SPRING HAS ARRIVED
The barn early morning /////// The triplets, Willoughby, Chappy & Scottfree
The Greenhouse the end of March
Kevin Ford shearing/////// Spring Training Farm Stlye
Boo-Boo before shearing////// Baby Sheep
Boo-Boo after shearing ///// George lounging in the sun
Finally after a very long winter, spring arrived here in Ashfield, literally overnight. A few short weeks ago we were in winter attire, one day we woke up the snow was melted & temps were in the 70's. That old saying of "if you don't like the weather wait 15 mins it will change", seems to really be true this year.
Greeting & welcome to new & returning CSA members.
Remember the beginning of April when we still had a few feet of snow on the ground?? Seems like forever ago doesn’t it?? Derek & I were wondering then if we would be able to get into the field by May. Well one day we woke up, all the snow was gone & the field was dry enough to plant in, the season had begun.
In spite of all the snow we received this winter, this is the earliest we’ve been able to plant in the field since moving here. We have planted: spinach, lettuce mix, carrots, beets, radishes, dill, cilantro, spicy mesclun mix & arugula.
The greenhouse is full of vegetable & herb starts. The beds are loaded with spinach, lettuce mix & mesclun mix. We are hoping to start harvesting off of those soon.
Beginning May 15 we will be selling vegetable & herb starts from the farm. We will also be selling any available greens, so if your interested in greens stop by after the 15th & see what’s available.
C.S.A. pick up begins
Memorial Day Weekend at the Ashfield Farmers’ Market. If you chose Tues at the farm for your pick-up that begins May 27th.
INTERNS HAVE ARRIVED!!
We have 2 interns working with us this summer. Adam Shapiro arrived March 15th. Brian Boucheron arrived April 1st. Both are taking breaks from school & careers to learn a little more about sustainable agriculture.
GOAT CHEESE:
After waiting what seemed like a long time the barn is finally completed. I’ve been practicing my cheese making, giving samples to everyone who stops by, asking for honest opinions. So far the feedback has been very positive. I’m waiting for my pasturizer to arrive, after which I will have my final inspection, receive a plant number & will be legal to sell. I’m planning on having all that done by the first Farmers’ Market.
PAYMENT PLAN:
If you chose this option to pay for your share, your next payment is due May 1st.
Thanks for paying on time.
Paypal automatically charges your credit card if you chose to pay by this method.
GOAT BABIES, SHEEP
BABIES……
The season began March 4th
With Bennie giving birth to 3 bucks. We named them after the guys who built the barn..Willoughby for Will Elwell, Scottfree for Scott Barrows & Chappy for Al Chapman. Then came 2 sets of twin sheep, then Hershey gave us 2 more bucks, Then a few more sheep, then came one of the most intense days here on the farm. Our sheep live in our neighbors barn across the road with her sheep. We have combined flocks so to speak & share in all the animals care. Well on a particular Friday both Targa our goat & Roberta’s sheep Natalie were due. Roberta works on Friday at Northampton Wools & I work at Elmers. Derek had plans to drive Maia & Jayden to CT. for the weekend so Adam & Brian were in charge of checking the girls. I walked in the door from
work to Adam telling me that Targa was pushing. I quickly changed & took my place beside her. She gave birth to a doe & buck. Things went smoothly. Once we knew everyone was o.k. Brian went across the street to check on Natalie, he came back to say she was ready also. So off I went to check & then call Roberta to come home. I sat with Natalie until Roberta came home & then I went to feed the bucks. Roberta called when Natalie started pushing so back to that barn we all went. When we started to see a nose before the front feet Roberta & I began to worry. Natalie was obviously uncomfortable so Roberta pushed the head back in searched for the front legs pulled them out & then while Natalie pushed we pulled. The lamb kept coming & coming. She got stuck around the midsection, so we had to pull alittle harder. Big Betty weighed in at 14lbs. The average size for lambs is between 6-8lbs. 10 lbs. being a large lamb. I work a double on Fridays so I walked out of that barn at 4 p.m., washed & was back at Elmers’ for 4:30.
Momma & baby are doing fine, Betty is a very large girl, being almost the same size as the lambs born 3 weeks before her.
We’re going to plan a little better next year, the goats will kid first
& then the sheep. We have 2 more animals to birth…..1 sheep & 1 goat. Both are due the same day again. Artemis is Targa’s daughter, Tonya is Natalie’s twin, & they are due on a Friday. We’re a little nervous.
OTHER NEWS:
Kevin Ford sheared some of our sheep last week, so if anyone is
interested in raw fleece we have some for sale.
Due to the high number of bucks born on the farm this spring we have some wethered (neutered) goats for sale, they make great pets & are great for clearing land,
This year we are going paperless, so please check our website for monthly updates on the farm. Or you could always just ask us when you pick up your share.
WHERE WE’LL BE THIS SUMMER:
Saturdays: Ashfield Farmer’s Market
Tuesday: Greenfield Seniors Center for the Senior Farm Share Program Delivery
Hilltown Food Pantry Delivery
Wednesday: Tower Square Farmer’s Market Springfield
Greeting & welcome to new & returning CSA members.
Remember the beginning of April when we still had a few feet of snow on the ground?? Seems like forever ago doesn’t it?? Derek & I were wondering then if we would be able to get into the field by May. Well one day we woke up, all the snow was gone & the field was dry enough to plant in, the season had begun.
In spite of all the snow we received this winter, this is the earliest we’ve been able to plant in the field since moving here. We have planted: spinach, lettuce mix, carrots, beets, radishes, dill, cilantro, spicy mesclun mix & arugula.
The greenhouse is full of vegetable & herb starts. The beds are loaded with spinach, lettuce mix & mesclun mix. We are hoping to start harvesting off of those soon.
Beginning May 15 we will be selling vegetable & herb starts from the farm. We will also be selling any available greens, so if your interested in greens stop by after the 15th & see what’s available.
C.S.A. pick up begins
Memorial Day Weekend at the Ashfield Farmers’ Market. If you chose Tues at the farm for your pick-up that begins May 27th.
INTERNS HAVE ARRIVED!!
We have 2 interns working with us this summer. Adam Shapiro arrived March 15th. Brian Boucheron arrived April 1st. Both are taking breaks from school & careers to learn a little more about sustainable agriculture.
GOAT CHEESE:
After waiting what seemed like a long time the barn is finally completed. I’ve been practicing my cheese making, giving samples to everyone who stops by, asking for honest opinions. So far the feedback has been very positive. I’m waiting for my pasturizer to arrive, after which I will have my final inspection, receive a plant number & will be legal to sell. I’m planning on having all that done by the first Farmers’ Market.
PAYMENT PLAN:
If you chose this option to pay for your share, your next payment is due May 1st.
Thanks for paying on time.
Paypal automatically charges your credit card if you chose to pay by this method.
GOAT BABIES, SHEEP
BABIES……
The season began March 4th
With Bennie giving birth to 3 bucks. We named them after the guys who built the barn..Willoughby for Will Elwell, Scottfree for Scott Barrows & Chappy for Al Chapman. Then came 2 sets of twin sheep, then Hershey gave us 2 more bucks, Then a few more sheep, then came one of the most intense days here on the farm. Our sheep live in our neighbors barn across the road with her sheep. We have combined flocks so to speak & share in all the animals care. Well on a particular Friday both Targa our goat & Roberta’s sheep Natalie were due. Roberta works on Friday at Northampton Wools & I work at Elmers. Derek had plans to drive Maia & Jayden to CT. for the weekend so Adam & Brian were in charge of checking the girls. I walked in the door from
work to Adam telling me that Targa was pushing. I quickly changed & took my place beside her. She gave birth to a doe & buck. Things went smoothly. Once we knew everyone was o.k. Brian went across the street to check on Natalie, he came back to say she was ready also. So off I went to check & then call Roberta to come home. I sat with Natalie until Roberta came home & then I went to feed the bucks. Roberta called when Natalie started pushing so back to that barn we all went. When we started to see a nose before the front feet Roberta & I began to worry. Natalie was obviously uncomfortable so Roberta pushed the head back in searched for the front legs pulled them out & then while Natalie pushed we pulled. The lamb kept coming & coming. She got stuck around the midsection, so we had to pull alittle harder. Big Betty weighed in at 14lbs. The average size for lambs is between 6-8lbs. 10 lbs. being a large lamb. I work a double on Fridays so I walked out of that barn at 4 p.m., washed & was back at Elmers’ for 4:30.
Momma & baby are doing fine, Betty is a very large girl, being almost the same size as the lambs born 3 weeks before her.
We’re going to plan a little better next year, the goats will kid first
& then the sheep. We have 2 more animals to birth…..1 sheep & 1 goat. Both are due the same day again. Artemis is Targa’s daughter, Tonya is Natalie’s twin, & they are due on a Friday. We’re a little nervous.
OTHER NEWS:
Kevin Ford sheared some of our sheep last week, so if anyone is
interested in raw fleece we have some for sale.
Due to the high number of bucks born on the farm this spring we have some wethered (neutered) goats for sale, they make great pets & are great for clearing land,
This year we are going paperless, so please check our website for monthly updates on the farm. Or you could always just ask us when you pick up your share.
WHERE WE’LL BE THIS SUMMER:
Saturdays: Ashfield Farmer’s Market
Tuesday: Greenfield Seniors Center for the Senior Farm Share Program Delivery
Hilltown Food Pantry Delivery
Wednesday: Tower Square Farmer’s Market Springfield
posted by Maribeth Ritchie at
10:34 AM
