Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Notes from Your Farm: Rainy Days & the Orange Cat

 


Hello from the Farm, 
 
 
Last week was extremely rainy and filled with indoor work.  It gave us time to really pay attention to our greenhouse plants.  In greenhouse 2 we transplanted tomatoes so they could be our early and late tomato crop. Soon we will be planting our hot corps in the fields!  
 
We are past Mothers Day, which also means we are in the Frost Free Zone. It is the average time that we look at to plant our warm crops outside.   Gardner's and Farmers are starting to plant their summer crops in the field for early yields.  The Frost Free Zone does not always hold true because a light frost could occur at night this time of year.        
 
 
Our Rainy Day Findings...
A coffee table donated by Millersville students (but actually we found it in a pile of furniture the students were throwing away) that we are ready to transform into a kids table!  
 
 
Law Reh began the transformation by sanding off the student graffiti. Sanding also gave it a fresh smooth surface.  Next we will apply chalkboard paint to the surface and paint the legs a vibrant color. Maybe even add a vegetable design...Stay tuned to see how the table turns out! 
 
 
 
Our Four Legged Visitor
Our game camera caught this cat snooping around the treeline of the farm.  We think this orange cat is living in the Owl Boxes 20ft. up in the trees along the farm perimeter.  The cat also sneaked into the barn one day we had the doors propped open.   
 
 
 
 
2016 Farm Shares
2016 Shares are now available!  For current shareholders and new shareholders please follow this link: http://goodwillathomefieldsfarm.csasignup.com/members/types
 
 
 
Cheese Share 
Hillacres Pride is again offering their popular cheese share at Homefields. With the CSA you will get 11 deliveries (every other week) of 2 cheeses each.  You will get to sample and enjoy 22 different cheeses throughout the season.  These will include cheddars and colbys (some flavored), fresh mozzarella, artisan cheeses, ricotta, quark, fresh cheese spreads, and feta-just to name a few.  
 
The hard cheeses are all vacuum sealed and most of the soft cheeses freeze well.  The cheese is made from the milk of our Jersey cows, a milk that is high in protein and perfect for making cheese.  It naturally contains beta-carotene and in the summer the cows graze on our lush pastures and they naturally have a yellow tint to their milk.  
 
Hillacres Pride is a small family operation in Southern Lancaster County.  To sign-up go to http://hillacrespride.com/?q=content/csa-shares
 
 
 
Fruit Share
Would you like to pick up a CSA Fruit Share when you come to get your vegetables at the farm? It’s time to sign up NOW with North Star Orchard for their weekly CSA Fruit Share, which is available for pickup here at Homefileds for 15 weeks starting at the beginning of August.

CSA Members here have been enjoying the Fruit Share for years, and we encourage you to take a look at what the share has to offer here: http://www.northstarorchard.com/csa_fruit.php

To reach North Star directly with any questions, email Lisa@northstarorchard.com
 
  
 
 
Stay Dry,  
 
 
Your Farmers