Kicking Off 2024
Happy New Year!
Greetings all! What a year it's been. I promised in previous newsletters to do a recap of the 2023 season once I took a little break to collect my thoughts. When you live where you work, and what often feels like live what I work, it can be hard to find time for reflection. In my early years getting started on the farm it always felt like I had winters off, but as time rolled on and I became more acquainted with the inner workings of the property, I realized that it never comes to a halt. There are shifts, and I am able to take some vacation in the winter, but there is always something that needs attention. But, I try to recognize the new year and use it as an opportunity to start fresh. New year, new list--which starts with getting in touch with our lovely members!
So, before I get into what is planned for 2024, I'd like to offer a recap of how 2023 on the farm went. As always, it had its fair share of successes and challenges. We introduced a new CSA style, built a greenhouse, upgraded our field equpiment, attended three weekly farmers markets, experienced record rainfall, and ran the farm with the smallest crew in my eight years here. Overall, I'd say it was a pretty good year!
Market style pickup was met with rave reviews from our members and works well for the crew. We'll be keeping it for the coming season. The transition to market style pickup started about 3 years ago, and I appreciate all of our members that stuck with us through the transition. There have been a lot of changes to farm over the past few years, and I think we are finally in a position to find some consistency. I want to build on the successes we had with our CSA in 2024 and improve upon the challenges.
Cucumbers finally returned as a staple in shares after a couple years of really challenging harvests. We installed insect netting on our greenhouses to exclude the cucumber beetle and it made a huge difference. We moved heirloom tomatoes indoors and were able to offer them through the whole second half of the summer and 6 weeks into fall CSA shares. I am proud of our consistency with staple veggies this year including: onions, garlic, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, beans, celery, and herbs. I have high standards for how I want the CSA to operate, and that starts with being able to consistently offer produce our members can use on a weekly basis.
I want to improve our greens in 2024. We had a fine year, but didn't get the variety or yield I would like to see. We are shifting to a new technique for lettuce mix production that we started to introduce in fall shares. I will also be adjusting our head lettuce production to get more consistency. Greens are a staple of CSA shares. They are the most sought after crop each week, and at the end of 2024, I would like to be writing about greens as a success in our CSA.
This Friday will mark one year since buying the farm. As prepared as I felt, my new role was full of the unexpected. I couldn't predict the perspective shift that happened when I went from managing to owning. I like to think that I have always held a long term vision for the farm, but the scope of that vision expanded when I knew I would be here for the next decade. I used to plant trees on the property and think that if I ever left, I would like to come back and see those trees fully mature. Now I get to watch those trees reach maturity.
In the fall I proposed to my best friend in the woods behind the house. Rachel was planting ginseng, a crop that takes 7 years to reach maturity. We'll get to watch her patch grow this spring and for years to come, just like the trees I have planted, and the business we are growing together. We are incredibly lucky to be able to share this farm with our community through our CSA, and hope you will join us in 2024!
2024 CSA SHARES
Summer and Fall CSA Shares are now available!
Join us for another great growing season in 2024! Our summer CSA will run from June to September, and fall shares will finish out the year from October to November.
Pickup on the farm is market style on Wednesdays from 3:30pm-7:00pm. Delivered baskets are pre packed and delivered on Wednesdays by 7:00pm.
Summer Full Shares span 16 weeks and are $600.
"Floating" Half Shares pickup 8 weeks during the season and are $350.
Delivery is an additional $9/week. Half shares are delivered every other week.
Winter Greens Friday, January 12th!
We'll be doing a winter greens and storage crop pickup on Friday 1/12 any time after 12:00pm.
Baskets will include: Spinach, Chard, Spicy Salad Mix, Lettuce Mix, Potatoes, & Onions. Also available to take as you like are: Daikon Radish (I've been loving them grated into a salad) and Cabbage.
Baskets are $30.
I send out a separate email for winter greens. If you would like to be included on that email, please send a message to jack@dogdaysnh.com.
