Big Red Farm Stand, in front of Pop Hall, Wed. June 11, 1pm to 5pm

Hello friends,

Daffodils and periwinkles blooming
by the barn in April

Planting the Class of 2014 Orchard
in early March

Spring seemed to be a brief but intense interlude of rain showers, balmy days, a profusion of flowers, and lots of greenhouse work between the long winter and what already feels like summer.  Our intrepid student farm crew logged many hours making soil blocks, seeding in the greenhouse (lettuces, onions, kale, chard, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, flowers for the cutting garden) and field (peas, spinach, carrots, beets, radishes, beans, summer squash), hoeing, transplanting, and caring for chickens and sheep.  The sheep have been shorn of their winter fleeces, and the chickens are out of their winter quarters and back on pasture, test-driving a new predator-proof (we hope) mobile coop.  The Class of 2014 Orchard/Perennial Garden has been established, with apple and pear trees, raspberries, asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb on track to start producing in the next several years.

Farm baby at work in the
nearly-finished new hoophouse in March

Hens enjoying some outside time

Several infrastructure projects begun during the winter have been completed -- the above-mentioned chicken coop, our second hoop-house (or unheated greenhouse), and most excitingly the complete restoration of our 1953 Farmall Cub cultivating tractor, which has been purring like a kitten back and forth along the beds of new plants in the field, uprooting weeds while doing little to no damage (we're still fine-tuning our technique!) to the crops.  In other words, we're ready for the season!  We hope you are too, because it's here.

FARM STAND SCHEDULE AND LOCATION(S)

Starting Wednesday, June 11, the farm stand will be open every Wednesday from 1pm to 5pm on the Lawrenceville School campus.  We haven't yet settled on the best location, so we may move around a bit in these first few weeks.  This week we'll be right in front of Pop Hall, at the top of the stairs that lead down into the Bowl.  There is parking nearby, and we'll put up signs by the road to point you in the right direction.

Additionally, the farm stand will be open at the farm (2942 Main St, right behind the Lawrenceville community garden) on the first Saturday of each month from 3pm to 7pm.  We hope you'll join us on those days; in addition to our regular produce and eggs, we'll have pick-your-own veggies and flowers, plus a potluck dinner.  A great way to enjoy the farm with your family, friends, and good food!

BIG RED FARM SHARE PROGRAM

We're pleased to once again be offering our popular debit-style CSA share in 2014.  As many of you know, a Big Red Farm Share comes with perks!  In exchange for your up-front investment, you get a built-in discount on all the produce you buy, as well as access to occasional special offers available to farm members only.  Your share purchase opens an account, from which we will deduct each of your purchases at the farm stand -- you choose whatever produce you want, we don't pack it for you.  You can add more money to your account at any time, and any balance remaining in your account at the end of the season rolls over to the following season.  Farm Share options (plus discounts) are below:

• $100 share = $110 in your account, or a 10% built-in discount
• $200 share = $224 in your account, or a 12% built-in discount
• $300 share = $342 in your account, or a 14% built-in discount
• $400 share = $464 in your account, or a 16% built-in discount

Advantages of the Big Red Farm Share:

• Come to the stand and leave your wallet at home -- you've already paid!
• Know that you're supporting your local farm through your upfront contribution.
• See where your food is grown and pick some of it yourself.  
• Choose the produce you and your family love.  Love Swiss Chard?  We grow it.  Hate Swiss Chard?  We grow other things, too.  
• Enjoy the flexibility of this CSA model.  Going on vacation for a few weeks?  We'll be here when you get back.  
• Join in the risk fun of being a farmer.  

THIS WEEK AT THE FARM STAND

• Kale - $2.50 bunch
• Rainbow Chard - $2.50 bunch
• Bok Choy - $1.50 each
• Lettuce - $2.50 head
• Snap Peas - $2.50 pint
• Eggs - $5.00 dozen
• Kohlrabi - $1.00 each
• Garlic Scapes -- 3/$1.00