We help feed and nourish our community. What a privilege. And what a responsibility. We also deeply love our community. What a powerful force to root us here.
On the farm many things are very usual right now. We are seeding, planting, harvesting, washing, packing. We are doing all the usual random farm chores.
And yet we are doing so in a cultural context that keeps changing every 12 hours or less. Many of our actions take weeks or months to manifest and thus we can’t stop or slow down. (We are tending tomato plants from which we will hopefully eat fruit when COVID-19 is not pressing down on us all.) And our community should be fed. And nourished. (They are not necessarily the same things!)
Thus – we are continuing our work, yet in new ways. We have increased staff handwashing and surface disinfecting as per CDC guidelines. We have added disinfecting wipes (and a trash can) to our self-serve FarmStand area. We are handing out thermometers to our staff members who need one – just so they can take their temperature without having to acquire one elsewhere. (We also handed out Elderberry Syrup.) We are social distancing while carrying out necessary work.
We consider it very necessary to alter our normal habits in order to be responsible during these times, yet we also hone in on the supreme importance of not fearing our community. With all this talk of social distancing and avoiding crowds (yes! do these things!) it can be easy to slip into a fear of one’s neighbors. This we commit to avoid. We will love our community – known and unknown – through this while also actively working to not spread a virus.
Look at this bowl of Dead Nettle flowers our children picked yesterday. The four of them lay on their bellies in our orchard for more than an hour to pick these flowers. Here’s how big each individual flower is:
They served them on top of our salads at dinner last night, plus on top of a homemade chocolate-mint mousse (whipped up by our oldest child).
My goodness, life is beautiful and we are rich.
We are out and off the farm less, but soaking in deeply the chance to be with our family more. We are breathing. We are not panicking. We have prepared well and are staying informed. We are very much looking forward to attending our digital church service this weekend.
(Note finger swipe by a mischievous child on the left side of that bowl of goodness. Just to keep it real, folks. And he had just washed his hands, we swear.)
And so…
We will be at the Farmers Market at St. Stephens tomorrow and the market will be outside in the parking lot. (So much fresh air!) Our FarmStand at our farm will be open as usual daily 9a-6:30p. It is self-serve and has disinfecting wipes and a trash can for your convenience, plus we disinfect each frequent-touch surface with bleach solution every morning.
The Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop is going on as planned tomorrow, Saturday. It is small group of people outside in the fresh air, and we will have a hand washing station. There are a couple of spots still available if you’d like to join us (and you are healthy!). Just reply to this email. It takes place from 10am-3pm. Cost is $75, payable to the instructor, Jim Moniz. Bring your own lunch, water bottle, notebook, pencil, and weather appropriate clothing, plus tools if you have any. Use our handwashing sink while you are here!
Among the topics covered:
Anatomy and Physiology
Variables to consider before planting
Principles of Training Young Trees
Responses to Various Cuts and Manipulations
Pruning Throughout the Life of the Tree
Restoring the neglected tree
Please be smart in working to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Our four parents are all in their 70’s and are involved with the farm each day. If you shouldn’t (or can’t) be at market or our FarmStand at our farm this weekend, or need to re-stock mid-week, please order through Richmond’s online farmers’ market, Fall Line Farms. There’s a promotion right now for a free 3-month membership. Use promo code SPRING20.
We love feeding and nourishing you and your family. Thank you for being part of our community!
This week’s harvest includes:
Cilantro, Kale, Microgreens, Parsley, Salad, Spinach, Sugar Snap Pea Shoots, Swiss Chard …plus our Breads that we bake Saturday morning…this week’s varieties are Seed Loaf, Herb (Rosemary and Thyme), Raisin & Cinnamon, Whole Rye, and Baguettes.
We have these delicious vegetables in our FarmStand at our farm, open and self-serve from 9a-6:30p. Plus, we’ll bring these items on Saturday to the Farmer’s Market @ St. Stephen’s – which is OUTSIDE from 9-12. Keep an eye on what we have available via Richmond’s only online farmers’ market: FallLineFarms.com.
We’ll see you at the farm and at St. Stephen’s this weekend~
In health ~
Janet, Dan, & the whole Broadfork crew
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