Happiness must be earned (and then eaten).

Lately I've noticed that when I see things become ripe and ready for use, I almost forget all the time and work that goes into each plant - almost.  I become so distracted at the shiny and new offering, it's a mind blowing feeling to walk around the fields and see so many (read: too many) things to eat.  Throughout this season I've become lightly obsessed with the method that things grow, the patterns of the plants, and the cycle of plant life and death.  When I do get around to thinking of the effort and time spent, it still seems so worth it to have the ability to be in the midst of cooking and go run out to grab exactly what is needed right at that very moment.  I know this isn't possible forever, but while the getting's good, it's good.

Shout out to everyone at the EST for making good with nature.

xo

Cari B

Patience is rewarded handsomely! (do you need any squash?)

For the last month our grounds have looked green, lush, and verdant.  Beautiful.  But somewhere along the way, at least for me, green became redundant.  Please don't misinterpret me...I adore the old standards of spinach and lettuce.  I've now savored the crisp, buttery taste of both tot soi and bok choi.  Arugula and I have a long, torrid love affair.  Yes! -  all was green and delicious but...I was left craving more. 

 

In the past two weeks, our other cherished vegetables have begun to ripen.  Sweet peas were spotted first.  Now, bright squash blossoms beg for our attention.  Plump raspberries dangle with a come-hither stance.  Kohl rabi beckon us over with their eager, flailing leaves.  Cherry tomatoes cascade down, each a jewel to appreciate with anticipation.  Yellow, pink, purple, and red - the farm is inundated with eye-candy.  With the sunflowers high above us, harvesting for the CSA, market, and ourselves is truly a feast for the soul!

 

Being here is both fulfilling and satisfying.  We hope that our vegetables, bread, and other prepared goodies project just this sentiment! 

 

Hoomoos, Pesto, and VT Goldburgers have just met our newest edition:  Uncle Moishy's Pickles.  We've achieved a delightful, crisp pickle perfect for a snack or sandwich pairing.   Simple ingredients create pure taste!  Oh!  We also just met Uncle M's cousins – The Relishes.  One's a bit sweet and the other is slightly spicy.  Come meet the whole family at the market!          

See you there!

Meg

megg- ww'oeuf

meg likes a regular egg!

Put it on the LIST

Dear Diary,

I have never felt so strongly that the day's allotted hours are not enough.  The actions and conversations here have spawned so many good ideas/projects and I deflate a bit when I realize how many of these I have already forgotten about.  I vote to create a WWOOFer official-blow-the-whistle list of stuffs we should be doing at any and all times.  It feels mighty fine that I am in a position wherein I can pick and choose projects and goals that are so diversified; and I look forward to working on banging out the list with my homies on the farm-front.

In other news, the plants are growing (and bolting) faster than we can currently deal, and I hope to be able to get a handle on this before it gets all MacGruber in here.  

xo and much harvesting,

Cari B

Everyone's Atwitter

Dearest Llopis Oven,

You are currently crossing the Atlantic Ocean.  We are plotting what we will do with you with much excitement.  Here's an idea.

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Love and safe travels,

Cari B

Chick Shack

One of my favorite things about working on a farm is raising chicks.  Everything from setting up the brooder to helping them take their first sips of water to seeing how fast they grow and how quickly they outgrow their first home is both exciting and miraculous.  It is always comforting after a long day of hard work on the farm to spend time with the chicks, watching them hop around, jump over each other to reach their food, and cuddle under the heat lamp.

When I arrived at EST at the beginning of March there were about 300 week old chicks living in the basement in a cardboard box.  It was a great surprise and in my first few weeks I busied myself feeding them three times a day and cleaning their brooder every few days to keep them dry and prevent their smell from reaching the kitchen.  Soon they were figuring out how to jump out of their box and had grown so big that they took up 3/4 of their box.  It was clear that they were getting too crowded and would need to be moved.

Oliver and I spent some time deciding which greenhouse they would do best in and then got to work building them a new home.  We screwed together a few boards of plywood, put on a plastic roof, and installed a sliding door for easy access.  Next we loaded the chicks up into boxes, 100 at a time, and drove them down to their new home as they chirped nervously, not knowing where they were going or what their future held.  As we unloaded the chicks their screams of terror were almost unbearable.  We knew that they were scared and confused and vowed to monitor the situation.  However, by the end of the day they had settled into their new home and were chirping contentedly.  The only thing left to do was name their home.  After throwing around a few names we decided on the "Chick Shack." 

They've been out their now for a few weeks and they are thriving.  The've survived many a cold night, started to eat compost, and have practically survived the awkward "teenage years" when their feathers change from yellow to brown.  Not too far down the road they will be moved again, this time to live with the rest of the chickens where they will start laying eggs and become productive members of the farm. 

Happy Spring!

Peace,
Sarit

semantics

semantics debate earth sky time style:
"it's as good as the best baguette you can get anywhere"
not the same as boasting that he made the best baguette
"i'm tied for first place"
says oliver

it was a damn good baguette