One week's share of vegetables
Photo Courtesy of Randye Kerstein
The CSA at Arrowhead
Contact Info:

131 Old Ferry Road
Newburyport, MA
01950-6505
978-465-8109
CSA at Arrowhead Logo
CSA Hours
Saturdays
11a to 3p

Self Service Hours
Sunday 3p to 7p
Monday 7a to noon
June 8, 2012

Hi Folks,

Pardon the dearth of Newsletters---it's the time of year when we are busy. Very thankful for much needed rain this past week; too wet for field work but we are really getting the greenhouse crops in good shape for Summer----staking and stringing Tomatoes, setting up drip irrigation and planting a second crop where the early greens have been harvested. We have a lot of great looking transplants ready to go in the fields as soon as the soil dries enough for the laying of biodegradable rice hull based plastic mulch. Anyone care to help transplant next week?
School Enrichment Program

Sparhawk Bachelor Buttons Arrowhead was not able to co-operate with Sparhawk School and the Farm Enrichment Program this season due largely to transportation issues---hope that changes next year. But, Maryclaire and her Students have left behind something interesting---please see the photo. Last fall they planted some Bachelor's Buttons, which, as you can see in the photo, I have carefully tilled around. Such lovely blue flowers to remind us of the student's time here at Arrowhead. This is so in keeping with the time-honored Farm practice of always leaving the Land a little better than when you found it. So from Arrowhead come the best wishes to all of our friends at Sparhawk for a wonderful Summer!

 

Farmers Around the World

  All my life I have enjoyed the Camaraderie of being a Farmer. Around the Globe this Camaraderie of Farmers transcends Race, Religion, Gender and Language. I have been privileged to be welcomed to Farms where-ever I have traveled. I feel strongly that the rapidly growing need to feed ourselves and each other will help establish a more peaceful time for Humankind. Please take a minute or two to view this short BBC video and you will likely have a better idea of what I am saying.
Spring and Summer Shares

This week's Share will likely include the usual assortment of Spring greens as well as  Beets, Onions, Basil, a small amount of Rhubarb and hopefully the first Peas of the season. And just a quick note for our new Members this year; You are welcome to come to the Farm during the week and help yourself to those crops listed on the board as being for pick-your-own that week. Other crops, unfortunately, are off limits. So,in fairness to other CSA Members, if it's not on the board, please don't pick it! Thanks, and please do feel welcome to visit the Farm during the week---we encourage you to. :)
 
And, while we are on the subject of Shares, the Summer Vegetable Share will start on June 23rd. There are still a few of these Summer Shares available, so don't hesitate to send an e-mail. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer for a Share---again send me an e-mail.
 
And at the Newburyport Farmers' Market this Sunday we will have the first of the season's cut flower bouquets and perhaps some early peas.
The new Feeder Pigs should arrive today and we plan on pulling the first new crop Honey next week---something to look forward to. I will leave you with the great Yankee Farmer/Poet Robert Frost's "Putting In the Seed". How love does burn through. Hope to see you at the Farm or the Market. Oh, and, better watch that BBC video---might be a pop quiz later.
 
Cheers,
Dick Chase


Putting in the Seed

You come to fetch me from my work to-night
When supper's on the table, and we'll see
If I can leave off burying the white
Soft petals fallen from the apple tree
(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite,
Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea);
And go along with you ere you lose sight
Of what you came for and become like me,
Slave to a Springtime passion for the earth.
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.
                                        ~Robert Frost, Mountain Interval, 1916