Food Share

Hi folks, this is Leigh with the long blog post and lots of pictures. As always, click on the pictures for larger view and feel free to click the "comments" button at the bottom.

At my Thursday pick up there were lovely strawberries, snap peas, lettuce, onions, carrots, and spinach. It was raining super-hard (as I suspect you know!) and Pete mentioned that strawberries may run out since the fields were too wet to harvest more today. So, please understand that every day is different on the farm. The share items available may be slightly different from day to day during a week. Of course, Pete tries to make sure that there is plenty for everyone, but there are many variables that can affect availability. For example, this rain makes it difficult to harvest certain crops. At other times, planting may take precedence over picking, growth may be inhibited by overcast weather, pests can affect the harvest, or staff may be unavailable to pick. So, please understand if not everything is available every day. With that little blurb, here are some pictures of the wonderful food:

The rain may affect strawberry harvest this week.

Snap peas

Carrots...the tops are great for slow cooked soup (IMHO)

Spinach

Farm Card

If you're wanting to become a member the easiest way is to get a Farm Card.

If you have any questions about the Farm Card, please ask someone at the farm stand. They can explain the entire system -- it's actually quite easy once you try it. It's a way to become a member without having to pay the entire cost up front. And, it helps the farm to have incremental income during the season. You'll be able to buy just what you need each week, so on the weeks you have company you can get more and on the weeks when you know you won't cook, you can get less.

Local Market Items

Besides all the lovely share items, there are lots of local market items you can purchase separately.  Here are just a few:

much Mor bread (100% organic grain)

Yummy muffins...my picture doesn't do them justice

Honey from GJP Honey Farm in Gardiner!

Kombucha (Chai)

Pika's Quiche

People at the Farm!

The dog seems to be hoarding a carrot...hmmm...smart dog.

These kids were just too cute for words. They were loving the puddles!

Ian and his sister Delaney:

And, last, but not least, Delaney and Ana hard at work:

Next time, watch for pictures of more cicadas if you can stand it, and maybe a surprising slug photograph.

We are open for the season for members and the public
 The days and hours of our farm stand are
Thursdays 8:00AM-7:00PM
Fridays 9:00AM-600 PM
Saturdays-9:00AM-3:00 PM





Here is are some baby apples.
Pete is working hard to bring them to harvest 

Here are some more!

A morning picture of the farm and mountains

Another morning view

Opening Day

Wow, I have so much to write about. Today was the first day of the 2013 Season. I went right to the farm this morning to pick up my share. There are many topics to cover and I can't do them all today, but I'll work them into future posts.

Food at the Pickup

There were strawberries, spinach, spring onions, lettuce, and garlic scapes. Everything looked so wonderful!

Also there herbs you can cut.

And, there are extra items from local vendors which you can purchase separately. For example, bread,

 eggs, yogurt, milk, honey and more. Today, Adair Wines was here giving tastings of their wonderful wines. The grapes are grown in New Paltz and other fruits used are sourced locally. I liked it so much I bought a bottle! Adair Wines is hoping to be back at the farm on Thursdays (I forgot exactly which Thursdays...I'll try to find out and post it here).

People at the Pickup

There were a lot of people at the pickup, but today I want to talk about all the people that make it happen.

Pete!

Delaney and Sarah at the Farm Stand

More hard working folks with the tractor loaded for work.

Ana worked at the Farm Stand last year and says you may see here working some this year. But today, it was all about Glam at the Farm.

Ana, all glam for the opening day.

Ana with her silver shoes...and tractor.

Crops on the Way

Onions - this is the front field from my picture on April 28th but now I can tell what it is.

Same field as in April 28th blog post.

Strawberries

Squash

Tomatoes, Lettuce, and Etc

A nice view of the mountain and greenhouse.

Don't Forget About the Cicadas

I'm told that they have not been eating the crops. I wonder if that comes later though. I have a variety of photos to include for you. The first set shows the holes from which they emerge after their long hibernation, and their skins after they molt.

When they molt, they gain their wings. Here is one I found today that was alive, though it seemed a little stunned, perhaps from being caught in the middle of a lawnmower. You can see the cool red eyes and the approximate size.

I think this one is a little small though so I'll keep looking for bigger, juicier ones to photograph.

Robin had this link in the newsletter -- if you're into cicadas, check it out:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/30/cicada-time-lapse-video-by-samuel-orr_n_3361789.html or you can go straight to the video at http://vimeo.com/66688653

Big Family News

Robin wrote in the newsletter that Ian and Mary Kate are getting married! Congratulations!

Did you hear them? Loud...

Did you hear the cicadas today? When I went out my front door today I thought a fire or burglar alarm was going off somewhere. It wasn't until about an hour later that I realized the noise couldn't possibly be an alarm. It was still far away, but I realized it was cicadas. How could I have mistaken it?

When I left my house, I heard them much louder down the street. It was actually comforting in some strange way. A cycle of nature doing what nature does.

I've now seem some around my house. Here are some rather poor photos of a cicada who met the business end of a big spider. I'll try to get some better photos! I don't know if they do damage to the crops...I'll have to ask Robin.

Cicada and spider

Sorry -- dark picture of cicada...spider hid from me!

 

Another view...spider still hiding

Flowers

I was at the farm the other day and cut these flowers. I didn't have my camera with me then, but I took some photos when I got home.

Apple Trees

I heard from Robin that the apple trees have baby apples on them. We'll try to get a photo when the weather is nicer (i.e., when it is not raining and not >90).

First Pickup

See everyone in a few days!!

Leigh