Past + Upcoming Events at Powisset Farm

Last week was a very exciting week for the Trustees, including Powisset Farm! Chronicle (one of my favorite TV shows) decided to do a piece on the Trustees so spent the whole week at different Trustees properties - from Cranes Beach in Ipswich to The Old Manse in Concord...and had "farm day" on Thursday, where they spent the morning at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough and Powisset in the afternoon. They toured the farm and then came inside to the kitchen where they talked to Nicole Lewis and then filmed a portion of her Make & Take: DIY Bath & Body Products from the Kitchen.

Upcoming Events

There are still a few spots at Nicole Lewis' Baking with Einkorn class on Wednesday from 6:30-9pm. We will likely be making 1-2 different types of bread, cookies and scones!

For those thinking ahead to Mom...we will be hosting a Mothers Day Brunch here at Powisset on May 8th from 11am-1pm. If the weather cooperates, it will be a combination of both indoor and outdoor dining. Bring the whole family - your kids, your mom, your sister....bring everyone! If you are interested in seeing the menu, please email me: nnacamuli@thetrustees.org.

And don't forget, we are having an Open House on Saturday (Apr. 2nd) from 1-4pm! We will have some vendors (Kathy Zola knits, Lisa Walker pottery, and Bushel + Crumb pies), the 4H Club, food, kids activities (seeding, cookie decorating, stamping), a farm tour at 2pm...and the opportunity for you to meet Zannah and Andrew, our new Farm Manager & Assistant Farm Manager and learn more about the CSA and events. 

The following day, Sunday (Apr. 3rd) at 10am we are holding A Passover Meal. Even if you are not Jewish, join me and Inna Knitrik from Inna's Kitchen in Newton & the Boston Public Market, as we learn how to make: Matzo Ball Soup, Honey Glazed Chicken with Roasted Veggies, and Potato Kugel!


Notes From the Field:

The greenhouse is exploding with new life this week. We have beets, chard, onions, scallions, fennel, lettuce, kale, and cabbage filling the greenhouse. As I walk in to water the greenhouse I am awe struck by the blanket of green that lies before me. Our apprentices are starting next week. It's always fun to welcome folks into our community and to have more hands to help as the workload increases. The fences around the fields will go up next week and we will begin transplanting. This marks another point of transition on the farm. We go from a plan on paper, to seeding thousands of plants in the greenhouse. Now we are taking the next step in the plan and putting starting to put those plants out in the world in a patchwork puzzle.


CSA sign-ups:
If you had a CSA share last season and have not signed up yet this year time is running out for you to be guaranteed a share for 2016. CSA sign-ups have been opened to the wait list and they are going fast. If you are a returning member and wish to sign-up please e-mail me at zporter@thetrustees.org. If you are currently on the wait list and have not heard from us yet you will be receiving an email soon.


Volunteer opportunities:
If you are interested in getting your hands dirty in the greenhouse and out in the field we will begin offering volunteer drop in hours on Saturday mornings from 9-12. The start date for these drop in opportunities is April 9th. Meet Andrew at the information kiosk by the parking area promptly at 9.


Update on James:
Our beloved farm cat James continues to heel from his broken leg. He is being fostered by a loving family in Easton, MA. James will not be able to return to the farm for several months as he recuperates. If you wish to follow James's progress or make a donation to his medical fund please follow this link: https://www.gofundme.com/helpsupportjames



Pop-up farm stand:
The pop-up farm stand remains open this week. It is located bellow the barn, outside of the root cellar. The stand is self serve and open Tuesday - Sunday, 9 to 6. We have storage crops, pies, and pork for sale.

Zannah, on behalf of the farm crew

News from the farm:

We are into our second week of seeding in the greenhouse. We have been seeding cabbages, onions, scallions, beets, and lettuce. The first sprouts began to peek out of the soil last week. It's hard to believe with snow on the ground but soon the greenhouse will be overflowing and we will start transplanting out in the fields.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Anyone interested in volunteering at Powisset this spring doing some seeding and/or greenhouse work? Drop-in on Saturdays in April & May from 9am-noon. Meet Andrew at the kiosk near the parking area!

 

On a more somber note our beloved farm cat James showed up last week with a catastrophic injury to his rear left leg. He sustained multiple fractures and underwent surgery. James will recover but he has a long road ahead of him. James and Simba are not owned by The Trustees. They are cared for by a few members of the farm staff. If you would like to follow James's recovery or make a donation to help offset the cost of his surgery and recovery please follow this link: https://www.gofundme.com/helpsupportjames

 

Zannah, on behalf of the farm crew

Powisset Past + Future Events!

 I hope those of you who made it to "Fiddler on the Farm & The Whyte School of Irish Step Dance" on Sunday, enjoyed the show! All of the performers were so talented and we are so appreciative that they came out to share their talents with the Powisset community! Happy St. Patty's Day to all of you Irish out there!

Save the Date! On April 2nd, we will be hosting an Open House here at Powisset! This is an opportunity for you to meet Zannah, our new farm manager and Andrew, our new assistant farm manager, if you haven't already! Zannah & Andrew will be giving a farm tour including all of the action going on in our greenhouse. We will have food and drink and an activyt for the kids...and Lisa Walker will also be with us selling her beautiful pottery while Bushel + Crumb will be offering samples of their pies. They will also be on hand if you are interested in purchasing a Pie Shares for this summer.

Save the Date Again! May 30th is Springfest! In the morning, we will kick off the day with the Powisset Farm Trail Run organized by Sun Multisport followed by a day-long celebration of spring, the farm, and the community! We will have local food and beer, we will be giving farm tours, you can visit our animals (our pigs will have just been born.....yah!), and we will also have lots of activities, a cake eating contest (to celebrate the Trustees' 125th birthday), kids crafts, vendors, and all of you!

Next week we will be offering the following classes. Please join us for one or all!

Saturday, March 19th at 10am: Flow on the Farm with Yoga
Tuesday, March 22nd at 10am and again at 6pm: Renew, Revive & Refresh with Vision Board
Thursday, March 29th at 6:30pm: Make & Take: Handmade Bath & Body Gifts from the Kitchen

 

2016 Bushel + Crumb Pie Shares Now Available!

Powisset Farm will once again be offering Bushel + Crumb Pie Shares for pick up at the farm with your CSA share.  Bushel + Crumb offers members one sweet and one savory pie a month from mid-June through mid-October. Pie flavors and ingredients change with the seasons and always feature locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains.  

2016 Pie Share sign ups have now begun! You can find out more about a Bushel + Crumb share and sign-up online at www.bushelandcrumb.com

And if you’re interested in trying out a Bushel + Crumb pie, we’ll be offering samples at our Open House on April 2nd!

Farm Happenings

It's really starting to look like spring around the farm. We have had some cold nights which have put a thin skin of ice on the vernal pools at the back of the farm. I've spotted wood ducks and red wing black birds around the farm this week as well. The garlic is up and we are springing forward this Sunday. We started seeding in the greenhouse this week and in less than a month we will be transplanting outside. The magic that is spring leaves me awe struck every year.

 

Pop-up farm stand:
The pop-up farm stand located under the barn in the root cellar is still going strong. There are still lots of carrots, onions, parsnips, celeriac, and potatoes. We also have popcorn, maple syrup, pies, and our own pork! The pop-up stand is open Wednesday - Sunday 9-6. Come check it out.

Welcome Andrew!

Andrew Kelly has joined the farm team as the new Assistant CSA Manager. Andrew brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Please take a few moments to read his bio below.

This is my first year working for The Trustees, and I am excited to be a part of this meaningful organization. My interest in farming developed at a young age and I often assisted on my family's dairy farm in western Massachusetts. By the time I reached an age appropriate to begin farming as a career my family had donated their land for use as a bird sanctuary. Their donation has resonated with me and given me a distinct appreciation for the people who make land conservation and preservation possible. Working for The Trustees was an easy choice to make given their commitment to land stewardship.

I have been farming since 2010 and since then, I have gained experience in many branches of agriculture. I started my career in Washington milking sheep and making artisan sheep cheese. While out West, I also spent a number of seasons working on diversified animal farms which raised pigs, cows, goats, sheep, and chickens. Most recently, I spent three seasons specializing in vegetable farming helping to develop a 60-acreorganic vegetable farm in NY from the ground up.

 My hobbies include cooking, raising animals and being outside in nearly any capacity.

I have a great appreciation for agriculture and the people who choose to make shopping for local food
a priority. I am eager to meet you all, grow your food, and embark on a new growing season together.

Cheers!

Andrew

 

Drop-in What's In Your CSA Sessions + Upcoming Events + Job Opportunity at Powisset & Rocky Woods

Do you love your Powisset veggies and want to help others learn how to store, care for, use them? Well, this summer CSA season we will be offering a drop in sessions (mid-day on Saturdays, but perhaps some mid week sessions too) where someone will be on hand in the Powisset Cooks kitchen to help you utilize your precious veggies! If you are interested in leading one of these sessions...or partnering up with someone else, we want to hear from you! Please enter your name, email and phone # on the google doc attached on the date you would like to sign up. If you have questions about these sessions, let me know (nnacamuli@thetrustees.org). If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, more info will come as we near the first pick up!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yYCNIO5ZnURL7zU8tESitz2dSFBNMyB8O4uYnEsjX9c/edit#gid=389238064

Upcoming Events:

• Thursday, March 10th: Make & Take: DIY Skincare with Nourish by Coco: learn how to make your own skincare products in the kitchen!

• Satruday, March 12th: Flow on the Farm with Yoga: Every Saturday in March we offer an All Levels yoga class taught by Ellen O'Hara of Core Asset Fitness.

• Sunday, March 13th is our Irish celebration! Come watch step dancers and Claire Pettit, a master fiddler, at Fiddler on the Farm and the Whyte School of Irish Step Dance. 

• Tuesday, March 16th: Come learn about organic vs. conventional, which is better, worse, what it means, from Holli Bassin, certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, at Organic vs. Conventional, That is the Question. We are holding both a day time and evening session to accommodate all schedules.

Engagement Ranger at Powisset Farm 7 Rocky Woods: Job Opportunity

The Trustees of Reservations is seeking a part-time Engagement Ranger to engage and excite visitors at three Trustees property locations:  Rocky Woods in Medfield, Powisset Farm and Noanet Woodlands in Dover, and occasionally Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough for program related support.  This is a part time, year-round position which includes work on weekends and holidays.  The Engagement Ranger will be responsible for greeting, educating, and encouraging visitors to support The Trustees through a variety of outlets. As the first person a visitor meets on our properties, Engagement Rangers have the opportunity to greet everyone with a smile and positive attitude, and create a positive and lasting first impression. For more information about the position, please visit our web site.

Past + Upcoming Events at Powisset + Al Fresh Co. Job Opportunity!

Good morning everyone! I just left our Thursday Mindfulness group - we tried out a  mindfulness eating session with a raisin. If anyone has ever done this, it is quite an interesting sensation! Our "homework for the week is to eat ONE mindful meal. It sounds easy, but I know it will be challenging. For anyone that is curious about meditation and would like to join us, we gather here at 7:00am on Thursdays in the Powisset classroom and I am quite impressed with the dedication of the group who come here every single week to learn how to quiet their minds. Once it gets warm out, we will be outside enjoying the beauty of the farm.

This Saturday bring 3 more classes and workshops:

• 8:00am is Flow on the Farm with Yoga with Ellen O'Hara from Core Asset Fitness.
• 10:00am is Winter Walk & Warmth led by ecologist and volunteer, Anne Innis. After our walk I will be whipping up Oatmeal Butternut Pancakes with Browned Buttered Nuts from Maria Speck's book Simply Ancient Grains. Yum!
• At 2:00pm lean how to make Welsh Cakes with Helen Coates from Copper Kettle Bakery!

And next week, we have 2 very cool events!

• On Tuesday, March 10th, Nicole Lewis is teaching Make & Take: DIY Skincare with Nourish by Coco. Learn how to make your own skincare products right in the kitchen. And, I have to admit, I am addicted to my eucalyptus facial cleansing oil!
• And on Sunday, March 13th, we are really psyched to celebrate St. Patty's Day with fiddler Claire Pettit as well as The Whyte School of Irish Step Dance who are performing at Powisset! Please make sure to register soon as space will be limited in the Powisset Kitchen/Classroom!

And, finally, come the end of the month, Laurel Valchius owner and founder of Al Fresh Co. will be utilizing the farm kitchen to prepare her ready to cook meal kits. She is looking for some help in the kitchen. Should you know of anyone interested in this fun job, please see the description below and contact Laurel.

al FreshCo, a local-food meal kit company is looking for kitchen prep help on Tuesday mornings at the Powisset Farm Kitchen. Experience in a commercial kitchen and/or production setting is preferred, but not necessary. We do things like wash, chop and bag seasonal vegetables from the farm, and wrap them in packages with other ingredients to make meal kits. If you get psyched about getting repetitive work done well, and quickly; are looking for a fun kitchen environment where we work with local vegetables; and can pitch in with cooking sauces and other delightful things to go in the meal kits, please apply! Must be available Tuesday mornings between 7-11am. Email laurel@al-freshco.com with your interest, availability and experience.