Welcome to the new CSA season

News from Lewis Waite Farm

It has been very cold lately with the wind blowing all day long and frost warnings as few days ago. It’s another spring of odd weather. There has been little rain lately and the ground is dry, but it is finally raining today. Everything is leafed out except the black locust trees which by now look odd as the only trees without leaves. The dandelion flush of bloom is over and we have 2 gallons of wine bubbling in the kitchen. The first picking of our rhubarb went for a pie and a crisp with frozen blueberries and my first try at rhubarb wine also fermenting happily in a crock. The fences have never been better and the cows only got out once – yesterday! I was only gone 10 minutes when out from the woods along the logging trail came about 12 steers all heading for the treats in the blooming raspberry patch. A visiting customer from Saratoga and Jayme were here to help and we got them all back in after traipsing through the woods. A gate along the woods had been knocked down and they all went running back in the pasture just where they had gotten out. They usually act as though they know they are somewhere they should not be, like little rascals, kicking up their heels and then go back in the pasture.

We have been watching the herd since May 26th and finally we have seen 2 new calves. The first two mothers were young first calf heifers and they and the calves are all doing well. The pairs each hid for a few days before introducing the calves to the herd. It’s important for the calf to know its mother’s voice and smell so they usually stay close together for the first few days. The colors of the calves are often the colors of the bulls. Last year we had ‘Puddles’ a curly all white Galloway from a Ft Edward farm and ‘Jasper’ a mix of Hereford and a little beefalo who was a blond version of the classic reddish-brown and white Hereford breed. These first two calves were blonde and their mothers were Hereford and a white Charolais, so I suspect Jasper is their dad. We are looking forward to many more in the next few months.

The new barn is being used more and more these days. The two farmers markets we attend have started so the filled coolers we use are stacked in the big walk-in freezer along with all the other beef items. The new shed storage section is almost ready for roofing and closing in and will be quick to be finished since it will not be heated. Boxes and foam and insulated boxes will be stored there. A new big closet sized egg and cheese cooler is also under construction inside this shed. This one cooler eliminates the need for the four refrigerators we now have and plug in as needed. This last big building project completes the footprint of the building. Next we’ll be moving the office to the insulated room and setting up the computer equipment to allow Chris to be where the action is!

We hope all your vegetable deliveries start soon and that this cool spring has not daunted the spring greens in their growth. The farmers markets here have lots of veggies available and our own garden is also really starting to shape up into good eating. We always wait a bit before starting our June deliveries to allow your CSA to organize the distribution and we’ll be sending our foods to you very soon.

We expect to have a new batch of beef before the June delivery but have not yet received it. If you have already entered an order already and did not find all the items you may have wanted you can edit your order prior to the order deadline to add any additional items. Thanks for all your support over the winter and welcome to the regular season session.

Happy spring – it’s big time iris season here at the farm, Nancy

Spring on the Farm

Alan and Nancy Brown At the End of Lewis Hill Lane Town of Jackson Greenwich, NY 12834 phone (518) 692-9208 or 692-3120 | Email

Spring on the Farm