Farm Blog

Thank you again for braving the blizzard to celebrate, connect with great food, and 'planting an orchard'! Just imagine all those future cherry trees (don't forget to squat:-).
I am so uplifted from all the good vibes, intentions, laughter and seeds shared and planted.

We were able to raise $850.00 in funds! This will go a long way, thank you! Additionally, with all the seeds donated today and from what I've gleaned from others, The women growers in the Sine-Saloum region will be able to plant out a couple hundred row feet/farm. In the past we've planted shared 'demonstration beds' ie since many of the farmers share space/land to grow on we've constructed seeds beds to trial different varieties, plant insectory herbs and flowers and share techniques. From there seeds are harvested and shared forward amongst the individual farmers. So in essence your generosity helped plant teaching/learning/eating/

sharing beds of veggie, herb, and flower goodness!
 

I will honor my commitment and extend the immense gratitude, generosity that was shared during the workshop with the women farmers in the following ways:

Work with NCBA CLUSA Farmer to Farmer Program to transfer funds and mail seeds.
I'll also email and share highlights, photos forward later this week in celebration of our workshop success.

I am tentatively set to travel there Nov/Dec. or January in 2016.

I also finally remembered the name of third grower group, JUBO (means widespread). If you're interested in learning more about how they got started, here's a link to an interview I did as part of my last Farmer to Farmer adventure in Senegal.

I Will keep you in the loop as the project evolves and thanks again for sharing your generous spirit!

For the chocolate lovers:
Becky Otte, who made the amazing truffles, has more of her chocolate goodness to share and is selling some of her creations just in time for Valentines. if you're interested send her an email: raonine@gmail.com

Also Here is a link to Roots Chocolate website.

For the Fruit Lovers:

I've enclosed a handout of some of the different fruits we grow at our farm as well as a flyer highlighting this season's events at the farm! We'd love to have you venture out and tour the orchard, come visit us (though not nearly as cool as the orchard poses we did during the workshop).

Thank you again for helping me transition from being a butterfly weed seed (ie wind pollinated, not knowing where or how my intentions, projects might stick) to more of an oak or cashew seeds - wherein I can deepen my awareness, provide support in the same place(s) in Senegal for the growers and in my backyard in Wisconsin:-). Here's to planting the seeds of the as yet to be imagined on and off the yoga mat! Wishing you all much abundance.

Happy Mid-winter!

Yours in hardy kiwi,
Erin


PS If you are into exploring the planting side as well as enjoying more local fruit creations, we'll be hosting a Local Fruit Tasting May 16, details on our website.

 

A Bow to Woodchucks, Botany, and the Next Good Dance

Returning to our fruit roots at the farm. Photo by Rob McClure

We have made the tough decision to sunset our CSA program. I have made an equally tough decision to take a hiatus from wedding flower work (o.k. so I do have a couple of June weddings on the books, where peonies and perennials are at their prime). Wow! This is a big shift as many of you have been with us for decade(s).

I could say that it’s the woodchucks that are making me do this. When I started farming with Rob in 2008-2009 season, our vegetable beds were overrun with woodchucks. Since then we seemed to have had a truce, wherein they left the broccoli and fruit alone in exchange for all the clover and forage in our sprawling field borders. That is up until this season, wherein the next generation of ‘chuckers’ managed to tunnel from the old barn foundation, burrow under our fence and re-surface right next to our beans. I had to admire their engineering and spatial sensibilities, even as they leveled the blossoms and went onto the carrot tops.

Woodchucks aside, my goal of slowing down, taking a sabbatical from production farming this season didn’t really happen, as a few wildcards and labor needs needed to be a priority. It's all good, though it’s also really hard as the farm is home. I love growing food and beauty and sharing this with you. I love plants though need to shift and restore balance. While I am grateful for the humane growing season, wedding flower re-books from last year, a few writing projects that brought joy, and just in time support when the harvests seemed endless, my body is telling me I can’t do it all anymore and I need to pause and listen to it.

I have decided to step back from the business of farming, focus on orchard care and re-connect with my garden roots. This is scary and makes me feel vulnerable, brings up emotions of self-doubt, and that I am letting people down, let alone what do I now do for a profession? Though haven’t I always said, ‘when in doubt, turn to wonder?’ So I am wondering how to find continuity, transition with and embrace the next transformation of plants in my life. I am (mostly) o.k. in this uncertainty and I hope you are too. I value the heartfelt connections I’ve made with you and all our CSA members, fruit and flower customers and wedding flower clients. You have helped my heart expand and learn from these relationships and I hope to welcome to the farm, relax with flowers in a new way.

I think of all the ways that plants have shown up in my life.
From the first bite of solid food, to the fire cider infusing in my current kitchen, to the trees I climbed and daydreamed in as a kid to the thousands I planted around the world with others and in my backyard as an adult, to the dandelion crowns made in kindergarten to the flower coutre dresses I designed for Slow Flowers, for all the weddings, funerals, and just because bouquet moments to share sentiments with others and the land, not to mention the air that has sustained me and the shelter overhead are all from our plant neighbors.

As November’s soapstone grey settles into the landscape and juncos forecast the cold, I look out the kitchen window and our roses are still blooming to the frosty end. I am grateful for this reminder to keep going, growing and changing with the inter-connectedness of all things. I am grateful for all the ways you have showed up and supported me along the way. I have no doubt that plants will feed my creativity and be a source of healing, learning, and sharing and with whatever is to come. - ES