Spring has come to the farm. The barn swallows have returned right on schedule, the wildflowers are in bloom. I have added new photos to our Face Book page trying to capture a bit of the spring time plant life that borders the farm fields.

Tomorrow we start to transplant seedlings into the field. The greenhouses are full, the hoop houses spilling over with transplants and the sturdy greens of spring need to move into the field to make room.

Many of the CSA sites are filling up if they have not sold out of available shares. If you know of someone that would be interested in a CSA share, please pass on the farm website.

Welcome Spring.

Deborah
for Pete, Peter and Arliss
Stoneledge Farm

A message from our farmer, Deb Kavakos:

It seems that the weather has been turned around so many times that it is hard to tell the season. The only substantial snowfall all winter arrived in October. All throughout January and February it was so warm the ground never froze and we were digging drainage tile lines in the fields. March rolls around and we are enjoying seventy degree weather.

Regardless of what the weather is outside, we are working at our seed starting. The first onions have now germinated and the spring cabbages are just poking green leaves from the potting soil.

Members have been suggesting that the farm start a Facebook page. We are thankful when members take the time to write and we take member input to heart. The page is finally set. I will try to keep updated photos and small clips of information updated on the page. Please go to the farm’s Facebook page and “like” it. Members suggested the Facebook page so they could pass the information about registration and the farm on quicker and easier to their friends. So please, pass on the Facebook page to your friends! We are working on a direct link from the farm website but that has not been finished yet.

Enjoying the beautiful weather!

Deborah, for Pete, Peter and Arliss
Stoneledge Farm

A spring message from our farmer, Deb Kavakos:

Our 2012 CSA planting season is underway! We have been seeding in the greenhouse every day. Onions, white and red, and shallots are the first to be planted. The greenhouse is a wonderful environment after the dreary wintertime. A giant modern day solarium: warm, bright with any sunlight that pops through the late winter sky and the smell of earth.

Next will come the hot peppers, they take so long to grow. Even after months of tending, the transplants will be very small when we eventually transplant them in the field. Once they are rooted though, and the heat of the summer takes hold, they grow quickly and seem to soak up the heat into their beautiful, very hot fruit.

Membership shares are selling at all of the CSA sites. If you have not registered or if you know of someone that may be interested, please go to the Stoneledge Farm website to order a share for 2012.

Dear CSA Member,

Winter passes and we are gearing up for springtime. A new Farm Blog has just been posted on the farm website with nice photos of the projects we have been working on this winter. The mild weather has given us plenty of opportunity to complete some major projects. It seems that the ground really never fully froze and we certainly had record breaking lack of snow.

I will be attending the Just Food Conference, Eat Work Grow the Movement, Friday February 24. If you are attending, it would be a pleasure to meet you. Information about the conference are available on the JustFood website.

Our CSA sites are starting to fill up with 2012 memberships. If you have friends or neighbors that might be interested in joining, please pass the farm website along to them: http://www.stoneledgefarmny.org.

We will be starting up the greenhouses the last week of February. I can not wait!

Take Care,
Deborah