinced it had moved on, tired of being harassed by the pooches.  But, just the other day, I was sitting, doing some work by the window and saw it perched on a log in that herb bed.  And this morning I saw it lumbering around in the yard not far from its herb house.  And unfortunately our dogs now seem to think this groundhog is part of the family! 

Our fields are starting to fill up and we are seeing, what we like to call some true summer crops beginning to ripen.  This week we picked our first summer squash of the season.  In the coming week, summer squash should be available for choice.  Peas are starting to slow and will be available in very limited numbers in the coming weeks.  We should continue to have greens, radishes and scallions available.  String beans, both yellow and green, are starting to reach maturity and will be available on and off for a number of weeks to come.  The tomatoes in our high tunnel are starting ripen and we should have tomatoes available, with cherries most likely being the first to ripen.  We continue to plant as weather and schedules allow.  Farmer Don is on the mend, but is still in recuperation mode, so we are happy to be working closely with some Amish friends/neighbors of ours to bring you some certified organic produce to supplement out harvest. 

Speaking of Farmer Don.  I am assuming most of you have been following along with his story this spring.  His treatments are finished I am happy to say he is getting his energy back.  I am truly amazed at how much he is already able to do on a daily basis on farm.  He still has some difficulty swallowing and speaking, but we have turned a corner and he is eating soft foods now and able to drink.  Thanks to everyone for your kind words, healing energies and prayers.  Life is good here on farm and we continue to enjoy every moment!

Ok, it is getting near suppertime and this newsletter is getting a bit wordy, so I will end things here.

As always, thanks to each of you for your continued support of our farm.  You, our farm community, make it possible to continue to farm this rocky hillside in a way which will help leave the earth a better place for future generations. 

Be safe, be well, and enjoy those veggies.

Farmer Don Rings the Bell!

Farmer Don rings the bell!  Treatments are over!  The regeneration begins!

More musings from Farmer Don

Good Morning friends!

A quick note. I couldn't sleep last night, you know (toss and turn, drool & spit), so I got up and entered all the payments the farm has received. So, accounts are updated as of today. If you have any questions please contact the farm and we'll work it out. Thank you to all who have sent in their payments! Early payment is a huge boost for the farm. As I type, our big seed orders are in the mail system and on their way to the farm.

Yesterday, we had a small work day on the farm. Nice sunshine in the afternoon after a cool start. We were able to clear out leftover plastic and drip tape out of the planting plots allowing me to get in with tractor to chisel plow. Got 4 plots chiseled as part of our start up to the season. We also worked in the seed house, filling trays with potting soil for some upcoming seeding. Probably do some more of the same today, but add some rest in as well.

Hope everyone is handling shelter in place ok. At the farm, we pretty much do this on a daily basis. Joan works on her puzzles, and farmer Don rides around on his tractor and works on small projects. Fixing and getting the high tunnel up and running is one of those small projects. As many of you know last April we had a just miss for a tornado. Lot's of damage down in Benton but a near miss for us. The plastic on our high tunnel was completely ripped apart and I chose not to replace last year. But this year we're moving forward with replacement. So, a small project on the farm. Also, irrigation, another storm related loss last season has turned into a small project this year. Our water system was hit by lightning last August, so we ran with out irrigation from that point forward. This year we'll fix the system and hope for no major weather events. Hoping to finish the water this week.

Looking to get the Peas in the ground this week! Joan and I both love fresh peas. Hopefully I can eat them fresh off the vine a little later in the year. My tongue situation may say not so quick buddy. One way or another I WILL enjoy the harvest as will many of you. We are working hard to get veggies going and out for sale. We had some members come out to the farm yesterday and pick up orders. A nice day to do that. Self service, social distancing, good food, plenty of space and fresh air. Our buying club will be open all the time now for on farm pick up orders. And email orders are also welcome anytime. Lot's of Apple Orchard Pork, Pastured Poultry, Free Range Eggs, Wild for Salmon, Raw Milk and Cheese, and what ever veggies I can share. Again, the farm is always open for self guided tours if the house and shelter in place gets cramped. We have 26 acres for you to explore.

Time to get some breakfast going.

Be well, stay safe, wash your hands and flatten the curve!

Farmer Don

Mid May Update

Hi friends!

A quick Mid May, May 16th update from the farm! Looks like we've turned the page on the early month cold weather. Finally warm, May weather! Another Saturday work day here on the farm. So far this year, Saturday has turned out to be the day for work parties (this year at social distance). Today tomatoes go in and the peeps move out. The tomatoes are screaming to go into the ground and the peeps (actually little broilers) are ready to live on grass and fresh air. Probably some tractor work today also, to set up more planting. Always trying to plant something this time of the year. Speaking of planting and such, I'm sure many of you are curious about our start up dates. As in the past, our start up is not written in stone. Mother Nature determines that, and this year she's saying have patience and good harvests will follow. So, we are following her advice. Looking at a Mid-June start up. You will be contacted thru e-mail will many more details to come. Hang in there, the harvest will be shared shortly! We're just as excited for the harvest as you are.

Hope every one is well. We're doing okay over here. Joan is Joan and enjoying the lack of work pressure. At the end, her job was very tough on her physically. Not having to do that anymore has been a big relief. And I'm just about 2/3rds of the way through my treatments. Talked to the Drs. this week and they told me what I already knew, that my therapy was some of the most aggressive treatments they give to anybody. Cool, so Farmer Don must have walked in, and they said, " here comes a live one, some farmer guy, let's jack him up real good!" But little did they know I had the farm and the farm community behind me for support!!! Couldn't do this with out the support to hold me up!

Well, time to find some breakfast and get this work day rolling. Again, look for a mid to late June start, the harvest will determine our exact date. But once we get rolling, we go for 18 weeks no stopping unless emergency.

Be well friends, stay safe, be smart, wash your hands and remember the farm is the farmacy!

Farmer Don

2020 CSA, May 1st update

Sunday May 3, 2020 7:51 pm

Hi Friends! Welcome to May 2020! Typing to you from the back porch! Finally able to enjoy the porch with nice weather. Gotta say the last week of April was horrible. Rain almost every day, topped by Thursday with 2 inches here on the farm. Thankfully no one floated away. Basement got a little wet, but to be expected.

The big news on the farm to report is plastic back on the high tunnel. We had a small work crew and got the tunnel covered. The tunnel hasn't seen a plastic roof since our tornado last April. A little bit of soil work out there and we'll be ready to plant. And that work will be happening early this week as the tomatoes are big and ready to move out of the seed house. A nice variety of cherries, slicers and paste. Scallions will probably also go in this week. Last Wednesday, right before the deluge, I was able to seed green beans and red potatoes. Knowing we were getting rainfall, pushed me to get those into the ground. Peas up on the top hill look real good. The brassica seedlings look strong in the seed tunnel, thinking they will go out in two weeks.

On the animal side of things, the hens are doing well. I'll curse myself and say no fox attacks in over a week. The latest predator had four wheels. Tough to run from those, usually the running is what does henny hen in. We have 50 more hens arriving on farm this Tuesday afternoon. This year I'll just put them in the coop with the older 30 hens and let them have at it. No time to build a new coop. Hoping the older girls can teach the young ones how to behave. The broiler peeps are growing up. One more week in the brooder, then out on grass for the final 4 weeks or so. They'll be out in one of our vegetable production plots and help to fertilize the soil for any upcoming plantings. Nice how that works. Last year we had the broilers out in plot five for the season. Plot 5 is where I will plant the scallions this year and when we were preparing the planting beds we noticed worms in the soil. Another great sign. Regeneration at it's best. Plot 5 took the season off last year, with cover crop and broilers covering the soil. So, we should reap the rewards this season with nice crops out of that plot!

Regeneration leads to Farmer Don and Joan's health. Gotta say we are doing well. More good days than bad. And Joan's bad days are not leading to the hospital! For me I'm through 2 weeks of a 6 week radiation and chemotherapy partnership. Didn't know you could partner with Chemo and Radi did you? Well let me tell you folks you can, I am and all a part of my regeneration. Four more weeks no big deal. Hey, I get to listen to Jimmy Buffet while they toast my throat. Doctors have me set up for success. And, hold your breath, here we go, " Food is medicine and the farm is the Farmacy." But Farmer Don, you said the partnership was with the high heat and drugs. Well as many of you know we grow vegetables here, raise pastured pork, have free range eggs, along with pastured poultry, fed organic grains, making the diet from the Farmacy really good. And 2020 CSA members, as well as our buying club friends will soon be sharing the harvest as well. I meant sharing the medicine from the Farmacy! The big medicine right now are the microgreens. Wow, just tiny little guys packed with nutrients. We'll do our best to keep the clam shells of micros going all season so everyone can enjoy.

Time to shower and get dinner going. Open face hot beef sandwiches. Forks Farm minute steaks. Yum. Before signing off gotta thanks many folks on so many levels. Number one all the members who have signed up so far. Your support allows us to run the Farmacy. And share the medicine! Number two, cards and emails offering moral support as we continue to heal. Many of you have reached out and it means alot to Joan and I . For that I thank you! Finally the physical help around the farm. From Teri in the seed house, to Jason doing bed work and help on the high tunnel ,and my Amish friend John, with his father Levi, and two of their sons putting the plastic on and growing out the tomatoes we will plant this week, I say thank you!

So, time to continue the regeneration process. To each and everyone of you, Joan and I say a very thoughtful thank you, and wish you all good health and well being. Be safe out there.

Farmer Don

Farmer Gail

Thanks Farmer Gail for all your help!!! 

Buying Club Clarification

Just a quick note to clarify our buying club.

It seems Farmer Don's latest newsletter has caused some confusion about the buying club.  Right now we are running our winter buying club.

 

First and foremost, all orders must be picked up on farm.  We are trying our best to maintain social distancing and keep our contact with people to a minimum.  Orders can be picked up at your convenience.  All orders will be in our walk-in cooler which is behind our house, outside the walkout basement.  Pick-ups will be self service.  There will be hand sanitizer available for use.  A cash box will be inside the cooler.  We encourage people to write checks, but change will be available.  At this time we do not take credit or debit cards.

The online ordering window for the buying club is from Tuesday at 5 am to Thursday at 5am.  However, if you miss this window and would like to place an order, please feel free to email us your requests and we will do our best to fill your order.  Also please give us a day and approximate time when you would like to pick up.

Currently we have full and half pasture raised chickens available (4.75 per pound).  free range eggs (5.00 per dozen), most cuts of apple orchard pork, including bacon (9.50 per pound), chops (7.50 per pound), sausage, ham, ham steaks and more. Email us if you are looking for a certain cut of pork.  Through our buying club we also offer Wild For Salmon burgers and filets and Whitenight Family Farm Raw milk and raw milk cheese.  Veggies are limited right now to storage potatoes, onions, small heads of red and green cabbage and special harvest items.  Currently being harvested are small amounts of spinach and salad greens. 

As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (dancinghenfarm@epix.net or 570-925-0263).

And Thank You for your support of our small family farm and local sustainable agriculture.