Author: Tom

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Dear Hope’s Edge Farm CSA member,

We at Hope’s Edge CSA are very excited that June has finally arrived. We are excited because, first of all, May is over and we hope that the cool damp cloud covered days that were so prevalent in May are also over. Secondly, we are excited because this June marks the tenth year that we have been growing vegetables for our CSA community. Some of you have even been with us for that entire time. And finally, and most importantly, we are excited because it is once again that time of year when we can begin to enjoy fresh local unadulterated produce grown in our carefully tended gardens. We here on the edge of Hope, hope that you are excited as well.

The unusually wet May has put us a bit behind schedule, making what is usually a labor intensive spring season even more so. Since the weather has begun to turn, however, we are daily making strides toward catching up. With every passing day, more seedlings are being transplanted and more seeds are being sowed. But, since we are a few weeks late in planting, some of our expected harvest dates will also be pushed back slightly. Nevertheless, we plan to begin on time.

Besides bringing an abundance of wet weather, May has also been a month of farm births – two new calves and three baby lambs now frolic in the pastures beside their mothers. Another ewe is due to lamb soon and another calf is due this summer. All these new young animals are quite entertaining to watch whenever we get a moment to look up from our transplanting labors.

The “we” I keep referring to are myself and my hardworking crew for this summer. Tommy the herdsman and right hand vegetable grower has returned for a third season. Two young apprentices, Alexandra and Morgan, have also joined us this season in this labor of love. Together we will do our best to keep you well fed.

The first market day of this 2011 season is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21st, followed by Friday the 24th and Monday the 27th. The season will run for 18 weeks ending on Monday, October 24th.

The following information is IMPORTANT, so please take note.

TUESDAY AND FRIDAY SHAREHOLDERS: The pick-up time is from 11 a.m. (please DO NOT come earlier) until late evening. If for some reason you cannot come on your assigned day, your share will still be available for up to two days later. After that, your share will be recycled. PLEASE LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE if you are unable to pick up your share on any given week. This way we avoid over-harvesting and wasting food.

MONDAY SHAREHOLDERS: The Monday shareholders have the option of picking up their share in Rockland on Tilson Street near the water treatment facility between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Alternatively, you may pick up at Avena Botanicals in Rockport if that is more convenient, or if you are unable to get to the Tilson Street location during the short window of time that we will be there. However, whatever location you choose, I am encouraging Monday shareholders to pick up your share as soon as possible, as neither site has refrigeration facilities. Any share not picked up by Monday evening will be donated to hungry farmers. You will be notified when cut flower, strawberry, cherry tomato and pea picking seasons are upon us. It will be up to you to come to the farm for these items.

Below is a schedule of pot luck get-togethers for the season. These events offer you an opportunity to meet other participants and a chance to enjoy the farm in a relaxed and convivial way. Please try to come to one or all of these events.

Directions to the farm for those of you who have never been here are also given below. Follow Morse Road past a pair of corrugated metal buildings. On your right you will see yet another building with brightly painted murals on the doors. This is the pick-up shed. Come on in. Welcome to Hope’s Edge CSA.

I am looking forward to seeing many of you again or to meeting you for the first time. We are looking forward to feeding you food and beauty during the coming months.

Sincerely,

Your Farmer, Tom


POT-LUCK SCHEDULE

Tuesday, June 28, 6 p.m.

Friday, August 4, 6 p.m.

Friday, September 16, 6 p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 4:30 p.m.


DIRECTIONS

FROM CAMDEN VIA 105: Take 105 into Hope Center, continue two miles past Hope General Store. Turn left onto Ludwig Road. Travel 1/4 mile to Morse Road on the left.

FROM APPLETON/SEARSMONT VIA 105: Travel approximately three miles from the 105/131 intersection. Turn right onto Ludwig Road (this is the second turn on to Ludwig). Continue as above.

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Greetings 2011 Hope’s Edge CSA Subscribers

As the inches of snow continue to accumulate and the temperatures hover below freezing, I remain snug by the woodstove with my mind’s eye on the varied shades of green comprising a summer garden. If you’re a gardener yourself, you know that this time of year is one of planning, taking stock and anticipation. Perusing seed catalogs for old standbys and new and interesting varieties is a favorite winter pastime, looking back through our farm journals from previous seasons reminds us of what works and what doesn’t, and of course, as a gardener you are forever the optimist, holding in your imagination a season full of sunshine, timely rains, few insect and disease problems, and lots of luscious vegetables.

This 2011 season will mark our tenth consecutive year at Hope’s Edge Farm, growing food for you, our community of shareholders. There are a few of you who have been members since the beginning,  while for others, last season was your first. But wherever you find yourself on this continuum, now is the time to consider recommitting for another season. For those of you who have been members for at least two seasons, you have experienced the dearth of produce coming out of the 2009 garden and the abundance of produce from last season’s garden. What will 2011 be like? There is obviously no way to tell for sure, but if all of us imagine a bountiful year then chances are that is what we will have. By purchasing a share now you are expressing your vote of optimism.

The Tenth Anniversary Edition of the Hope’s Edge CSA flier is a somewhat condensed version of our original with a few more graphics added. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. Let us know what you think. One of the major changes affecting you is the increase in the price of a share. In my ‘end of season’ note from last October I had mentioned the fact that a price increase was imminent, so perhaps you are not surprised. In our first nine seasons of operation, I consciously made the effort to keep prices down. During the span from 2002 to 2010 our prices increased by 14.5 percent, an average of a little more than 1.5 percent per year. This recent price increase is 14 percent over last season – a significant jump. I could provide a lengthy defense for this increase but choose not to do so here. Suffice it to say that we have found it unsustainable to keep prices down while nearly all our costs continue to climb. (If you are interested in seeing the numbers, the 2010 and proposed 2011 budgets may be found on our web site, www.hopesedgefarm.com).

All things being equal, a share in Hope’s Edge CSA is still a good deal. The half share price of $350 for 20 weeks of vegetables works out to be $17.50 per week for some of the freshest food available. In addition, the recently released USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises that we: reduce our consumption of sugary drinks, fill our plates with fruits and vegetables, and cut down on processed foods. A share in Hope’s Edge CSA gives you plenty of opportunity to satisfy two out of three of these guidelines. When announcing the release of these new guidelines, a government spokesperson even went so far as to say that “eating healthy will likely cost more.” Fresh is best but it is more expensive. So, when considering your own or your family’s health, the aphorism “put your money where your mouth is” takes on a literal meaning of added significance. Purchasing a share in Hope’s Edge CSA is an excellent way to accomplish this.

And with that I will wish you the best of the rest of winter. We hope that these snowy cold months have been as rejuvenating for you as they have been for us. And of course, we hope to see your name on our list of members that third week in June when the strawberries are plump and red, the lettuce is tender and sweet, and when the scallions radishes, spinach and peas will all be waiting for you.

Sincerely,

Your Farmer, Tom