These sunny days feel absolutely fantastic after the cloudy late winter and early spring we've had. When it's warm out like this, it's difficult to remember that the soil needs to warm up before we can plant anything... we've now had itchy fingers for about a week! We are using this time to seed our transplants, of course- but also to work on some much overdue projects around the farm. 

Did I mention in my last email that we are hosting Els' sister and her boyfriend during this time of social distancing? We have an apartment at the farm where they did two weeks of quarantine, but now we are able to mingle freely. We are happily taking them up on their offer to help, and able to do large projects so much faster with twice as many hands! 
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On the agenda for this week was hoop house improvements... We pulled new plastic up and over one of our hoop houses, built solid end walls (with doors!) and also built two new heated benches for growing transplants. We are so grateful to have so much to keep us busy right now, and so much space to do it in. You can see some more photos and a video if you follow us on Instagram...

Since I last wrote an update, we have had all kinds of spring birds returning to the farm. Geese have been flying overhead at night on their migration north, we have heard Sandhill Cranes, Bluebirds, Redwing Blackbirds (including Ba-Bo, our special Redwing Blackbird with an unusual song), Robins, Kildeer en masse- I think that means they are also migrating, Song Sparrows, and I'm sure a few others that I'm forgetting. Soon will be the Spring Peepers (frogs)... we will keep you posted!

Oh, and I also want to send a shout out to our CSA member and neighbor, Lisa who made us masks to use this summer when washing and packing (so we don't breathe on the veggies!) Here's a photo of me and our rooster "Poopie Pants" or "Poop Cutie" for short, matching in our black and red outfits:

Of course, the Coronavirus brings a bit of uncertainty to any small business. Farmers live with uncertainty even in the best of times, as we are always at the whim of Mother Nature. You can't farm year after year without also cultivating hope for the future... farmers just aren't build for it!
That being said, we are choosing to plant as we usually do (as if this will be our best season yet!) for a few reasons:
Vegetables are a key to health and wellbeing- staying in good health is important, and our members know that! We intend to keep providing the most nutrient dense food we can, for as many people as we can. 
Local vegetables touch fewer hands- CSA is clearly the shortest food supply chain available (other than growing your own), followed closely by purchasing direct from a farmer at a farmers market. 
Clean air and sunshine- are natures best defense against germs. Growing outside, in our natural system keeps us and our vegetables healthy, happy and safe!

Planting seeds is an act of hope and faith. I'm grateful that you have chosen to support our farm through your CSA Share this season, and we will CONTINUE to practice safe food handling protocals once harvest season is upon us! 
In addition to food safety, we are currently also limiting our off-farm activities and farm visitors. We are with you from afar in this social distancing thing... Eat well, be well!

Your Farmers, 
Les and Els