March; In like a lion

Hi Friends,

Sorry for the delay getting farm news out. Just life in the way as many of you know!

Well, this year, March is in like a Lion! Another year of delayed planting. I guess I jinxed us with the last email, raving over the sun and warm temps. This email I'll try to temper the excitement. Be a little more realistic. Yup, most years March is a winter month, so I shouldn't be surprised. Still moving forward though as I feel much more prepared for early spring cold weather. Two wood stoves going each night and a heated germination chamber providing warm, moist heat. That is if the power is on. We went just about 5 days with no power. I really feel for the folks over to our east, with much more snow and still many trees down and no power. Thankfully for us we had no snow while we had no power. Actually, farmer Phil and farmer Don made it off the farm to do a buying club delivery last Saturday. And, a big thanks to those friends who made it out despite the weather to pick up orders and offer support to the farm. We are very grateful for your support.

Back to the farm. A little snow this morning, no big deal. Had Rosie making snow angels, hopefully no chicken mcnuggets under the snow. Both Joan and I believe something stinky was under the snow. Oh well, nice to get the dogs out and running. In the seed houses we have close to 15,000 transplants in various stages of growth. Really happy with the progress there. Gotta thank our former intern, Lydia, for stopping by to help seed. Extra hands on the farm are always a big help!

So, with the wheel of time moving on, we can't slow down. Nurturing Joan back to health. I was able to harvest a couple days of spinach salad to go along with some tasty steaks to build up those red blood counts. Thanks to Forks Farm for providing the meat. Today is ham and bean soup, while cooking a beef brisket for Saturday dinner. I'm working real hard to get greens to go out on the buying club soon. Just stay in touch there and you'll know when the harvest will be.

Time to move on. Your thoughts and prayers are still being felt each and every day. Support like that is huge. Also, let me know if you have any questions about the farm, 2018 CSA, your accounts or anything. I am very behind updating accounts so hang with us and updates will come soon. Right now life is a day at a time.

Be well friends!

Farmer Don

Buying Club Open for This Weekend and Farm News

Hi Friends!

A quick update from the farm!

I hope you were able to feel the sun yesterday or will be able to get out a little today to catch the sun. What a relief after many days of clouds and rain. With the warmer weather coming daily, the farm is a busy place, mostly in the seed house, but also the high tunnel, field clean up and a rebuild on the second chicken coop. Our seed houses are filling up quickly and transplants are growing nicely. Right now veggies we have seeded include Bok Choi, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Kale, Kalettes, Leaf Lettuce, Salad lettuce, Kohlrabi, Radicchio, Scallions, Spinach, Mustard, Swiss Chard, Komatsuna and High tunnel Tomatoes. Were really excited to have so many starts on the way and are hoping for a mild March so we can be able to get into the ground.

Today, with the nice weather all day, we'll mostly be outside doing field clean up after the transplants get a good watering. I'm still waiting to turn the outside water system on, at least until those overnight temps warm up a little. So, we haul buckets of water from the house out to the seed houses which makes for a major chore. Soon this burden will ease up!

A sure sign of spring here on the farm is always the increased predator pressure. Yesterday, the dogs and I woke to a fox chasing chickens all around the lower yard down here by the house. Luckily, Rose took to the chase and ran the fox off with no chicken casualties. Time to keep the hens shut up overnight and not out in the morning until the coast is clear. Some of you may remember last spring when the farmer was fighting a chicken eating raccoon. So far no coon, but the fox is around. Another sign of spring is the geese, large flocks flying overhead, including the all white snow geese. A beautiful sight.

On the home front, Farmer Joan continues to improve, while still trying to catch her breath. We're taking baby steps and setting small daily goals to get ready for some upcoming therapy which will hope will have her ready for the summer. All the prayers and well wishes are working! Thank you, thank you for the support!

Lastly, I wanted to say we will be doing a buying club this week. The order window is open and ready for orders. Hoping soon to have some greens to add to the options. And 2018 CSA memberships are still available. We will probably lower the amount of memberships we make available, so let your friends know. Thanks again gor the support!

Be well,

Farmer Don

News and Buying Club is Open for this weekend.

Hi Friends!

It is nice to touch base with our community once again! Thoughts, prayers and well wishes really helped us through a rough stretch there. After a ten day hospital run, we have Joan back home and starting to feel somewhat better. Just to be home means so much. Still a long road to go as we push for a healthier life. Thank you for all the support out there, it meant and means the world to us!

So, with the boss home and feeling better, the farmer has opened the buying club for orders this weekend, Friday Feb. 16th and Saturday Feb. 17th. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and allow us to deliver the goods.

Around the farm we are starting to feel the need to get up and going. The seed house is up and running, the germination chamber is full and excitement is building for the 2018 growing season. Many vegetables growing in the seed house right now, including scallions, lettuce, spinach, kale, celery, parsley with more kale and broccoli in the warm germination chamber. As a bonus, many cut flower varieties are in the germination chamber also, had some seeds so we'll give the flowers a run. Two weeks and we'll be into March, a big month for growers, a month that can be spring like or winter like such as last year with the big snow dump in the middle of the month. Oh well, just a wait and see situation. In the mean time we learn from our issues last winter to improve systems this winter. Always learning, always changing, always growing!

Another thanks to everyone who has signed up for 2018 CSA. I will be adding the early sign up members to the website soon. But in the mean time, thanks again for the support, tell your friends, Dancing Hen Farm is open for 2018 sign ups and come out and say hi at our buying club sites.

BE WELL FRIENDS!

Farmer Don

CSA is Open Alive and Well

Hi Friends!

Just a quick couple of notes here. Number one - thank you to all our friends who have signed up for 2018 and are continuing the journey into sustainable agriculture with us! Knowledge and experience grow each year we are able to share the harvest with our friends and supporters! As I've said many time in the past, we couldn't do it with out you!!

Speaking of knowledge, I'm off to Hershey next week for the annual Fruit and Growers Convention. Many applicable workshops and of learning to be had. Looking forward to catching up with some of my grower friends and sharing notes and ideas to keep the wheels rolling.

The farm is enjoying the break from the really cold weather a few weeks back. This has allowed us to start up the seed house. Had to tweak the germination chamber a little, and will continue to do this until I'm really happy with the system, but boy it's fun these sunny days to be out in the "farmer Don man cave" with seeds, warm soil, barn cats, the dogs coming and going, bluegrass on the juke box, and dreams of fresh veggies around the corner. Next up is get one of the seed tables set up so farmer Joan and farmer Don can play some cards out in the cave.

And also I need to send a thanks out to all the support Farmer Joan has received from our community in the past few weeks. Can't say how much this means to us here on the farm to know we're not alone as we go through a small rough patch. Keep your good vibes, prayers and well wishes coming our way as we can feel these raise us up in tough times. Again, friends it's all about community!! And from us, love, hugs and good wishes are bouncing back to all of you! Be well!

Finally, I can announce that we are up and running for 2018 CSA sign ups. Right now early bird discounts end on the 31st but I may extend this into February. Gotta consult with the brains behind the organization to get her approval!

Time to poach some salmon and put it over some salad, simple dinner but good. Chicken fried rice worked well last nice, and hey we have some nice chicken ready to go so stay in touch with the buying club.

Thanks again for the support, be well,

Farmer Don

2018 CSA is OPEN, Alive and Well!

Hi Friends!

Just a quick couple of notes here. Number one - thank you to all our friends who have signed up for 2018 and are continuing the journey into sustainable agriculture with us! Knowledge and experience grow each year we are able to share the harvest with our friends and supporters! As I've said many time in the past, we couldn't do it with out you!!

Speaking of knowledge, I'm off to Hershey next week for the annual Fruit and Growers Convention. Many applicable workshops and of learning to be had. Looking forward to catching up with some of my grower friends and sharing notes and ideas to keep the wheels rolling.

The farm is enjoying the break from the really cold weather a few weeks back. This has allowed us to start up the seed house. Had to tweak the germination chamber a little, and will continue to do this until I'm really happy with the system, but boy it's fun these sunny days to be out in the "farmer Don man cave" with seeds, warm soil, barn cats, the dogs coming and going, bluegrass on the juke box, and dreams of fresh veggies around the corner. Next up is get one of the seed tables set up so farmer Joan and farmer Don can play some cards out in the cave.

And also I need to send a thanks out to all the support Farmer Joan has received from our community in the past few weeks. Can't say how much this means to us here on the farm to know we're not alone as we go through a small rough patch. Keep your good vibes, prayers and well wishes coming our way as we can feel these raise us up in tough times. Again, friends it's all about community!! And from us, love, hugs and good wishes are bouncing back to all of you! Be well!

Finally, I can announce that we are up and running for 2018 CSA sign ups. Right now early bird discounts end on the 31st but I may extend this into February. Gotta consult with the brains behind the organization to get her approval!

Time to poach some salmon and put it over some salad, simple dinner but good. Chicken fried rice worked well last nice, and hey we have some nice chicken ready to go so stay in touch with the buying club.

Thanks again for the support, be well,

Farmer Don

Final Fall CSA delivery and Buying Club News

Greetings from a cold and windy Dancing Hen Farm!
 

CSA Members:  Tuesday's delivery, Week 8, was the final delivery for our Fall CSA.  Week 8 was not an egg week.  Thanks to each of you for your support!

Winter Buying Club:  We will be delivering for the winter buying club this weekend.  Ordering is now open and ends tomorrow, Thursday, morning at 5 am.  This will be the last buying club delivery until after the New Year.

This weekend we will also be doing a market at The Whole Life Center for Health on Route 309 in Drums from 1 to 4 pm.  Farmer Don will be there selling some organic produce, pasture raised chicken, apple orchard pork and CSA Shares for 2018.  If the weather allows he will also be grilling and handing out samples.  We will be discounting our 2018 CSA memberships for this market only.  If you pay in full (on Saturday, at the Whole Life Center) you will receive a $50 discount!  This is on top of our early bird discount and returning member discounts.  We will donate $25 of each discount to the Valley Food Pantry.  Come on by on Saturday, learn about the Whole Life Center, say hello to Farmer Don and pick up some locally produced goods.

It looks like cold weather has arrived!  On farm, we have only received a dusting of snow, but today the temperature is struggling to reach the 20's and the wind is howling.  But, a quick check of the weather shows, temperatures returning to the 40's by the beginning of next week.  It is hard to believe that in just about a week we will be celebrating the Winter Solstice.  The Winter Solstice is marked by the shortest day of the year, but more importantly is also means days will start getting longer!  Yes, longer!  I know there are many, many weeks of winter weather and snow still ahead for this winter, but longer days already brings joy and hope for an early spring.

On farm, we are preparing for the holidays.  Our Christmas tree is up and decorated and the house gets more festive each day.  Our Christmas tends to be very low key, quiet time at home.  This week brought our annual hanging of the barn wreath.  Thanks to Stacy, this year, for her wreath building talent!  Farmer Don has started baking cookies, chocolate chip, of course.  Unfortunately he needs to bake them frequently, as one batch tends to only last a few days in our house! 

We will be announcing the opening of our 2018 CSA in the next week.  For 2018 we will be offering a Summer Season Share of 20 weeks.  Add on egg and chicken shares will also be available.  We will be limiting the number of CSA shares available this year to 75 members.  Egg and chicken shares  and buying club options will also be limited.  Please note:  Memberships are reserved in order by which payment is received.  Watch your email for 2018 CSA registration opening and details.

I want to take a bit of time to talk about our buying club options, as this is a bit confusing.  We offer 2 different buying clubs.  One is our Winter Buying Club.  This is a stand alone buying club and is free to join and no deposit is required.  With this buying club, you will need to purchase a free Buyer's Club membership and you will need to place your order online using our website.  We meet members with orders at a designated spot and designated time on Friday night or Saturday depending on the location.  Orders are paid for at the time of pick up.  Our other buying club is offered to CSA members.  This CSA buying club is offered to allow CSA members to purchase additional items to be delivered with their weekly boxes.  The CSA buying club does require a deposit.  Your orders will be deducted from this deposit.  As always, if you have questions concerning the buying clubs, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Farmer Don has, once again, been the resident chef. Over the weekend he made a really delicious pork roast with sauerkraut.  Pork and sauerkraut is one of my favorite meals, so it is always a  winner for me. Even if he did serve it with roasted, rather than mashed potatoes!  We will repeat this meal for a traditional New Year's Day meal.  We once again have chicken to eat. For most of the season we had been sold out of chicken and this included the extra chicken we produced for ourselves!  It is nice to bring chicken back into our rotation of proteins.  There is nothing like a Sunday dinner of roast chicken!

Well, the hours is getting late and my creative juices are succumbing to sleep, so I need to end this newsletter and move on to a cup of herbal tea and bed.
  

Be well, be safe and have a joyous holiday season.

Fall CSA Week 7 Newsletter

Greetings from Dancing Hen Farm!  We hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I apologize for not being on top of newsletters recently. 

CSA members:  This is week 7.  Week 7 is an egg week.  There is ONE week remaining in our 8 week Fall/Winter CSA.

Winter Buying Club Members:  There will be NO buying club delivery this weekend.  Currently our plans are to resume deliveries next week.

Farmer Don and I spent a quiet Thanksgiving on farm.  We had an invitation to travel a bit south of here and join my nephew and his family for dinner.  However farm chores kept us close to home.  We still have a batch of meat birds on pasture which are requiring quite a bit of attention to keep them in food and water.  We did take time during our meal to be thankful that most of the food we were enjoying was produced on our farm or neighboring farms.  We have so much to be thankful for, including easy access to locally produced, nutrient dense food.

Here on farm we are slowly shifting to winter mode.  This week we will shut our irrigation down until next spring.  We had already drained most of the system, but some of the buried lines to the greenhouses and lower fields have remained open.  With cooler temperatures predicted for this weekend, we will need to drain and shut down the entire system to prevent freezing of our pump and above ground outlets.  This will increase our workload as we will now have to haul water from the house to keep plants and animals watered.  Speaking of animals, the shorter days and cooler temperatures have caused our chickens to decrease their egg production.  Our barn cats, on the other hand, have increased their production. Their production of fur that is!  Two of our barn cats have long hair and it always amazes me how much fluffier they become during the winter. Come spring this same fluff will fall off in big clumps.

 

This past weekend Farmer Don and I spent a few hours planning for next season.  We are finalizing our plans for the 2018 CSA.  It is hard to believe this will be our 11th year of production on this farm.  We are still (and probably always will be) tweaking systems.  And, again this year, we will make some changes to our CSA.  This past season, we tried a slightly new approach to our CSA.  We shortened our main/summer CSA and added an extended Fall CSA.  We feel our fall harvest has been a mixed level of success.  Although storage crops are looking good, many of our greens did not survive a hard early November freeze.  For this reason, we are going back to a slightly longer Summer CSA, with, at this time, no commitment for a Fall season.  Later in the summer or early fall of next year we will make a final decision on extending the CSA.  In addition, we will be limiting the CSA to 75 members and we will be limiting the number of egg shares we sell.  Watch for an upcoming email announcing details for our 2018 season and when registration can begin.

In the kitchen, I am making a bit of an early New Year's resolution.  I am committed to making bone broths on a regular basis.  For years, I saved all of our bones and vegetable scraps to make broth and I always had a supply of homemade broth in the fridge and in the freezer.  Recently, I have gotten out of this habit.  But, when I cooked down our turkey carcass and tasted the delicious nutrient packed broth, I knew I needed to put the stock pot to use more often!

Speaking of the kitchen, the dishes are not washing themselves!  I will end this newsletter and here and move onto getting the kitchen in order.

Thanks, once again for everyone's support and please watch your email for details of our 2018 season.