Now that the Thanksgiving meals are fully digested and the families have shared their recipes, hugs and cold germs (I got a beauty after the gathering!), the cold weather and wind are settling in. In all the hubbub of the turkey ordering, we did miss one family’s turkey order again this year. We are so sorry about this and hope Thanksgiving went well for everyone. Please feel free each year to verify your order with us, the extra time it takes for both of us is rewarded with a happier ending! We ordered 91 turkeys from Stonewood Farm and wanted to have a 100% satisfaction. We are also sorry about the Stonewood Farm birds being so large that they were not appropriate for everyone. Hopefully those of you who "ordered up" in size were happy to have or share the leftovers. The next years we hope to be better prepared and have a backup plan perhaps with Kevin at KNK Poultry for smaller sized birds. We are able to offer a limited number of small turkeys for the December delivery.

The ground here is freezing and the even the cold-loving kale still left in the garden looks pretty sad first thing in the morning. The pigs are sleeping in as we are, on these dark mornings. The cows are huddling around the hay feeders waiting for the tractor and Alan or Colin to arrive. The sleep on yesterday’s remnants of hay as we move the feeders daily to prevent damage to sections of the fields and to spread the nutrients throughout. The wind is blowing and howling today and even Maggie, the golden Labrador, wants to be inside by the wood stove. The order packing section of the new barn is being insulated and sheet-rocked this week and the heater and propane tank were installed today. Hopefully by January the space will be functional and the logistics of each delivery will be much easier with more room and I can walk to work instead of driving a mile down Lewis Hill and then up Waites Lane to the existing milk-house room and freezers. The computer will be there instead of at our house and that means the inventory will be easier to access and verify. We can’t wait but since Alan and Colin are doing all the work (with the sheet rocking and taping help of Jesse our neighbor) it is plodding along but we can se the progress and are inspired to get it done.

I rarely am sick but this ailment has moved all around and started as a sore throat, moved to laryngitis, stopped up my sinuses, when I cough I can see stars and thankfully all this has been within 3 days. Our peppermint tea has been alleviating my headaches and I have been drinking herbal infusions by the ½ gallon. I hope to done with it all by today (I am convincing myself) and be ready for the preparation next week of the orders for the first Saturday delivery. I’m using kosher salt and warm water in my neti pot and I drank a currant syrup jar (my jelly did not jell!) yesterday for the vitamin c it seems sure to have. I welcome any home remedies for getting rid of symptoms fast!

In the last month we have put together our winter schedule of deliveries with the help of all our wonderful coordinator contacts. The schedule is shown below for your CSA.

We are also beginning a revamping of the website. We’ll keep you posted on our progress. Thanks for all your support over the vegetable season and hope to serve you this winter.

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