Helen picking monster sized tomatoes in hoop house 1
Getting ready to install the new AC unit in the shipping container
Lake Divide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.
Time flies! The tomatoes are at long last in abundance enough to merit a tomato sale! If you get more than five pounds, the price drops to $2.50 per pound. If you get more than 10 pound the price plummets to just $2.00 per pound! Get a tray to can or freeze. Roast a batch and make a soup. Make some a family sized batch of salsa! Eat decadent tomato sandwiches on boats with friends!
Meanwhile, we are still busy in the field. Another round of planting happens this week- more storage radishes, kohlrabi, broccoli, greens. All the good things that we love about fall. Our storage carrots are coming along nicely. We flame weeded them just before their cotyledons poked through the soil. We then weeded them again (ongoing) to keep them in good, uncrowded shape. Hopefully, if all goes well, we will have carrots through the winter.
We have also finally started harvesting our potatoes. They were planted so late due to wet weather in the spring. I know it is hard to remember that! This shuffled all the potato timing forward. We had a touch of new potatoes at market last week. Hence forth we shall be flush with potatoes.
I had a conversation last week about farming practices and regenerative agriculture. There is huge focus on caring for the soil and the biodiversity within as a means to grow food. As our overarching goals of ecological farming and spaces shared with the wild rose to the surface, I was momentarily dismayed. I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't achieving a balance and were not working with the natural systems that exist on our farm to reach our goals but rather trampling over them, especially after doing all that plowing. It is so important to me that we cultivate a safe haven for wildlife big and small. But I was rejuvenated as the idea crept back in that we are on the path. We are learning and won't be complacent. This is my life's work and there will be no plateau. A friend of mine sent me a snippet of Wendell Berry's poem "The Farm". In fact it was a poetry bomb, sent by text and unexpected but it brought me to tears, being aligned with my musings of finding a place within the elaborate systems of the natural world and the reality of the extent of my individual power. You can read the whole poem here, below is the snippet that I found so moving:
And you must walk the fields
With hoe in hand, to cut
The thistles and the docks.
There is no end to work —
Work done in pleasure, grief,
Or weariness, with ease
Of skill and timeliness,
Or awkwardly or wrong,
Too hurried or too slow.
One job completed shows
Another to be done.
And so you make the farm
That must be daily made
And yearly made, or it
Will not exist. If you
Should go and not return
And none should follow you,
This clarity would be
As if it never was.
But praise, in knowing this,
The Genius of the place,
Whose ways forgive your own
And will resume again
In time, if left alone.
You work always in this
Dear opening between
What was and is to be.
And so you make the farm,
And so you disappear
Into your days, your days
Into the ground. Before
You start each day, the place
Is as it is, and at
The day’s end, it is as
It is, a little changed
By work, but still itself,
Having included you
And everything you’ve done.
And it is who you are,
And you are what it is.
Reading this reminded me of several things. If offered me comfort knowing that I am small drop in the bucket. The farm is including me in its life and I am including it. Time is perspective. All of these abstract things. But another more concrete thing that this poem offered me was this: I love reading. This time of year, I am deep in the madness of work, so much so that finding an interesting book to read is sometimes beyond my ability. If you feel inspired to send me suggestions, please don't hold back. I have a library card and am not afraid to use it!
Hope you are eating well and enjoying life! See everyone at markets this week!
A window into the production path of your food.
Time flies! The tomatoes are at long last in abundance enough to merit a tomato sale! If you get more than five pounds, the price drops to $2.50 per pound. If you get more than 10 pound the price plummets to just $2.00 per pound! Get a tray to can or freeze. Roast a batch and make a soup. Make some a family sized batch of salsa! Eat decadent tomato sandwiches on boats with friends!
Meanwhile, we are still busy in the field. Another round of planting happens this week- more storage radishes, kohlrabi, broccoli, greens. All the good things that we love about fall. Our storage carrots are coming along nicely. We flame weeded them just before their cotyledons poked through the soil. We then weeded them again (ongoing) to keep them in good, uncrowded shape. Hopefully, if all goes well, we will have carrots through the winter.
We have also finally started harvesting our potatoes. They were planted so late due to wet weather in the spring. I know it is hard to remember that! This shuffled all the potato timing forward. We had a touch of new potatoes at market last week. Hence forth we shall be flush with potatoes.
I had a conversation last week about farming practices and regenerative agriculture. There is huge focus on caring for the soil and the biodiversity within as a means to grow food. As our overarching goals of ecological farming and spaces shared with the wild rose to the surface, I was momentarily dismayed. I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't achieving a balance and were not working with the natural systems that exist on our farm to reach our goals but rather trampling over them, especially after doing all that plowing. It is so important to me that we cultivate a safe haven for wildlife big and small. But I was rejuvenated as the idea crept back in that we are on the path. We are learning and won't be complacent. This is my life's work and there will be no plateau. A friend of mine sent me a snippet of Wendell Berry's poem "The Farm". In fact it was a poetry bomb, sent by text and unexpected but it brought me to tears, being aligned with my musings of finding a place within the elaborate systems of the natural world and the reality of the extent of my individual power. You can read the whole poem here, below is the snippet that I found so moving:
And you must walk the fields
With hoe in hand, to cut
The thistles and the docks.
There is no end to work —
Work done in pleasure, grief,
Or weariness, with ease
Of skill and timeliness,
Or awkwardly or wrong,
Too hurried or too slow.
One job completed shows
Another to be done.
And so you make the farm
That must be daily made
And yearly made, or it
Will not exist. If you
Should go and not return
And none should follow you,
This clarity would be
As if it never was.
But praise, in knowing this,
The Genius of the place,
Whose ways forgive your own
And will resume again
In time, if left alone.
You work always in this
Dear opening between
What was and is to be.
And so you make the farm,
And so you disappear
Into your days, your days
Into the ground. Before
You start each day, the place
Is as it is, and at
The day’s end, it is as
It is, a little changed
By work, but still itself,
Having included you
And everything you’ve done.
And it is who you are,
And you are what it is.
Reading this reminded me of several things. If offered me comfort knowing that I am small drop in the bucket. The farm is including me in its life and I am including it. Time is perspective. All of these abstract things. But another more concrete thing that this poem offered me was this: I love reading. This time of year, I am deep in the madness of work, so much so that finding an interesting book to read is sometimes beyond my ability. If you feel inspired to send me suggestions, please don't hold back. I have a library card and am not afraid to use it!
Hope you are eating well and enjoying life! See everyone at markets this week!
Watching the sun go down on the lake with a little stolen time
See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers
Fresh From the Field!
Greens:Salad Mix!!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild.
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs:
Basil- it is still pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers
Hot peppers: LIMITED - hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: LIMITED - Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!!
Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.
Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm
Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.
Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers
Fresh From the Field!
Greens:Salad Mix!!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild.
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs:
Basil- it is still pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers
Hot peppers: LIMITED - hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: LIMITED - Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!!
Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.
Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm
Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.
The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.
Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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