May 30th, 2010

Dear Friends,

              Here we are at the beginning of the 2010 harvest season and the fields are brimming with early vegetables ready for harvest.  It was hardly the end of March this year when the weather warmed up, the soil dried out, and we sprung into action... zero to sixty from one day to the next.  Ever since we’ve had mostly favorable weather though it has been pretty dry and very windy.  The rain that has come our way has been a product of intense and sometimes damaging thunderstorms.  The one we had last Wednesday was by far the most dramatic. 

Knowing the power of the wind here on this open plain in Sunderland, we make it a point to  close down all of our barn and greenhouse doors in the evening.  Forgetting to do that simple task on Wednesday made for an eventful night.  As that storm came in Meghan and I both shot out of bed, disoriented but knowing exactly what we had to do.  At that time I was so focused on closing everything down that things like clothes and shoes seemed unimportant.  Despite our best efforts the wind got to the barn  before we did and took a 6’ x 11’ 200#  barn door off and threw it into the road like a piece of cardboard.  We reached the greenhouse in time preventing any structural damage though the wind did take several of our plug trays and scatter them all over the farm and smash up a solid wood bench that we use for filling trays with soil.  The hail that came in with the storm did some minimal cosmetic damage to our first head lettuce, bok choy, and some of the swiss chard and spinach.  Overall the storm was mostly just mentally traumatic but ended up being good fodder for comedy when I think back on running around in my birthday suit closing things down.

The early start we had to the season this year has pushed many crops ahead of schedule which will make for an abundant 1st share week.  For the first time during our farming career we’ll be harvesting broccoli on the 1st of June.  The unseasonably  warm weather we’ve been experiencing since our early start pushed the transplants along in our greenhouse to the point that all of our field planting dates were moved up by at least a week.  In a normal year it is a real crunch to get all of our hot crops (tomatoes, peppers, melons, eggplant, sweet potatoes) in the ground before the share starts.  This year we got all those crops in and for the first time ever had time to plant the winter squash while the calendar still read May.  Why you ask have things gone so smoothly?  Two reasons…. The dry weather has enabled

us to be in the field and working with our equipment pretty much every day without exception and more importantly we have a stellar farm crew this year made up of 5 wonderfully capable and enthusiastic people!  We were a force to be reckoned with this Spring as we took the farm by the tail and stuffed it into our pockets.

              March, April, and May on the farm as always provide diverse and ever changing work.  From the start up of the greenhouse in early March, to equipment tune-ups, infrastructure repair, clean up, organization, field preparation, share sales, transplanting, weeding, seeding, and cultivation each day is a smorgasbord of tasks all working toward the same goal.  FOOD... that first harvest, when all of our scrambling around starts to take shape and make sense. It’s an exciting time for us as we get to pull our heads out of the dirt, pull our vegetables out of the field and reconnect with the wonderful community that supports our work.  So without further ado... welcome back to the farm returning members and welcome here to the new members!  We are looking forward to a great year! Enjoy the harvest.

On behalf of the farm crew Max, Mike, Margot, Jason, and Sue….
Your Farmers,

Rob and Meghan

Shout-Outs!!

A huge thank you to farm members Jacob Miller-Mack and Aaron Rubin for the amazing set of stairs they built leading from the share room to the bridge. We are all very grateful!

What’s in your share this week???

Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Turnips, Radishes, Bok Choy, Head Lettuce, Salad Greens, Cooking Greens.

What’s on the horizon???

Scallions, Fennel, Chinese Cabbage

What’s for u-pick???

There will be no u-pick this week with the exception of some herbs in the perennial bed by the share room.  The strawberries are so close!!! And we expect they’ll be ready for next week

Share Pick up times

Tuesday 2-7

Thursday 2-7

Saturday 10-2

U-pick is open everyday from dawn ‘til dusk (the board is changed weekly on Sundays to set the limits for the coming week)

check out our recipe page at www.riverlandfarm.com

 

 

 

 

 

Hello all,

 

  I want to correct one very important item in our last e-mail (thanks to those who called and e-mailed my mistake). There is no Friday share day.  Our share days are on Tues., Thurs., and Saturday 10am-2pm. I am very sorry for the confusion.

 

Meghan

Riverland Farm is opening!!

Let the harvest begin

The first share distribution in Sunderland for CSA members will be:

• Tuesday June 1st from 2-7pm
• Thursday June 3rd from 2-7pm
• Friday June 5th from 10am-2pm

(Distributions will continue weekly on this schedule)

A Few Friendly Reminders

• If you are splitting a share we ask that you either come to the share together or have one person pick up for both people...alternatively you could switch off weeks.

• Please try to stay as consistent as possible with your pick up day(this makes harvest planning a lot easier) and please only come once per week.

We look forward to seeing you soon !!

 

Greetings from the farm,

   We wanted to send out a couple reminders and news about the farm. In a few weeks we will be starting the share distribution. We aim to begin the first week in June. You will receive a postcard as well as an e-mail announceing the exact date the farm will open for shares. Thankfully the rains came in the nick of time and everything is growing beautifully. Of course the frost is keeping us on our toes.

The reminders:

• May 15th is the due date for all the final payments for your share. If you have not paid in full please do so as soon as possible. If you have any questions concerning your balance due please send us an e-mail ( we are usually in the dirt instead of in front of the computer) and we will be happy to look it up for you.
• Our address has changed so please make sure it is accurate in your records. We no longer have the PO Box. our address is :

                          Riverland Farm, 206 River Rd. Sunderland, MA 01375 

Please make checks payable to Riverland Farm.

• If we need to add any e-mail addresses for share partners to receive e-mails and newsletters have them send us an e-mail so we can add it to our list.

 

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you all soon !!

 

Your farmers,

Meghan and Rob

                        

Dear Friends,

  We are proud to announce that our friend Marc Cesario who ran Greenhorn Farm in Amherst and produced meat that we sold last year in the shareroom is now starting a meat CSA !! He recentley moved to Cornwall Vermont and has started a new farm with his soon to be wife Cheryl Bruce. Meeting Place Pastures  is where Marc and Cheryl are now raising the cows, pigs, and chickens. Riverland Farm will be a drop-off site for Meeting Place Pasture meat CSA shares this season.  The share distribution starts in June and continue to be delivered once a month through February. For more information go to the Meeting Place Pastures CSA page, at the bottom of the CSA page you will also find the sign-up form. You do not need to be a member at Riverland Farm CSA to get a meat share, so feel free to spread the word and tell your friends. Should you decide to take part in this opportunity fill out the form and mail to Marc and Cheryl with your payment.

All questions should go directly to Marc at: marc@meetingplacepastures.com or 802.462.3759.

 

Thanks,

Meghan and Rob

 

Hey Folks,

Just want to pass on the word that our friend Marc is having a meat sale at Brookfield Farm this weekend. Check out the details below.

SPRING TRAINING MEAT SALE!!!
Sat Feb 20th. 9-1.
Brookfield Farm shop
24 Hulst Rd.

Although the Red Sox are returning to Palms Park to start spring training, us here in the north still have to deal with a few more months of cold weather. Heat up the house with a little home cooking.
This sale will include Pork from Meeting Place Pastures (formerly Green Horn Farm) and Yearling Lamb from Crescent Moon Farm.
Jacoby Ellsbury says "Meeting Place's hams are scruptious"
and Adrian Beltre exclaimed "upon moving to Boston I discovered Crescent Moons lamb and I was delighted"
So take it from the Sox and see you on Sat.

The above testimonials are completely fictitious, but you get the point.
----------------------
Marc D Cesario
Meeting Place Pastures
1368 West St.
Cornwall, Vt 05753
413.835.5474

COME SEE YOUR FARMERS AT THE:

WINTER FARE !!

FEBRUARY 6TH AT THE

GREENFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

From 10-2

This event is to bring together farmers and producers that have produce grown locally and products made from local ingredients.

Riverland Farm will have :

Carrots, Beets, Parsnips, Celeriac, Purple Top Turnips, Cabbage, Potatoes, Onions, Popcorn, Garlic,
Winter Squash, Dried hot peppers, and Organic Eggs (from Old Friends Farm) 

To check out the official website go to:

winterfare.org

We look forward to seeing you there !!!

Dear Friends,

 

   This Saturday Riverland Farm will be the featured farm at Enterprise farm's Food Shed market. The market is held at Enterprise Farm from 9-3 on Saturday December 5th. The market will be open to the public, so tell a friend! We plan on having carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash potatoes, onions, and more !!  This will be a one day event so come by and see us.

Again the details are:

This Saturday, December 5th

at Enterprise Farm Food Shed

from 9-5.

Dear Friends,

 

  For those that signed-up for the Winter Bulk Share the pick-up is:

this Saturday the 21st of November

from 9-2

It is important that you show up during these hours to pick up your share, as we don't have space to store shares that are not picked up !!

 

 We are excited to be offering over 20 items in the share including: carrots, beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes, potatoes, salad greens, garlic, onions, butternut squash, leeks, brussel sprouts, and much more !!

  In time to stock up for Thanksgiving we will also be offering other great products for sale (cash or check only):

El jardin bread

Diemand eggs

Crystal Brook and Smith Country cheeses

Apex's orchard cider vinegar

Mapleline eggnog, milk and cream

Sidehill yogurt

Greenhorn Farm pork

 We look forward to seeing you there !

If you should have any questions please contact us by e-mail. Thanks !

 

Your Farmers,

Meghan and Rob

Hi Folks, As we all get prepared for Thanksgiving just wanted to send along the Bulk Share info to anyone still interested in signing up.  If you do plan on signing up please contact us and let us know.  We need a final share # by Tues. Nov. 17th.  Hope you are all well. Your Farmers, Rob and Meghan   Bulk Storage Crop Share at Riverland Farm     What:  We will be offering a 1 distribution “winter share” including a large amount of storage crops for you to store and enjoy throughout the winter months as well as some cooking greens and (keep your fingers crossed) salad greens for your Thanksgiving table.  Given the success of last year’s trial run we’ve decided to increase both the size of the share and the number of shares we’ll be offering.   When: Saturday November 21st from 9am to 2pm   Where: In the share room at Riverland Farm   What’s in the share?? Here is a general outline of what we plan to offer in the share (quantities may vary).    Produce will be unwashed as it will store better that way. We’ll also have a short newsletter with recipes and storage tips.   Crop                                                                Amt.                            Cash Value Carrots                                                             25#                              $37.50 Beets                                                                10#                              $15.00 Other Roots (mix and match)                            15-20#                         $22.50 (Parsnips, Rutabaga, Turnips, Celeriac, Radishes) Sweet Potatoes                                                20#                              $30.00             Potatoes                                                           15#                              $22.50 Garlic                                                               5 pieces                        $5.00 Brussels Sprouts                                               2 pieces                        $5.00 Leeks                                                               3 pieces                        $2.00               Kale or Collards                                               1 large bag                   $3.00   Other items that will likely be part of the share but are weather dependent Head Lettuce, Bok Choy, Salad Greens, and Popcorn   Cost:  The bulk share will cost $100.  Our goal is to provide you with over 90#’s or $150 worth of produce for this price.   How do I sign up?  The sign up deadline is November 17th or until we are sold out.  Please fill out the form on the reverse side and return it to us with your full payment by this date.  In addition to the vegetables we will also have a number of great local products for sale on the day of pickup including maple syrup, yogurt, eggs, cheese, bread, eggnog, milk, etc.       Please sign me up for a storage crop share at Riverland Farm!!   Pick up is at the farm Sat November 21st from 9am-2pm   Shares will be sold on a first come, first served basis Enclose full payment of $100 with this form and send to:   Riverland Farm 206 River Rd. Sunderland, MA 01375   Name:_________________________________________________   Address:_______________________________________________   City:______________________ Zip:________________________   Phone:__________________ Email_________________________