The reality is, a farmer’s winter can be just as busy as summer. As small business owners we’re our own bookkeepers, marketing agents, purchasing negotiators and sales team. I spend long hours in front of the computer being threatened by momentous stacks of paperwork. We inventory our equipment and supplies, making alarmingly long lists of things that will need repairing or replacing in the coming year. We update our brochures and web listings and start recruiting members for the CSA. We evaluate our crop rotations, plan our gardens and make rigorously scheduled To-Do Lists for the moment the snow disappears. Because we moved in late in the season and didn’t have a supply cut and stacked, there’s also the nearly daily need to cut and split cord wood for our constantly hungry woodstove. (Luckily for us, there’s plenty of beautifully seasoned standing dead-wood on the property!)

Animal chores are more time consuming in the winter as well. Instead of the livestock going to the food (read: walking over to a nice clump of grass and nibbling) we have to take the food to the animals. Twice a day we lug around heavy bales of hay, rain, snow or shine. There’s ice to chip and snow to shovel. Sheep in particular have poor depth perception, so it is important to clear away the deep snow to create a path for them to walk.

February is looming and we’re starting baby watch. We run an opportunistic sheep flock, meaning the ram remains with the ewes all year long. Breeding season starts in August, so we could start lambing as early as January. Some of our poor ewes look like barrels with four little sticks for legs. One of the Trust’s cows is also pregnant – we’re unsure of her due date, but we are expecting a calf any time over the next few weeks.

I have made an effort to read at least a few pages while having lunch each day of Catherine Friend’s book, “Sheepish.” Thus far, an excellent read (and not just because I love sheep!) But alas, I have a stack of catalogs, newsletters and other publications that I want to peruse that is just getting taller and taller.

It’s hard to believe that in 3 weeks or so we’ll be getting out the taps and start sugaring. Orders for seeds will need to be placed without delay to make sure we get all the varieties we want to plant this season. Onion and leek seeds will need to be started unbelievably soon as well!

Needless to say, I’ve kept myself pretty busy! Hope you are all enjoying your winters, however you spend them!

As an added bonus – anyone who signs up and pays for their share by 1/31/12, we’ll throw in one of our very popular free range, heritage breed Thanksgiving turkeys!

Send us an e-mail if you are interested in receiving our brochure and membership application. Remember – shares are limited and are on a first paid, first served basis.

Looking forward to an exciting season!

This New Year, instead of looking backward, I’m looking forwards. I’m not a resolution maker, but we have so many plans in the works for 2012. I’ve already cataloged my inventory of seeds. I have a pretty tidy supply and will need only to make a ridiculously large seed order (as opposed to one of epic proportion.) For the first time, ever, I was able to get my act together and fall plant garlic. I’ve settled on ground cherries as my experimental plant and am expecting tasty things from this unique cousin of the tomato.

Without question, we’ll be offering the CSA in 2012. 2011 was a pleasurable learning experience, but there will be some minor changes to the program, as well as an even better garden. (Not to tempt Mother Nature, so fingers crossed for good growing weather!) We are offering a scholarship for a single family next season as well. In exchange for weekly labor, the family will receive an Omnivore CSA membership. Glenn & I are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to the Herward family for 2012. Once we work out the kinks, we’ll list details on how to apply for the scholarship in 2013.

Glenn & I are still enjoying exploring the property, finding new treasures all the time. We’ve made numerous lists on what projects need to be tackled once spring arrives. One task on the top of the list will be making soil improvements, adding naturally organic materials and nutrients to the earth. Next on the list of priorities is some TLC on the fencing so that we can manage the pastures better through intensive rotational grazing.

Glenn has worked hard on tidying up the hiking trails so they are nice for walking or horseback riding. Once we get snow, they’ll be great for snowshoeing or cross country skiing as well! We’ve taken the wagon out once or twice and plan on hosting some hay rides in the spring. He’s also started opening up some long unused trails and intends on GPS mapping and putting out trailhead maps and markers as well.

Keep your eyes peeled for 2012 Crop Mob dates, workshops and of course an Open House. We have started talking about several events, but I won’t spoil the surprise until the schedule is set!

May 2012 bring you and yours much peace, joy and lots of healthy, tasty local foods!

Some are older women, East Coast dairywomen and old school farmers who could teach us all a thing or two about work ethic, devotion, and family. They are women that I respect not just for their knowledge, but for their profound depth of wisdom. (Two things that do not always go hand-in-hand!)

I also have the extreme pleasure of having connected with some younger women who bring fresh and innovative ideas to farming. Their enthusiasm and out-of-the-box thinking challenges me to rise to new levels.

In this country agriculture has long been dominated by men, but women are increasingly starting to get their hands dirty and bring great things to the table (literally and figuratively!)   

On February 3, 2012 I’m attending the Women in Agriculture conference that is being held at the NH Farm & Forest Expo. The event is very inexpensive – spread the word – let’s fill the room with women who are (or want to be) involved in NH’s food supply!

Here are the details:

 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.          Women in Agriculture

Join the NH Women in Agriculture conference held for the first time at the NH Farm & Forest Expo! Meet our guest, the dynamic Dafna Michaelson, nationally recognized speaker, entrepreneur and community builder. Founder of the Journey Institute and Women as SOCIAL Entrepreneurs group, Dafna works to bring people together to grow business ideas that benefit the community. Learn from her experiences and those of others involved in agri-business in NH. Get ready for an empowering and idea-filled  afternoon and reach the next level in achieving your business dreams! Registration fee $10 by Jan. 16. Pre-registered participants will receive a free ticket to the Expo trade show. Contact  (603) 271-3788 or e-mail here for more information. The Women in Agriculture Conference is supported by funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Hope to see you there!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

a perfect dozen eggs,

an eleven hundred pound paint horse,

a ten pound Shepherd puppy,

nine hens a-laying,

eight chicks a-peeping,

seven chickens scratching,

six rubber barn boots.

….FIIIIVE PEEEEKIN DUUUUUCKS….

a four pound baby barn cat,

three French Marans,

two mallard ducklings

and a farm in the country!

♫ ♪♫ ♪

I can’t take credit for the song, but oh so cute! Happy Holidays!

I’m not suggesting abandoning holiday traditions. Good company, shared food, spiritual celebrations, and even the general feel of festivity are all an important part of the human condition. It gives us all something to look forward to and a reason to gather together with family and friends. The difficulty is making an effort to reduce the wasteful behaviors/activities without sacrificing the revelries and long standing customs.

There are a few simple things we can do to reduce our environmental impact this holiday season:

• Shop online to reduce fuel consumption, or better yet – craft handmade gifts instead.
• Wrap presents in tea towels or knitted goods that become part of the gift itself. Forego the glittery wrapping paper in favor of recyclable/compostable newspaper or place gifts in reusable bags. Unwrap the things you receive with care so that the paper can be used again.
• Portion meals appropriately to minimize food waste and leftovers that will only grow fuzzy in the fridge.
• Put decorative lights on a timer so that energy usage is controlled (even when you fall victim to tryptophan!)

One of my biggest issues with the holiday season is The Tree. Chemicals and petroleum waste aside, the faux tree does not fill my heart with holiday cheer. On the other hand, chopping down a living tree for the express purpose of dragging it indoors and draping it with glass balls and plastic tinsel seems to tilt the scales towards “excessive waste.”

This year we decided to do without an indoor tree in favor of and outdoors one. Yes, we did still chop down a living tree. However, we chose a 50’ hemlock with an eye towards the lumber. When we lopped off the top 10’, we knew that the rest of the tree wouldn’t be wasted as we set it aside for aging and eventual milling.

While our tree was quite lovely, standing by the farm sign, it still needed decorating. We happily took the opportunity (or is that excuse?) to stroll through the woods gathering a bucket full of pinecones. A few ribbons, some peanut butter and a quick dip into birdseed and we had our ornaments all ready for hanging.

A special helper makes ornaments with us

Glenn used the tractor bucket to hang the high ornaments… kids – don’t try this at home! I’m in the process of making popcorn strings as well; also edible but will add a contrasting color to the tree. All in all, it was a fun afternoon and we ended up with an environmentally friendly tree that’s festive as well as a tasty treat for the local wildlife! 

Don't try this at home

 Needless to say, we love the new place and are discovering new treasures every day. The greater Blogging community coined the phrase “Wordless Wednesday,” where instead of writing lengthy posts, the authors share photos. While I am clearly unable to be “wordless”, here are a few photos….

PS WordPress just told me that this was my 200th post. Nifty.

This is what happens when it is 25 degrees out and a cow, that no one knew was preganant, has calves unexpectadly. Twins. The mother rejected this bull calf and he nearly froze to death. We had to bring him in next to the woodstove to get him warmed up.

After some warming up and a bottle, he was ready for a nap.

The heifer calf is in the barn, nursing well with mommy. Once he warmed up, the bull calf went out to the barn too – hanging with the lambs. Looks like bottle feeding is in my future!

Surprise!

Needless to say, with moving and packing and our current crazy schedule, I pretty much abandoned the fall garden, allowing it to transform, in its entirety, to Pan’s Acre. Pan’s Acre is usually a section of garden (small – not really an acre!) that I leave in a wild state, allowing nature to decide what will thrive there. I allow the wildlife to nibble there with impunity. It’s simply a nod to nature, and a reminder that gardening is a superficial attempt, at best, to control the living world.

The other day, I went down to harvest some of the overgrown broccolini and New Zealand spinach for the pigs. To my surprise, the fall garden was actually thriving, despite my neglect. It seems that the frost tolerant plants are coming along rather nicely, in some cases completely out-competing the weeds. There’s an amazing batch of radishes, crisp spheres of red fire. The early scarlet globes, my favorite variety, are making perfect Ping-Pong ball sized orbs in two tidy rows. They are probably one of the better batches I’ve seen in a long time.

The loose leaf lettuce is making a definite showing. Salad is a spring and fall only kind of thing at our house – we can’t justify buying it at the store out of season. Funny how one can gorge themselves greedily on leaves and be so satisfied!

The Black Palm kale (Nero Di Toscana) is, of course, in its element. It looks a little silly, a bit like a miniature palm tree, since we’ve harvested most of the lower leaves, showing about two feet of bare stalk before sprouting its long bumpy foliage. There’s still plenty of time to preserve the kale – we’ll both dry and freeze it for use in winter soups, stews and casseroles.

The Red Rock cabbages were not really exciting this year. However, there are a handful of small heads that I’ll harvest in another week or two. They’ll be a perfect size for our meals of two. The rainbow chard was another dud this year, which is pretty surprising; usually chard is something that grows ridiculously well no matter the weather. This is the second crop I put in and the sprouts are barely 3 inches tall. I’m beginning to wonder if it is the seeds.

I put in some mini carrots as well as some Bulls Blood Beets in late August. Both are looking promising and there should be a nice harvest before the ground freezes. If we weren’t moving, I would have merely tried covering them over with hay and digging them all winter long. There is also a healthy crop of scallions, little green soldiers in two tight rows. Glenn will keep busy dehydrating them for winter use as well, as we use a lot of them.

The surprise crop is my Ching Chang Bok Choy which looks delightful. A “baby” bok choy, I’ll start harvesting it next week when it is about 5 inches tall. It was a heavy producer so I’ll probably go with this variety again. It can also be dehydrated for winter use – we might need to look into a second dehydrator!

Many people think of pumpkins, squashes, potatoes and root vegetables in the fall, but in my book autumn is the last hurrah for fresh greens, sprouts and the like. Put down that butternut squash, it’ll keep for weeks! Instead find a local farmer near you and put the last of the fresh veggies on your plate!

Garlic is actually an easy crop to grow, but it has some particulars that sometimes confuse folks. The first is the difference between “hard-neck” and “soft-neck” varieties. The “neck” of a garlic plant is simply the stalk. The botanical name of soft-neck garlic is Allium var. sativum.  Soft-necks are recognized by the white papery skin and an abundance of cloves, often forming several layers around the central core. At maturity, the stem of a soft-neck garlic plant is soft and pliable. Soft-neck varieties tend to store longer, and since the stalk is malleable it can be woven into the familiar garlic braid and used all winter long.

The botanical name of hard-neck garlic is Allium var. ophioscorodon.  They have, conversely, a stiffer stalk. In general they tend to be milder flavored but are hardier plants, better suited to colder climates.  Hard-neck garlics have fewer, larger cloves than the soft-necks. They also have less of an outer bulb wrapper, sometimes none at all, giving them a shorter shelf life.

On the other hand, only hard-neck varieties create the coveted scape. The scape is the central stalk that grows straight up in early spring, ending in one or two curvy loops. If left on the plant, a bulbils will form that can be used to eventually propagate more garlic. (It is far easier to grow from a clove.) However, so that more energy will go into the bulb, producing tasty garlic, the scape should be snipped off after it forms the loops. Garlic scapes are extremely tender and tasty and can be sautéed for use in a variety of dishes, eaten raw or made into a garlicky flavored pesto. 

This year I ordered three varieties for planting:

• Siberian – hard-neck purple stripe
• Music – hard-neck porcelain
• Italian Purple – soft-neck

Planting garlic is pretty straightforward. While it can be done in early spring, garlic is best planted in the fall for a harvest the following summer. Spring planted garlic tends to have smaller yields.

Now is the time to get planting! First gently separate the cloves. Each clove will become its own head of garlic. In a well tilled bed, plant each clove, point side up, at least 6 inches from any other clove – crowded plants will create smaller heads! The individual cloves should be planted to the depth of about 2 ½ times their size. Next cover your garlic bed with a protective layer of mulch for the winter.

In the earliest of spring, the mulch should be removed, as unmulched soils will warm quicker. In a couple of weeks, when the plants start growing, I’ll mulch around them to discourage weed growth. Garlic shoots can tolerate air temperatures of 20 degrees F, so they’ll have a head start on almost all of the weeds!

Garlic will be a lovely, green stalky plant for much of the summer. Once the leaf tips begin to yellow and die back, it’s time to harvest. The lower six to eight leaves should still be fully green. Here in New Hampshire harvest begins the latter part of July and goes through the summer, depending on variety. Garlic left too long in the ground – after all the leaves have yellowed – splits open, resulting in dirty cloves and the possibility of rot.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to getting my hands dirty this weekend. Planting garlic is one of the last garden projects of the season. For me though, it is a beginning – the first step to what I hope will be an exciting, and rewarding to life!