Groundhog Day!

Today February began and brought one of the warmest days we’ve had at the farm in a while.  I ran into CSA members walking around the almost snow-melted fields.  I took the dog for an extra long walk around the farm before heading to the diner in Newton to meet up with family for per-groundhog day lunch.  As I drove back to the farm to get packing for my winter vacation week, I thought about how groundhog day is one of my favorite holidays and is January really over and oh my goodness are we really nearing the start of another farm season…

Groundhog day (besides being one of the best movies ever) is, for me, a wonderful pause in the middle of winter to remind me even though spring is on its way, it’s still winter.  And winter is one of the most important seasons in a year on a farm.  Since January began we have been packing our days with planning, organizing, interviewing and visioning our upcoming 2014 season. 

As it turns out, this season is shaping up to be a big year of change and growth at Powisset Farm.  Our barn construction project is soon-to-be underway, we are preparing to welcome one hundred chickens to the farm to do our own egg production this season, we are planning to build and launch a mobile farmers market and we are introducing our first ever “small” size CSA share. With all this growth, planning and preparation, Groundhog Day was a welcome event, to reassure me that even with spring and the new season on its way, full of excitement, there is still one more month until we drop the first seeds into warm soil and the season is officially underway.

I hope you enjoy your groundhog day by imagining the Powisset groundhogs peaking their heads above the soil to admire the beautiful fields, wondering if spring is on its way sooner or later.

From the still slightly snow-covered fields,

Meryl

CSA Sign ups begin March 1

We are now a month away from the 2014 CSA registration!  We will mail out the registration forms on March 1, so check your mail that week.  If we do not have your correct snail mail address, please let us know!  If you have any friends interested in joining our CSA community, please direct them to our website to sign up for our CSA waiting list: http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/csa/powisset-farm-csa/our-csa/buy-a-share.html

Call for volunteers!

Are you interested in becoming more involved with Powisset Farm this season?  Do you have an interest in farm-based education or culinary adventures?  Do you have time to offer a few hours a week to help us dream up ideas for workshops and the best way to use our new kitchen and expanded classroom space?  Are you interested in leading workshops or assisting with farm events?  Let us know!

Our farm will be going through some physical changes this season with the addition of our new kitchen and classroom space, an outdoor learning and relaxing area and a new flock of laying chickens.  We are looking for a small group of committed volunteers who are interested in helping us make the best use of our space.  This may range from brainstorming meetings, to hands on teaching of workshops, or just helping us to connect to community partners that may benefit from our new farm infrastructure. 

If you are interested in joining our Education and Outreach committee, please get in touch with Farm Manager, Meryl LaTronica at: mlatronica@ttor.org