Our CSA got off to a great start on Saturday, May 18 followed by the first Tuesday pick-up on May 21.  It is always very satisfying to gather together the first of the produce we have been working so hard to produce and display it in the pick-up. Seeing returning CSA members is like a reunion of friends and welcoming new members into our food centered community is a joyous occasion. Our apprentices feel a sense of accomplishment when they harvest the first of our crops, that they helped plant and nurture. It is impossible to communicate how much care, planning and preparation goes into the production of the spinach, spears of asparagus, heads of lettuce etc. we grow, using organic methods, starting with attention to soil fertility and the love of our land, but when I see the bounty and taste it’s goodness I am deeply fulfilled to know that we are blessed to be able to share it with so many families through our CSA.

New Transplanter in Action!
New Transplanter in Action!

We have had the successful launch of our new horse drawn transplanter.  We started with the onions and leeks, which are the most difficult to  plant, at, 6 inch spacings, however it sure did make the tomatoes, at 2 feet spacing, seem like a breeze by comparison. Gena and Gwen, our older well trained Suffolk horses, were the stars of the show as they walked VERY slowly down the row giving us time to get the plants into the carousel. We still have some kinks to iron out, but overall it has gone very well with a minimal amount of swearing.  My back appreciates the change and it has pulled Ken on to the transplanting crew!

Plough Day
Plough Day

On the holiday Monday, May 20 we  had a Plough Day here at the farm for the Southwestern Ontario Draft Horse Club. We had 19 heavy horses ploughing in our south field. It was a beautiful day and our apprentices all enjoyed to opportunity to try their hands at ploughing and to see other teams and teamsters.

We are very happy that Sam Bass has arrived from the U.S. as our fifth apprentice. He has been here for a week now and already we are feeling a bit more caught up with our weeding!

 
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Apprentice - Stephanie Vali
Apprentice – Stephanie Vali
Apprentice - Jean-Francois
Apprentice – Jean-Francois
Apprentice - Sam Bass
Apprentice – Sam Bass
Senior Apprentice - Bill van Zanten
Senior Apprentice – Bill van Zanten