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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sorry for the Delay...Sign-Ups Coming Soon!

Hello everyone,

It seems I spoke too soon last week!  There was a delay at the printer and the sign-ups did not go out to your homes on the day we had planned!  We have followed up with them and registrations should get to you by the end of this week.

Many apologies!  In the meantime, enjoy this delightful picture of me and Tessa and that incredible farm cat, Simba!

registrations are on their way! 

See you at the farm soon,

Meryl

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

CSA Sign-ups and a New Roof!

On Saturday morning, March 1 2014, I decided that it was time to get out of my winter funk and get to work.  And I really had no choice.  The greenhouse was waiting, shivering in the cold temperatures of February, with no roof on it!
old roof coming down!

After seven years, we were finally replacing the plastic roof of our greenhouse.  The week before March 1st, Tessa and I grabbed shovels and tractors and went to work clearing the sides of the 26ft by 75ft structure—breaking through layers of ice, making our way to the gravel and earth that hasn’t seen daylight for months.  We bent and lifted and used muscles that had we had neglected to use since our last CSA pick up.  We finally freed the sides from the snow and in the gray of the slightly snowy and rainy afternoon we took blades to the layers of plastic that had, for so many years, sheltered us from the rain and wind and provided light for our plants to grow and thrive.  On ladders at opposite ends of the greenhouse, we started from the peaks and sliced along the ridges and down along the sides.  Game on.  This roof was coming off.  We freed the massive piece of poly and pulled it until it cascaded down the south side like a waterfall, onto the icy ground before rolling it up, burrito-style, and dragging it away from its former home. 

The next day we replaced base boards and cleaned wiggle wire channels (ask me about wiggle wire.  I love it) and duck taped all the little edges that would be in danger of snagging our beautiful new plastic.  Yes. Duck tape is a major part of replacing a greenhouse roof!  We covered our fans and greenhouse supplies with plastic bags and installed new blower fans.  Once the skeleton of our structure seemed secure, we were ready.  And then the wind started to blow.  And for that last week of February, the wind blew, the temperature dropped and the greenhouse waited.  And we waited, knowing that even with the slightest breeze, putting on an 80ft by 60ft piece of ploy would prove impossible. 

That brings us back to March 1.  March first, the morning the wind stopped long enough to put the roof on the Powisset farm greenhouse.  At 7am on March 1, 2014, I pulled myself out of bed, I shook of the winter haze—the many hours behind a computer screen, the cold, ice-covered everything making it near crazy to work on tractors, the planning and ordering and counting seeds—I put away the inside work for the day and pulled on some coveralls and work gloves and headed outside. With a crew of talented community members and farmers, we worked like a baseball team making a double play—seamlessly pulling on layer one and two of plastic, securing each edge and cheering each other on as we did so.  On March 1, Powisset Farm got its new greenhouse roof, and began its new season.  The lion roared and the farmers cheered and the greenhouse filled with warmth and promise and my winter funk was gone. 

 
soon the seedlings will be here!
Shake off the winter anytime with us and come visit the greenhouse!  I’ll be seeing onions, leeks, broccoli and shallots this week and dreaming of June when our first harvests begin!

Welcome to the start of the 2014 season!

See you in the greenhouse,

Meryl LaTronica
(Powisset Farm Manager)





CSA Sign-ups have begun!

powisset farm carrots
Hooray and welcome to a new season at Powisset Farm!  For returning members, our registrations were dropped in the mail today and you should be receiving them by the end of the week!  If for some reason, you don’t see it in your mailbox, please let me know!  We will be accepting CSA renewals for the next month! So now is your chance to secure a spot in our 2014 season!  In early April, we will begin offering shares to the folks on our waiting list, so make sure you register as soon as you can!  If you know of people who want to join the Powisset Farm CSA, please send them to this link: http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/csa/powisset-farm-csa/our-csa/buy-a-share.html  where they can join our waiting list.

There is one major change this season, which is that we are offering two different size shares.  A full share or a small share.  A full size share is for those of you that are content with the current CSA share!  It is enough to feed a family of four (or more) or two to three adults who cook at home quite a bit!  A small size share is for those of you who have been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of produce and are looking for a smaller amount of food each week.  Both shares will run for about 20 weeks (no less than 19 weeks, no more than 21).  Both shares will have a variety of items each week, but the small share will have fewer items and smaller quantities.  The full share will remain essentially the same as it has been, with maybe a slight increase in the quantity of an item. 
 
spinach! soon!
You will also see on your sign up form an opportunity to renew your TTOR membership and make a donation to our food for all program. 

Click here: http://www.thetrustees.org/membership/   to check out information on Trustees membership.

Last season Powisset distributed over $15,000 worth of produce to our food access partners; The Holliston Food Pantry, Medfield Food Cupboard, The Dedham Food Panty, The BNAN Produce to Pantries program and the Bowdoin Street Health Center.  Through CSA member contributions in 2013, we were able to raise $4100 to help support the cost of growing that food for donation.  Thank you to all who participated!  We hope to continue our donations this season and are grateful for whatever way you are able to help support our work!

We are excited to start signing up members and putting together this year’s CSA community!  As always, let me know If you have any questions! mlatronica@ttor.org



  
Housing for Farmers!


It’s that time of year where our amazing new crew of farmers are arriving in Dover to begin their season of learning and growing at Powisset!  We are short of some farm housing again this season and are looking for a good home for some great people starting in April.  Do you have any available housing?  Are you willing to rent a room/in-law apartment or yurt?  Let me know!  Any leads are helpful!  
Any info…email: mlatronica@ttor.org