This week we lost our Farm Skills Team. Their seven week journey with us ended with a celebratory gathering and a fabulous carrot cake made by Brian. I think we can all agree that the pilot program was a success, and we hope to continue it next year. The farm got a big push this Spring from all those extra hands, and we hope the new skills and experiences the team gained gives them tools for their future gardens and jobs.

This week we won by having our first summer intern join us. Claire is a student at Bowdoin College and is eager to join in the fun. Genevieve is staying on with us from the Skills Team and already has experienced so much of what we call fun! And last but not least, Adelle is coming back to help us for a couple of months. Adelle and her new “volunteer” friend, Sandy the Sunflower, are ready to join in. Carrie and I are realizing that we can’t seem to get caught up. With all the extra gleaning taking place and the new areas being utilized, we are grateful to have these three extraordinary young women to help us on a regular basis. We also have two more interns coming and, of course, all of our volunteers. I am hoping we can accomplish all that is on our checklist very soon.

On Friday, Carolyn, one of the gleaning leaders for MCHPP, went up to harvest rhubarb in left field. We feed this rhubarb every Fall with goat manure from Edison, Einstein, and the rest of the goat family. It has become a big bountiful crop. Carolyn, on her first encounter with the rhubarb this season, came back with a big WOW on her face and a grand idea. She commented that we have a “Pick a Bouquet for a Donation” garden, why not pick a peck of rhubarb for a donation?! So I am putting it out there–COME AND HARVEST AS MUCH RHUBARB AS YOU COULD USE AND LEAVE G2G A DONATION. We are open Monday through Saturday 8-2.

Our amazing Fabulous Fixer threesome of Bob, Diana, and Burnam helped us by working on irrigation again (not my fault!) and stopped various leaks and drips. (Don’t you wish you had fixers at your house?) They also pulled out the metal “stakes of death” in plot 4. Carrie is holding the evidence. The racks installed last week were organized and stacked by Cathy and Claire. Thanks, ladies.

This was the week to crimp all the winter rye. Carrie and Claire created their own system of a board with rope stirrups and took it all down remarkably fast. It was like watching synchronized farming! Carrie became so adept she was able to multitask while crimping–checking her phone. 🙂

This week we had a big tomato push. Tomatoes in tunnels, tomatoes in the plots, we gotta get these tomatoes out of the greenhouse and in the ground! We had lots of help with tomato planting this week! Thanks, tomato planters.

Ellie stopped by on Saturday and helped get 200 pumpkin seeds started. She lives down the road and thought it would be fun to volunteer. She did have fun and says she will be back. Thanks, Ellie.

We had a week full of wins, but I want to mention one more loss. Last Spring we lost two friends along with their rescue dog in a terrible accident. Judy and Paul were respected activists in their community, and Growing to Give was a recipient of their generous spirits. Judy mentioned last Spring how excited she was that her anemones were taking off, and they were becoming her favorite flower. Well, Judy, here is my one flowering anemone, and it will always remind me of you.

It was a great week–saying goodbye to some and welcome to others. Thanks everyone.

–   Theda

P.S. Just one more shot of this vegetable I said I would not mention again. Still so much to harvest and donate. Seems like every row cover I look under has some!