Field Report | August 4, 2021 Children's Class, Foraging Event, Library, & Shoe Drive
Mark your calendars for September 11th at 11am for a Living Hope Farm Foraging Tour.
Debbie Naha-Koretzky is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, a Certified Rutgers Master Gardener, and a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. She wrote the book Foraging Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Debbie will lead us through a 90 minute foraging tour of Living Hope Farm to learn what wild plants are edible.
Mark your calendars for September 11th at 11am for a Living Hope Farm Foraging Tour.
Debbie Naha-Koretzky is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, a Certified Rutgers Master Gardener, and a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. She wrote the book Foraging Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Debbie will lead us through a 90 minute foraging tour of Living Hope Farm to learn what wild plants are edible.
Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members
Please park in the grass and meet by the gates.
Rain date: September 12th 11am
August 4, 2021
August 4, 2021 Foraging Event at LHF
Foraging Event at LHF
Mark your calendars for September 11th at 11am for a Living Hope Farm foraging tour.
Debbie Naha-Koretzky is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, a Certified Rutgers Master Gardener, and a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. She wrote the book Foraging Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Debbie will lead us through a 90 minute foraging tour of Living Hope Farm to learn what wild plants are edible.
April 29, 2021 Plant Sale Fundraiser, Farm Tours, and Season Update
2021 Plant Sale, Tours & Season Update
Good morning!
We have been hard at work here at the farm. Plants are growing nicely in the greenhouse and planting is continuing out in the fields.
We will be having our Plant Sale & Vendor Event on Saturday May 8th from 9-1. This is our largest fundraiser of the year! We hope you can join us. Farm Tours will begin at 10:00 and 11:00 by the upper gate at the top of the hill. We highly encourage all New Members to attend! This is a great opportunity to meet Farmer Sam and get all of your questions answered while actually seeing where your food is going to come from!
Plant Pre-Order pick up is Friday, May 7th from 3-7pm and you don't even have to get out of your car! Simply pull in the farm drive, give your name and we will place your order in your car. Payment by cash or check is preferred but we will accept credit cards.
Plant Pre-Orders accepted until Tuesday. May 4th at noon.
Starting on Monday, May 10th we will have Plants available for daily purchase at the top of the hill under the tent outside of our market area.
FARM NOTES:
- This is the final week for the 10 week Off Season Egg Share, so please be sure to take your eggs this week. Eggs will store in your refrigerator for up to 2 months.
- At this time we still have CSA Vegetable, Chicken, & Egg Shares available, please visit www.livinghopefarm.org for all of the details and to sign up. The Main Season CSA starts the first week in June and runs through the end of October. Please sign up today so you don't miss out!
- Mushroom Shares haveSOLD OUT - If you signed up for a mushroom share and received the confirmation email, please send in your payment ASAP!! We have several people on the waiting list.
We are still looking to hire a livestock person and 1 full season intern, if you know of someone, please have them email for more information!
Volunteers are NEEDED throughout the entire season, please email Volunteers to learn how you can help serve your local non-profit farm!
Choose from one dozen or ½ dozen eggs at every winter pickup. No need to own a winter vegetable share!
November 19, 2019
November 19, 2019 Capital Campaign
Our vision is to be a farm where health and community can grow together.
Help us keep our farm sustainable and make improvements to the farm! To learn more about our Capital Campaign, please refer to the following resources:
Our vision is to be a farm where health and community can grow together.
November 19, 2019
November 19, 2019 Upcoming Events
As part of our Year End Fundraising, we are hosting 2 Holiday Shopping Events!
Thursday, November 21st from 4-9pm
Small Business Saturday, November 30th from 9am-1pm
Create your own custom Gift Baskets by selecting items from LHF, Nutty Novelties, Small Batch Kitchen, Veri-tea, Young Living Essential Oils, Simply Clean, Simply Green, & more! We will have baskets & containers for you to choose from or bring your own! We have tons of gourmet goodies to add to your baskets. We would be delighted to wrap your basket & finish with a handmade bow (over 100 to choose from!) You can also simply choose the items you wish to purchase to take home to wrap yourself. We hope you can join us!
As part of our Year End Fundraising, we are hosting 2 Holiday Shopping Events!
November 19, 2019
November 19, 2019 Thanksgiving Turkey Pick Up Info
Fresh turkey pick ups:
Tuesday November 26th
10:00am-12:00pm
5-7pm
Additional Information:
You can either pay with cash, check, or credit cards (we prefer cash or check so we don't have to pay the processing fees).
Please bring a box or container to transport your fresh turkey home.
Important: If you have not sent in your $50 deposit yet, please email SherriASAP as we are SOLD OUT and have only 2 spaces remaining on our Waiting List!
Purchase a Chicken Share for $150 and receive a 5% discount off of your chicken purchases.
October 28, 2019
October 28, 2019 End of Summer CSA Season
End of the Summer Season
This is the FINAL week for Summer CSA Pick ups!! We sincerely hope you have enjoyed your CSA Shares and hope you will sign up for our Winter Season! We also have a lot of exciting upcoming events planned for November and December and we hope you will join us!
Follow us on social media for our latest updates and pictures!
Please note pick up days are different during the winter season. The week of Thanksgiving pick-ups are on Tuesday along with our fresh turkeys) and the rest are Wednesday pick-ups.
Please note the times are also different than our regular season.
Small Winter Share $495.00 for 10 weeks at 7 items per week (6 chosen online and the 7thitem from the Swap Table)
NEW! Mini Winter Share $250.00 for 3 items per week (all 3 items chosen online)
Winter Chicken Share $150.00 Shop when you choose & receive 5% discount
Winter Egg Shares $55.00 Dozen or $35.00 ½ Dozen
All Deposits are now due to activate your account!
We have a few Winter Shares Available, email Sherri (director.lhf@gmail.com) for prorated pricing.
September 12, 2017
September 12, 2017 Make your own Tropical Bonsai Workshop
Upcoming Events
"Make your own Bonsai" and Bonsai Basics Workshop
Please join us on September 28th from 7-9pm at the farm for this exciting Bonsai Workshop!
This workshop includes your choice of one of the following tropical indoor trees:
Portulacaria afra - Baby Jade Syzygium paniaculatum - Australian Brush Cherry Serissa japonica - Tree of a thousand Stars Myclaria cauliflora - Jabotacaba Ficus b. splendens varigata - Dwarf variegated ficus Podocarpus 'Pringles Blue' - Buddist Pine Carissa grandiflora - Natal Plum Ebenopsis ebano - Texas Ebony
Also included is a bonsai training pot (with upgrades available), bonsai soil, training wire, leaf pruner, fresh moss to compliment your tree, and a "Bonsai Basics" packet. Hands on demonstration given by Scott White, owner of Bucks County Bonsai.
Living Hope Farm CSA Members $55.00 per person, Non-members $60.00 per person.
Send a message and email address to Sherri register!
We want to send a special thank you to all of our Volunteers! Many members have volunteered their time to lend us a helping hand! We also want to thank our friends at Merck for spending the day with us!
We truly appreciate all of your help!! If you are able to volunteer a couple of hours or bring a group of volunteers for the day, please let us know by emailing info@livinghopefarm.org. Thanks! Many hands make light work.
We want to send a special thank you to all of our Volunteers! Many members have volunteered their time to lend us a helping hand! We also want to thank our friends at Merck for spending the day with us!
August 26, 2014
August 26, 2014 Please Welcome our New Farm Manager
We would like to introduce you to our New Farm Manager, Samuel Joseph.
Sam has taken over the management of farm operations, since the retirement of Living Hope Farm's Founder & Entrepreneur Jill Landes. Sam has a degree in ecology and natural resource management from Cook College. Through his studies he became interested in the role of agriculture in our society, and after college has worked on a variety of organic farms seeking sustainable practices. He is interested in applying ecological principals to growing healthy food for the community. In addition to farming he enjoys biking, nature walks, and playing guitar. He has been a tremendous addition to our team and we hope you will join us in officially welcoming him to the farm!
Living Hope Farm is now accepting applications for interns April- November
Field Report | August 11, 2011
Field Report | August 11, 2011 Farm Notes
There are lots of goings on at the farm to share!
If you only saw the pigs during their first few weeks at the farm, take a look at them now! Those lovely piggies are growing so fast we can hardly keep up! Buster, Tulip and Chopper are completely settled on the farm, on the other side of the pick-up center. Stop by and say hello to our 3 little (err....not so little anymore) pigs.
In other news, preparations for this Friday's Pot Luck is underway. Getting the barn in order for the event has meant the onions harvested a few weeks ago separated and stored. Onions have been hanging from rafters, spread out over tables, and carefully allowed to dry since July. By the end of the day today, most of the bulbs were sorted by size and placed in sacks. Onion sorting means onion shares so look out for that addition soon! Check out our intern Lydia tirelessly working on the onions! Lydia will also be performing on Friday with the well-known group Daybreak...onion sorter AND a great musician?!? The girl has got talent!
Last and certainly not least, if you're wondering what to do with all your big beautiful tomatoes, don't forget to browse through the recipe section under the CSA tab. Trying your hand at some new flavors and ideas can make an abundance of produce something to enjoy and savor!
Field Report | March 4, 2011 Gads of Good Things Going
The Greenhouse is Growing Greener by the Day and new ventures are taking place...please keep reading!!!
All those hours spent pouring over organic seed catalogues are now coming to fruition. The seed is all organized into it's variety boxes and accounted for when it is received and is now coming out of storage. I have fired up the greenhouse and each day seems to change in color. A new wave of something green is peeking its head out of the soil each morning. To see that green color is actually a relief. Many hours are spent seeding those tiny seeds one by one into cells that will hold our spring allium crops such as onions, leeks. But waiting 8 days for them to pop is unnerving...it always makes me wonder if the seed is viable - though I know it should be.
This year our collection of onions include: red and golden cippolini's (tasty flat onions), Mustang, Red Rossa Di Milano, and Ailsa Craig. Ailsa Craig is a English heirloom that is straw yellow and a large globe shape. It is amazingly sweet and firm. Our leeks are beginning to show and will hopefully give us more luck than those of last year. Also begining to show are our spring brassica's; Chinese cabbages, regular red and green cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower. Celeriac and celery are also started. This week more things will be planned for seeding such as parsley, kale, kohlrabi, chard, and spinach.
Also this year, available for purchase during pick up hours will be our free range eggs, coffee (see further details below), in the fall we will offer "Wild for Salmon", and of course let's not forget that beautiful bouquet of flowers that you can take home each week! Again a season of delicate florals and scrumptious colors and textures...yes, some even edible.
Please plan on attending more of our barn jams, our potlucks, and classes offered this year.
The Greenhouse is Growing Greener by the Day and new ventures are taking place...please keep reading!!!
Field Report | March 4, 2011
Field Report | March 4, 2011 Heirloom Varieties
Why Grow Heirloom Varieties?
More and more I am asked what is an heirloom or why do we grow primarily heirlooms. The answer is simple but it is not short. Many think heirloom is a variety such as Brandywine Tomato. It is not a name for a variety but rather a seed type. Heirlooms are varieties that are handed down generation to generation. They differ from a hybrid which is an offspring of two plants bred to make a new plant with new characteristics. Hybrid seed cannot be saved and sown again.
Growing heirlooms fits with our farm beliefs that growing organically begins with high quality organic seed. Much of what we grow is heirloom varieties. When we save the seed from these varieties we choose the seeds from the plants that are the best representation of that variety. In doing so, we are able to choose for color, disease resistance, crack resistance, and of course flavor! The plants adapt to their climate and conditions in which they are grown and remain a preserved treasure.
This year we are including some new varieties in our heirloom collection to try. Take a look -
Dried Beans: Hutterite-an Austrian/Christian sect moved to North America in teh 1760's and bringing this bean as a staple food. Jacobs Cattle - similar to the southwestern Anasazi bean, should be wonderful for baking.
Cylindra Beet - a 6" long beet with a fine grain
Carrot - Red Core Chantenay - great carrot flavor and a long tapered side with blunt tip
Cucumbers: Lemon - tender skin and succulent white flesh, rarely found in stores; Armenian - long cucumber that stays sweet even when large...botancially close to the honeydew melon. These are in addition to our regular slicers and picklers
Leeks - King Richard!! Doesn't the name say it all...tall with a full shank.
Melons: a few new varieties from Turkmenistan - saved from John's sister in law during their two year stay; Emerald Gem, Caribbean Gold, and OrangeGlo
Okra : Star of David
Onions: Borettana Cippolini's- flat sweet onions; Rossa Di Milano -mid sized red onion with a top shape
Peppers: Antohi Romanian - a long sweet pepper which is great for frying; Catriona - 3" blocky orange; again these are in addition to the other great peppers that we will be growing...expect habernero, variegated fish pepper, banana pepper, bell peppers, and even a red drying pepper. you'll enjoy a greater variety of sweet as well as hot peppers this year!
Radishes: Misato Rose - green outside and white flesh interior; Watermelon - red interior; and White Icicle. And our regular radishes more often
Squash: Cocozelle and large Waltham butternut, and Blue Ballet
We are in for another exciting summer of wonderful items!! Rmember this is just a quick sampling of all the delicious things to come!
An Open House will be held April 2nd for interested persons to visit the farm and become members. Please spread the word to anyone you believe may be interested in supporting the locally grown, sustainable initiative we are implementing at Living Hope Farm. Tours and an explanation of our routines will take place that day as well. Present members themselves will have an opportunity to visit on an open house during our May new member orientation day. Further details will be given that day regarding pick-up instructions etc. Registration will be available on site for new applicants. The memberships are more than half sold out but there are some spaces available yet.
An Open House will be held April 2nd for interested persons to visit the farm and become members. Please spread the word to anyone you believe may be interested in supporting the locally grown, sustainable initiative we are implementing at Living Hope Farm. Tours and an explanation of our routines will take place that day as well. Present members themselves will have an opportunity to visit on an open house during our May new member orientation day. Further details will be given that day regarding pick-up instructions etc. Registration will be available on site for new applicants. The memberships are more than half sold out but there are some spaces available yet.
Expected Harvest | March 4, 2011
Expected Harvest | March 4, 2011 Peace of Mind - Fair Trade Coffee
New this year, Living Hope Farm will be collaborating with a new organic, fair trade coffee roaster. See a downloadable form and description in nice detail on the left of our front page!!
I am thrilled to announce that Living Hope Farm will be the location for which Jim and Jodi Ostlund, will launch their fair trade, organic, coffee roasting business.
In an effort to extend the CSA movement, Living Hope Farm is excited to offer exclusive fair trade, organic (FTO) coffee shares through Peace of Mind Coffee. Peace of Mind is a new local micro-roaster offering custom coffee with a clear conscience. Each week share holders will receive the best tasting, freshest coffee—throughout the CSA season. Those who are half share holders of Living Hope will receive a double portion every 2 weeks in conjunction with your pick-up of produce. Your coffee will be roasted only 1-2 days before it’s delivered to the farm. You simply cannot find such fresh, affordable coffee like this at a grocery store or coffee shop!
Without a doubt, FTO coffee is becoming more popular among consumers, and more readily available from commercial roasters. However, retailers can have such coffee in the warehouse or on the shelf for weeks, and charge an average of $13.50 per pound. By selling it in a 12 ounce package they can get the price per bag down to roughly $10.
By purchasing a coffee share through Peace of Mind you will receive the world's finest coffee beans, roasted to perfection, delivered at its peak of freshness for a lower price. In addition, you can have peace of mind that you are supporting small independent coffee growers from around the world because Peace of Mind only purchases coffee that is certified fair trade, organic.
Some coffees you might enjoy include:
FTO Guatemala HB Huehuetenango - This is a very popular coffee from Guatemala with a rich body and a smooth and spicy chocolaty finish.
FTO Peruvian - This Peruvian coffee is moderately acidic with a soft body and flavor. It has a slightly nutty flavor quality to it, much like other South and Central American coffees, but softer.
FTO Ethiopian Yirgacheffe - From the birthplace of coffee comes this popular coffee. The subtle fruity taste is enhanced by a darker roast, and is accompanied by moderate acidity and a balanced body.
FTO Nicaraguan SHG - Nicaragua is a fairly new to the coffee export world, and this SHG (Strictly High Grown) grade here is especially nice.
FTO Papua New Guinea - These beans are actually transplants from the Jamaican Blue Mountain growing regions, which offers a clean cup with sweet acidity and a deep, complex flavor.
FTO Sumatra Mandheling - Hailing from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, these beans create an incredibly smooth and rich cup of coffee with an earthy and chocolaty flavor.
FTO Mexican H/G Chiapas - A mild, medium coffee, it has the fruity and nutty flavor notes associated with the region. The acidity is bright, but not over powering, and the aroma is delicate and fresh.
Price & Deadline
$125- 1/2 pound every week // 1 pound every other week ($12.50 per pound)
$250- 1 pound every week // 2 pounds every other week ($12.50 per pound)
*20-week shares begin June 14 – Must be signed up by June 7. Sign-up by May 1 and receive 2 additional weeks (May 31-June 13) for FREE!
New this year, Living Hope Farm will be collaborating with a new organic, fair trade coffee roaster. See a downloadable form and description in nice detail on the left of our front page!!
March 4, 2011
March 4, 2011 Looking for interested persons to assist this year!
Do you have an interest in joining a core group of persons to assist in planning the events, working on the recipe collections, taking photos, or planning the children's garden? Maybe you have another interest? I'd love to put together a group to brainstorm and plan our total season and then implement all that shall take place. If you would love to help -please email me so we can establish a time to gather.
Do you have an interest in joining a core group of persons to assist in planning the events, working on the recipe collections, taking photos, or planning the children's garden? Maybe you have another interest? I'd love to put together a group to brainstorm and plan our total season and then implement all that shall take place. If you would love to help -please email me so we can establish a time to gather.
Field Report | June 30, 2010
Field Report | June 30, 2010 Thank you to all who have recently volunteered your help!!
You have really made this farm come together for our first season!
Sometimes I just get in the groove and go about the business of what needs done during the day; checking for bugs, spraying, planting, and planning. Occasionally someone will mention the beauty of this farm for its first year and then I stand in awe at what this farm looked like 3 short months ago. It has been transformed from a former stand of field corn and cover crop to greenhouse, high tunnel, amazing flower picking areas, and stands of row covers and crops.
So many thanks go to many persons who have been helping regularly! The flower garden have had the professional hand of Gail Alderfer, the wash station was voluntarily built by CSA member Karl Boericke, the fields maintained by volunteers Dawn Ruth Nelson and Aaron Clemmer. Many more of you have been putting in your time and I need to get those hours logged for you as well. Thanks to all of you for making the CSA portion of this farm amazing. You can see I need to update our photos on the rotator above...but it also helps you remember what it DID look like a few months ago. I told Karl I would send along his website and a photo of his work...look for this as soon as I get a chance. And if you see him, please thank him for doing a fine job...the station has more to be done but is definately keeping us out of the sun.
As amazing as things look we have sure been battling bugs. I think we have had every bug we could have this season. Much of that is due to the lack of beneficials...our ground really lacks earthworms too. We could dig for hours and not find even one. We have had flea beetles attack our eggplant and potatoes, cucumber beetles, cabbage loopers, squash vine borer, mexican bean beetles,and a few others that I forget the names of but which have been identified by the Penn State Extension office in Montgomery Co. I do alot of squashing to say the least! On the flip side...the heat has been great for bug suppression. They would rather be in moist conditions.
I would just like to remind parents to please be aware that our nippers for clipping flowers and herbs are VERY sharp. If children's fingers get in the way of the blade it will definately create a good slice. Please monitor their cutting if they are assisting you.
As each of you cut flowers or herbs we would like to remind you as well that we never want to cut to the root or ground for harvesting (unless it it lettuce or cabbage). We take leaves, sprigs, or in the case of flowers...look for the stem you desire and follow it down to where it Y's and creates a branch to two new flower bud stems. This way our flowers will contine to regrow and be available for your cutting pleasure. When cutting herbs each is a bit different:
Lemon thyme: lift the thyme and look underneath...cut above the hairy branched section...this portion will reroot itself and create more thyme. Do not cut the hairy portion away.
Tarragon: because we do not have an overabundance of tarragon, choose the two or three sprigs that you would like and cut 3-4 inches above the soil line.
Chives: locate a cluster of chives and either split it in half and take half of the stalk or all of it...cutting again, 3 inches above the soil line. We have flat chinese chives and English garden chives for the taking.
Basil: cut basil like you would cut flowers as they will branch again and create a new head.
If you have questions, please ask another CSA member, intern, or JIll. Eventually we will all be able to assist one another...a great thing to take place on the farm.
Pick-ups
A reminder that if you are not able to pick up on your day please find someone else who would like to take your share or see if you can switch ahead of time. A good place to try to find another member to switch with you may be our facebook page. This has been successful, I believe, in the past already. Remember we harvest for only the number of pick-ups that day...and if you miss your pick up day you will have to wait until the next one. It is not convenient for us to be asked to fulfill your order the next day or two later - and often your vegetable will not be available. Thanks for planning in advance.
Groundhog Traps (Havahart)
If anyone has any traps sitting in their garage unused and lonely...the farm could use them. We have caught six groundhogs in 6 days and one opossum with babies. One had set up house in the lettuce field with a house the size of the Grand Canyon. My son is taking great pleasure in ridding them from the farm but their numbers are abundant due to having the heavy hedge covers outside the fenced area. We have three active traps set daily but notice many "hog runs" that we would like to set traps for. Recently we have even had one find his way into our high tunnel and munch a few tomatoes!!! EEK.
Speaking of our high tunnel. Our extention agent and board member, Andrew Frankenfield has been making regular trips to our fields and checking our progress on our tomatoes. So far we are fine. We do have some signs of early blight but that is nearly to be expected with the number of tomatoes that we are growing. We have also taken a few samples and sent them to Penn State for analysis as the extension office was unable to identify our leave issues. We do not show any signs of late blight right now...which is good because with that, within just a few weeks, the plant can begin to die. We do ask that no one walks through the high tunnel at any time. It has become a tighter space and blossoms can be knocked off if we are not careful. We also make it a practice to never touch our tomatoes or vining plants when they are wet as the ability to spread disease is increased. So all our harvesting of vine crops, squash, and tomatoes waits until the sun has dried the crop (and unfortunately it is often hotter too!)
You will find various events listed below that are upcoming on the farm. Please remind me if you would like to be on our calendar for cooking up a special dish to share or demonstrate cooking, a class you would like to teach, or an activity you would like to do with the children! We would love to incorporate your skills and interests! Also, if you have a business card...please hang it in our pick-up center in July...it is a great place to network with other CSA members!
Thanks again for all your great work on the farm...
You have really made this farm come together for our first season!
June 9, 2010
June 9, 2010 Watching the Weather
Looking for the details in farming is a daily experience.
Feeling the chilly air mass that has moved into the region has been a welcome relief and has given us some cushion in the fields. The heat we were experiencing has a tendency to make our plants "bolt", which in short means they are going to seed. Those plants that don't like hot weather sense that their season is coming to an end and begin to flower and put out seeds. It is the plants way of reproducing itself. Already we have seen the chard, spinach, lettuces, cilantro and basil begin to make their seeds. Luckily we are seeing small squash starting to appear to replace those items that will be passing out of season until their fall return. And our beans are starting to create flowers - soon to be beans! Though we have felt a little cooler the past few days we still constantly watch the sky and try to read the signs around us to predict our timing for watering, planting, mulching, and harvesting. Many things on a farm go unnoticed except to those who walk the fields each day. Here are a few things we look for as we "read" the signs.
Leaves show their backs when a storm wind blows over them (prior to rain)
Birds tend to fly higher during a high pressure air system (fair weather skies)
Halos occurring around the sun or moon are signs of an approaching rainstorm
Insects often swarm before a rain, seek shelter in the high tunnel or greenhouse, and bite most when there seems to be more moisture in the air
Dew is heavy and appears early in the evening when the weather the next day will be fair, but no dew is a sign of possible rain
Hiding Stars are sings of rain
Clear sharp tips to a crescent moon are signs of a windy day to follow
The next time you're in the fields...look at the sky and "read" it.
Looking for the details in farming is a daily experience.
June 8, 2010
June 8, 2010 Our First Round of Pick-ups have Finished
Two weeks of produce are over already!
We ended our first round of weeks A & B with a bang! Every person scheduled on the list was present for their produce on the last night. Still a few names are being added to our roster of farm members for several who have changed their minds for various reasons, but we remain sold out with a growing waiting list. Your first week of pick-up consisted of lettuces, chard, kale, spinach, sugar snap peas, kohlrabi, spring onions, radishes, and some herbs...not bad. It has been fun meeting each of you during your designated pick up day...but next week the interns will also be starting to take their turns at assisting with restocking your fresh produce and answering your questions in the pick-up center as well.
**If the weather could remain cool for a bit longer the lettuces will remain in your pick-up as well as chard, snap peas, spring onions, radishes and herbs. Spinach, kale, and kohlrabi will be on their way out to be replaced soon with Asian greens, Arugala, and the beginnings of summer squash and beans. We will have to see how the cauliflower and broccoli fair as each are showing signs of heat stress and wanting to bolt. Fall will definately be a better, more productive harvest with the cooler weather.
Thank you to the many of you who have signed up for workshares these past few weeks or have randomly appeared on the farm to assist. You have enabled the interns and I to focus our attention on planting and harvesting while many of you assisted Gail in planting flowers and weeding between the beds.
The work you have done is critical. When the words you hear are. "Could you please pull weeds? That really needs done." Your responses have been pleasureable and ready to help. Pulling the weeds REALLY does help as it allows those plants to grow without competition for nutrients or moisture from the soil and an area without alot of weeds makes an area that doesn't allow insects to harbor and hide - thus making healthier plants. So thank you for the often back-breaking, long hours you have all spent bug-hunting & dusting, for pulling, chopping and scraping away at those weeds, and for hauling stones out of those undesirable places in our flower beds!
Field Report | May 21, 2010 Meet your Neighbors Question of the Week
Meet your fellow Living Hope Farm CSA members!
In this occasional feature, vegetable lovers you see here each week working and picking up their shares gives their views on community-supported agriculture and volunteering at the farm - as well as their favorite methods of preparing and eating Living Hope Farm's vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other goodies.
Question of the Week: What inspired you to join Living Hope Farm?
“As a young child I remember being fascinated with my grandparents’ ability to grow wonderful vegetables and fruits in their backyard….and venison that grandpop had hunted—all presented as a fresh, delicious meal at the dinner table. My connection with agriculture started then. Another reason is that I lean toward a vegetarian diet and welcome any and all vegetables into my kitchen! My 9-year-old daughter is a “meat-a-vore” as she says—so I have had to compromise a bit—but who knows, maybe she will find a couple of new vegetables to enjoy.
Getting more “green” has always been a goal for me and my family. I think that it’s important to use our resources wisely and set an example for others to do the same.
I would like to meet other people that have similar goals and values to my own—wholesome living and a more egalitarian outlook. It looks promising that this is going to be an opportunity to get to know many wonderful people who can enrich my daughter’s life and my own, as we hope to do the same for them.” -- Kathy Wieland
“I've had several serious home gardens over the years, but primarily for me, I saw the movie “Food, Inc” and realized that I had to get serious about the source of my food. The orientation on May 1 was the first time I saw the actual farm. I have attended Apple Butter Frolic numerous times at the farm (and totally enjoyed it). At LHF, everything is tidy and organized (high on my list) and I actually gasped when I saw the BEAUTIFUL deer fence – it is SO tall and so well constructed and surrounds a huge 12 acre area. I definitely have deer fence envy!” – Joan Rosiak
“We joined for many reasons. One is to support local farms and farmers. Another is to stop paying for all the oil it takes to transport produce from far away—from California and Guatemala and other places. And I like the challenge of eating whatever is in season. I got a new cookbook last year, called Simply in Season, filled with recipes for whatever’s fresh at the moment.
I grew up on a dairy farm and we had a vegetable garden, too. I really loved the fresh green beans and the fresh sweet corn. As kids, we went out picking raspberries. I think its better to enjoy food when it’s fresh from the farm rather than having it all year long, you wait for it to ripen and enjoy it to the hilt!” – Delores Bauman
In this occasional feature, vegetable lovers you see here each week working and picking up their shares gives their views on community-supported agriculture and volunteering at the farm - as well as their favorite methods of preparing and eating Living Hope Farm's vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other goodies.
Field Report | May 21, 2010
Field Report | May 21, 2010 Children's Garden Coordinators
Do you have an interest in planning the layout and building work days around the garden to "make it happen?"
Farmer Jill and interns are busy just keeping up with planting, pest management and weeding and are looking for a group of interested persons to take on the children's garden. Jill will oversee the group if others are interested in sharing in the layout and planting of the area. Unique spots, interesting architecture (so to speak) and ideas for children's involvement are all a part of the process. If you are interested in being a part of this group - please let Jill know via email. The process should start soon. The children's area is presently being planned inside the deer fence to the right of the small gate. There will be an arbor that allows the children to walk through a garden of flowers into their plot.
Do you have an interest in planning the layout and building work days around the garden to "make it happen?"
May 8, 2010
May 8, 2010 Tidbits and Reminders
A few things to remember as you prepare for pick-up or workshares
First Pick-Up : Please remember that if you are splitting your share with someone each week...please designate one person to pick up your share and split it off site. Thank you!
CSA Payments: CSA Payments should be paid in full by May 30 unless other arrangements have been made. There are still several who have payments to be paid.
Living Hope Farm Handbook: Please download and read our policies prior to your first pick-up. It will assist in answering many questions you may find yourself asking.
Intern Requests: lamps, and a coffee table. If you would like to donate any of these items, please let Jill know.
A few things to remember as you prepare for pick-up or workshares
May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010 Open House
Thanks for a great open house/orientation.
Thanks to the many of you who were able to make it to the open house last week at the farm. I know some of you had other commitments, some got lost, and others missed hearing about it altogether. Whatever the reason, we will make your first pick-up run smoothly. You will receive an updated pick-up list that is complete with members names, days of the week for pick-up and whether you are a A or B week. Look for those lists as an attachment in a file from info@livinghopefarm.org We have more persons registered for Tuesday than we prefer, so if you wouldn't mind moving to Friday - please contact us to make the change. We are planning on Tuesday May 24th as being the first pick-up day/week A. Friday the 28th the first Friday pick-up week A...week B being the week of Memorial Day. We will contact you if there is a change in that date. And please know that as the season progresses...your produce will certainly increase. Please be patient with us as we start your season.
There are still some phone calls coming in regarding questions about how to log onto the website for work shares etc. If you scroll down the left hand side of the screen in the lower left part of the front page, there is a link called "Log in" under the "Member Services" heading. Clicking on this link will take you to the login page. At the bottom of this page is a link called "Get new password". This link takes you to a form where you can enter your email address. If the address is in our database, you will receive a randomly-generated password in your email. You can use the password to log in, and then you can change the password to whatever you wish.
Workshares are very similar...you can click on the workshare section and it will bring up the details of the work...then you can sign up following the description. As I mentioned on Saturday...please feel free to phone or just stop by if you find yourself with some free time....we can definately put you to work. Presently we have been chasing our Remay row covers all over the tarnation in this wind. The rocks in the field are finally coming in very handy. If your child wants to fill some soil bags with rocks, we would welcome that activity. Lots of the biggest rocks 2-3 # are found at the ends of rows where we have tossed them in our activity of bed making. But seriously - with the winds we had Saturday and again Sunday...we have halted our planting to avoid the plants getting beaten down by the winds before they can safely establish themselves in the soil.
Monday we have put out for a lettuce planting workshare - but I am sure there is plenty to keep a crew busy in the fields for hours. We have had "farmer John", Jill's husband, mowing the fields within the fence recentlybecause the clover and rye need cut prior to the rye going to seed. If it goes to seed we have future weeds to contend with instead of just a nice cover crop. The hours to mow are not something the interns or I have have time for at this point and farmer John is actually playing the role of 'mom" so he doesn't have the time either. If anyone has experience mowing with a tractor & brush hog and would like to take this on this week (evenings are ok)...please let me know. The fields should ideally be mowed this week prior to seeding. Count it as work share hours!!!
In addition, Karl Boerke has volunteered to assist in the building of the canopy over the wash station. If there is anyone interested in assisting him please let us know. We would like to see this happen prior to the second week of June.
Lastly, if you are able, you will find photos of the open house day on our facebook site, compliments of Greg Bowman, board member.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the orientation / open house this Saturday May 1st!
This is a great chance to meet farmer Jill, the interns Alex and Mary Laura, board members, other members of the farm, and take a tour of the greenhouse and high tunnel. Activities are planned for the younger children in the pick-up center.
A reminder that if you have Tuesday pick-up please come at 2:00 and if your pick-up is Friday, please come at 4:00. The divided times are based on parking availability only. When you arrive please note that someone will be available to assist in you in parking. If you do not mind walking the drive up hill, you may also park across the street in quarry parking area nearest the road. If you are unsure of your pick-up day you may log online either with your ID number or your email address and see which day you are slated for....if you are still unsure - pleae just come at the time that suits you best!
It would be a good idea to wear comfortable walking shoes....and remember you are comng to a working farm (in all respects of the word). We do occasionally haul manure from our cattle in the barn, up the driveway to our compost pile.
Families are encouraged to read the CSA Handbook (downloadable) prior to coming on Saturday.
The orientation should last approximately one hour.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the orientation / open house this Saturday May 1st!
April 29, 2010
April 29, 2010 PROJECTS TO TACKLE
Below is our list of ongoing projects that will remain on this list until they are completed. They can be done by individuals for your share hours, youth groups, or small groups etc. that would like to volunteer as well.
This list may be more lengthy at times when projects abound or shorter when many hands are assisting.
Ongoing Projects on Living Hope Farm
Place a closing hasp on the lower garden shed
Repair drip hose with male and female ends
Weed, Weed, Weed....anytime you feel like coming!!!! We can't keep up with the weeds.
Paint Lower Shed
Repair upper shed with new T 1-11 and repaint
Remove the planter near the greenhouse and create a flower bed (removal started)
Pull poison ivy vines near path to fields
Level ground from where water lines were installed to greenhouse
Build pick-up/display tables for inside pick-up center
Hang a tire swing from tree for little children to enjoy (brush may need cleaned around tree)
Sift rock from around lower garden shed and create a neat garden area
Haul unwanted I-beams to recycle center
Paint the propane tank (once designed) with Rust Oleum in the colors of a monarch caterpillar with a caterpillar on top *let me know if you have an artistic hand and are interested in drawing the caterpillar or painting the caterpillar
Weedwack regularly around the perimeter of the fence/wash station
Landscape and beautify (possibily even terrace) the area around the lower garden shed (a great common project for several with an eye for design to tackle together)
Below is our list of ongoing projects that will remain on this list until they are completed. They can be done by individuals for your share hours, youth groups, or small groups etc. that would like to volunteer as well.
This list may be more lengthy at times when projects abound or shorter when many hands are assisting.
Field Report | April 29, 2010
Field Report | April 29, 2010 Those are not White Caterpillars
Our landscape may appear unusual
The landscape of Living Hope Farm has started to change. In the last few weeks we had some major repairs to our high tunnel (often referred to as a hoop house) by the Amish crews out of the Lancaster area and we have had our fence erected on a plot of land surrounding approximately 12.5 acres. With the interns help we have been planting outside and making beautiful beds of color. The strangest color we have been questioned about has been our long white tunnels in the fields that waft in the wind. They are not caterpillars or toys for children to crawl through but they are row covers referred to as Remay, which protect our cabbages and broccoli from those white butterflies you see flying. Those white butterflies lay their worms on the leaves of the plants and then the larvae feed on the plants. The worms can be rinsed away with somevinegar placed in a sink of water and then submersing your produce...but if they can be avoided we would rather do that. The Remay also warms the soil and retains moisture for the plants. We are presently holding them down with the rocks we find in the fields (which aren't hard to find). We were blessed to have several workers from Peaceful Living tend our rocky areas by filling some of our soil bags with those rocks, which we can then just carry to the edges and plop down on the Remay. We are hoping for some more of those to be filled because it keeps us from constantly tending the Remay when it blows off in the wind.
We would like to plan several childrens activities for the month of May. Anyone who has an interest in planning, leading, or assisting with projects please let us know. A few of the items we would like to incorporate are making farm journals and building bluebird boxes.
Germantown Hope Community Church have recently come to volunteer on the farm.
Raj Lewis, a youth pastor who has a passion for urban connections with rural farms has begun to work with the youth in his community teaching them how to grow and tend the vegetables that we regulary take for granted. Raj has plans to bring small numbers as least once a month to the farm to assist in planting, weeding, or transplanting. Please welcome them if you are here that day! We look forward to seeing then again mid-month.
Germantown Hope Community Church have recently come to volunteer on the farm.
April 15, 2010
April 15, 2010 Orientation Parking
We are looking forward to seeing you on May 1st!
As we plan for the member's orientation on May 1st, please let us know if someone in your carload would benefit from parking close to the educational//pick-up building rather than walking the driveway. We will have parking in various places to accomodate our many CSA members that day and would like to make the closest parking available to those who may be more limited physically.
Tonight the bees will be installed around 6:15 as the weather starts to cool but before it rains. They were not shipped with food- which is unusual - so they can't wait for another day. If you are interested in watching the installation, please come by the far (upper area) around that time.
Interns are hired and preparing to start working mid-April.
We have made plans for several interns to work here during the summer through fall but alot of work needs to take place in the "motel" (the coined term from our neighbors) referring to our long white pick-up/education building. Each day my list of what interns may need seems to grow longer. I forget what it takes to start a household. Because this is our first year for interns we virtually have very little to get them started in their residency here. Thanks to those who have already donated a bike & helmet, baking dishes, a wash basket, and some cleaning items. Below we have compiled a punch list of additional items if you find something that you don't need or want to contribute. Beyond those items we will spend next week building an interior wall to give them a living space to call their own and do a major once over in the cleaning department. If you have any interest in giving their rooms a fresh coat of paint, or love washing windows - let me know. This should all happen between April 2nd and 9th.
Intern 1 & 2 Alex and Mary Laura Sawatzky
Mary Laura and Alex have been serving in Costa Rica for the past year at a sustainable living and envirionmental center. Most of their energies were directed in soil building and land preparation but each have had some experience germinating seeds and transplanting them into fields. Alex's interests are recreation, cooking, and studying various cultures.
Mary Laura has a strong interest in social justice and education in urban settings. Mary will work as an intern full time but will be encouraged to further develop our connections to the Germantown and Oxford Circle area of Philadelphia with several of our board members.
Intern 3 Yet to be determined
Punch List for Interns
If you find something lightly used you think would benefit our interns - please give a call to the farm and let us know. Here are a few items that may be helpful.
Interns are hired and preparing to start working mid-April.
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010 Our Farm Location
Are you STILL getting lost trying to find us?
Here are a few quick tips. From the 113/63 intersection drive South toward Lederach. You will pass through one light located at the Harleysville Post Office and then make an immediate right turn on to Groff's Mill Road. Groff's Mill goes around a corner and then makes a left hand turn. You do not want to follow Groff's Mill left, but instead continue driving straight past the Jeff Daniels Jeep business. Now you are on Indian Creek Road and should be traveling downhill looking at the Kneckel Dairy Farm with a Rosenberger's sign out front. Follow the next two turns around corners and you will come upon the Living Hope Farm on the right prior to crossing the Indian Creek. As you enter the property, follow the drive to the left at the Y, and park near the "motel" building on your right.
Please remember to leave the parking spaces to the left of the dumpsters for the group home when you come for your pick-up.
Field Report | March 29, 2010 Workshares are beginning
You can begin to log on the website and see what type work is upcoming
Workshares will be posted more frequently as the weeks and months continue. Most recently there was an easy task which consisted of painting the beehives.
Please remember you can sign up for workshifts on the website. Simply log in, and click on "Workshift Signup" on the left-hand side menu on the home page. A list of current workshifts and projects will be listed. You can sign up yourself, another member of your share, or sign up to bring a friend.
As the season starts to pick up, you will be encouraged to get involved earlier in the summer and try to have your work hours half done by the end of June. This is not mandatory but you will see the benefit of your labor in the fields and the produce as the season and continues. Questions regarding the workshift will be answered during our open house on May 1st as well!
Aside from alot of rain this month putting a damper on activities (no pun intended)...the gardening here is still moving forward. The greenhouse tables were built and volunteers Don Good and Henry Derstine worked to install the hot water table heating system on one stretch of tables. This put heat right where it is needed most the plants roots. The greenhouse has nearly finished its second sowing of seeds and is turning quite green and looking more inviting. All in all, I am enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine.
Many varieties of lettuce have been sown as well as onions, leeks, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, kohlrabi, leeks, herbs and...(I can't remember the rest), but soon they will be transplanted and then planted into the fields. Most of the seeds were planted in trays containing between 128 and 200 plugs. That makes for ALOT of plants!
Aside from planting and transplanting we are still waiting on our outside hydrants to be placed on either end of the high tunnel. Monday excavation begins to again to install two hydrants near our high tunnel. Those hydrants will then be our source of water for irrigating the fields.
And just FYI: those cabbages above...they aren't little anymore!
You can begin to log on the website and see what type work is upcoming
March 8, 2010
March 8, 2010 Sprouts from Living Hope Farm
Things are beginning to take shape here at Living Hope Farm. When many of you began to consider being a CSA member, you were looking at the dormant trees, and a season lacking the flourish of color that we expect during the summertime; but that is quickly changing.
It is exciting to know that our membership has been steadily growing day by day. We have logged 62 families as members and are have sold 43 1/2 memberships. That means we are over our halfway point of being sold out, which feels very good.
During the last month we have had an Amish crew from the surrounding Lancaster area come to the farm and erect our 27' x 96' greenhouse and a 30' x 96' high wind tunnel beside it. This last week we have entertained plumbers, electricians, and gas company personnel on the property as they dug trenches to install water and electric to the greenhouse and run piping to several hydrants in the fields. I am anxious for them to finish. This past weekend we had a rally to finish building all our greenhouse tables and cover them with wire to prepare them for holding our trays or flats of seeds. Thanks to the many hands who assisted in sharing their time to build the tables. This will be the major work over the course of the next week or two - just seeding, seeding, seeding. It is time to start the tomatoes, onions, and those will be followed by our chards, kohlrabi, peppers, and pac choi, spinach, broccoli, kale, snow peas, and radishes. By the date of our open house...much of the greenhouse should look green!
Beekeeping Fun
As the weather warms this week I will be bringing my beehives from my former residence to the farm. Already the bees are starting to fly and are interested in searching out sources of nectar. These hives will be our first two/three for the farm. In April, you are invited to the farm to watch the installation of two new additional hives that will arrive via the post office. The post office usually calls as soon as they arrive because the buzz-buzz makes postal workers nervous. That same day they will be introduced to their new hives in the late afternoon hours. I will post the event as soon as I am aware they are coming and know that the date is free of precipitation.
May 1st Open House Weekend
This is the chance to become familiar with the farm, the pick-up routine, parking, and fields. Those with Tuesday pick-up please come at 2:00 on Sat. and those with Friday pick-ups please come at 4:30. Note the date and time changes.
Presently we have one volunteer who is interested in planning that open house and we are seeking others. If you have interest in helping plan that event - please email Carolyn at solar206@comcast.net. She is very happy to meet new members and together you can collaborate. We hope to have several activities specifically aimed at the children.
CSA Shares Still Available
We still have shares available for the upcoming 2010 season. As a member who is concerned about where your produce comes from and understands the importance of maintaining farmland in your community - you can help us fill our membership to capacity. Brochures and flyers to advertise the CSA are available. If you would like one sent to you to print out or would like to pick some up at the farm, just email me so I can have them available for you.
Intern Needs
LHF has been interviewing for the long-term interns that will be hired to work April-October and is seeking a few extras for their housing. We have two bed frames but are seeking two-three dressers and two lightly used mattresses...a single and a Queen. Other items of need are sets of pots/pans, some baking dishes, a dish drying rack, two laundry baskets, and a bike. If you would like to donate any of these items, please let us know.
Things are beginning to take shape here at Living Hope Farm. When many of you began to consider being a CSA member, you were looking at the dormant trees, and a season lacking the flourish of color that we expect during the summertime; but that is quickly changing.
Make your own Tropical Bonsai Workshop
A Little Help from Our Friends
Please Welcome our New Farm Manager
Workshares are beginning
