Farm Report 8/29/22 - Friends from afar and friends close to home

This week I was fortunate to have a friend travel all the way from Southern Indiana to enjoy some of her summer in Vacationland with me. The plan was for two of my Hoosier friends to travel together, but Mel broke her ankle in five places, so Teresa had to travel alone (sorry Mel!). I was excited to spend time with my friend and also utilize and share her gifts of artful gardening and professional flower design. Last Spring, I was asked if the Harpswell Garden Club could come for a farm tour. I said YES, of course! We love sharing what we do, and doing that with a group who already love plants and gardening would be a pleasure. The timing worked out perfectly for Teresa to give a “surprise” flower design demo to the club. Last Tuesday morning, I set Teresa out with clippers and baskets to gather plant material for her demonstration. We had 12 gardeners come for the farm tour. As we walked the farm, tasted Carmen peppers, and I explained our methods, Teresa set up under the roof of the tool shed. We, and I mean staff and volunteers, are so proud of the farm this year. It looks exceptional, and we are growing and giving away so much healthy, nutrient dense food. The Harpswell women seemed to be very excited about what they were seeing and hearing. Maybe we will have recruited a few new volunteers? I introduced Teresa to the group, and we found out that this club also does wedding flowers. They harvest flowers from their own gardens to create country style wedding bouquets. Their project is a fundraiser going to the upkeep of a historic church in Harpswell. Teresa had lots to share, from using chicken wire in your container instead of oasis, not needing to smash woody stems (news to me), and how to pick plant material to create an open airy arrangement. The group shared some of their tips, too. It was so inspirational and fun! One of my Saturday volunteers told me she went home and took apart an arrangement, and using what she had learned, created a new version. Thank you, Teresa, for sharing your gift and being one of my closest friends.:)

I was so excited to share what happened on Tuesday that I skipped Monday. A lot always happens on Monday as well. It’s a big gleaning day with our Cumberland and Androsccogin gleaners. Thank you to Frank, Judy, Jeff, Adele, Colleen, Marjorie, and Marjorie’s sister, for picking and delivering 474.41 pounds.

I brought Teresa back to the farm on Wednesday to help with our big Wednesday glean. Genevieve guided Teresa on how to pack, weigh, and distribute the 543.02 lb of vegetables. Teresa’s comment at the end of the day was how nice everyone is at the farm. It’s true.

Also on Wednesday, my buddy, Nathaniel, arrived from San Francisco. He took some of his precious vacation time to volunteer and hang out with us. He’s not just my buddy–everyone loves Nathaniel. He was a WWOOFer with us for two summers, so really he is family. And because he is family, I put him to work! He and Wendi were broadforking a couple of beds. Notice Wendi is smiling and Nathaniel–not so much.

Thursday is not normally a gleaning day, but Julia asked if she could bring a Bowdoin College freshman orientation group to glean and help out for a couple of hours. Genevieve was in charge. Carrie was away, and I had other commitments. Genevieve led the gleaning–419.80 pounds. She instructed our two volunteers (one was new to us) on a project, and then led the 13 students on another farm project. It went perfectly. I had to laugh when I asked her about her day. She told me she took the “kids” into the cool bot (where it is about 45 degrees) to cool them down. Calling them kids when she is 18 cracked me up. Genevieve–Carrie and I are so lucky to have you with us this summer. Thank you for your quiet positive attitude, your attention to detail and your sense of humor. The volunteers tell me you are a great teacher. I am so grateful for your ability to step up when we need you. And we need you!

On to Friday. We were not going to glean on Friday, but the food needed to be harvested, so Sharon and Eliot stepped in to help and deliver on their way home–another 98.61 pounds. This was their last day at the farm until next year. It was a pleasure to meet and work with you both. Sharon–thanks for harvesting so much zucchini, and Eliot–thanks for being my back-up weighing, sorting and packing the vehicles. Take care, and we hope to see you next year.

It was also Fix-It Friday. Bob always comes prepared. The fab 4 were doing their thing. I snagged Scott (who was signed up to be a fixer) to help Christine with the bouquets.

The rest of the volunteers helped with a couple of cardboard wood chip projects that have been on our list all summer. Thanks to Lee Ann, Scott, Rebecca, Denise, Nathaniel, Diane, and Woody. This would have taken us all day to accomplish what you achieved in a short time.

Dina spent her day in a meditative cucumber zone–thanks Dina. Thank you, Doug, for coming in the heat and humidity, in between our downpours, to help us keep up with the mowing. As with many of our weekly volunteers, I don’t know what we would do without you.

We also had a Pop-Up Potluck in honor of Nathaniel’s visit. As a surprise for me, Paul showed up! Paul was an intern from last summer and someone we all love and enjoy. He is also a member of our family and like so many members of everyone’s family, he just came to eat. We don’t care Paul–we just love having you around.

Saturday was a big day for big projects. I had 10 volunteers, and we started out harvesting more zucchini and accomplished weeding some carrots. Thank you to Amy, Robin, and Genny. Genny wins the prize for wearing the most dirt this week!

Rachel, Lisa, Shannon, and Amy resowed some hakurei seeds where the seeder had skipped. Lisa, Amy, and Genevieve then moved on to covering a weedy walkway with cardboard and wood chips.

Wendi, Marsha, and Andrew went into upper tunnel 3, removed the tarp, raked off the dead clover, and broadforked the beds to prepare for a spinach planting that we will be able to harvest later in the Fall. Our last harvest day in 2021 was December 15 with 20 pounds of spinach. I hope to be able to do that again.

We have so many volunteers who have become friends with each other, with our team, and a lot of those new friends are children.I really want to share how much joy these sweet young children bring to our day and how much work they really do accomplish. Here are a few moments I’d like to share.

Silvo and Sorrel planting carrots, while Mama keeps them on a straight track with the seeder. Both enjoyed wearing their squash harvest.

Henry was awesome at harvesting cabbages, pulling the wagon, and loading boxes. His older brother Jacob was there, too.

Vera and Finn came to pick elderberries, a very serious task for Vera. Finn helped his little sister learn how to read the scale.

Everyone likes to harvest cabbage leaves for the goats. Here is Sharon helping her excited granddaughter pick some leaves–a favorite task for Finn and Vera, too.

Felix came for the first time with his mom, Ellen. They found some overlooked onions–more onions! He tried every vegetable I offered him, while his camera-shy friend Shanti declined my offer. Apparently Felix likes raw veggies, and Shanti likes his cooked. Who cares, as long as they like them. Come back next week guys–we will be harvesting carrots for eating or cooking!

I had a lot of fun this past week. I got to see some of my dearest friends who live away and spent time on the farm with lots of friends who live here or summer here. And with our new volunteers, there is always a chance for new friendships.

Thanks to all of you who allow me to take so many photos to share in these farm reports. I think the photos add so much, and I hear such great feedback. So here are some more photos from around the farm. Enjoy!