June 25th, 2019
What’s in your share?
Radicchio
Bunching Onions
Stir Fry Greens
Kohlrabi
Hakurei Turnips
Butterhead Lettuce
Spring Ferment
In the past few weeks since we have started harvesting our crops, we have felt so much inspiration for many reasons. Feeding ourselves and our community is very empowering, and knowing that people love and support what we do makes every day that is difficult worth it.
But this feeling of inspiration is coming from elsewhere, too. When we first moved onto our farm in April of 2018, we had no idea what to expect. We didn’t know what our soil would be like, we didn’t know how the climate would be so close to the lake, and we didn’t know how the people who lived here before us treated the land. It turned out that we have some of the heaviest clay soil in the midwest. When we first started planting last spring, it was like we were planting into concrete, leaving our fingertips sore and bleeding and us feeling discouraged. Planting started out as a dreaded and painful chore. We knew that this soil needed a lot of love, and that it wasn’t going to be an overnight fix. Soil structure and health take years and years to build, and can be destroyed in an instant with the use of chemicals and heavy machinery.
After just one year of hauling endless wheel barrows full of organic, plant based compost, composted horse manure, amending our soil with nutrients, and never inverting the soil with a rototiller, the difference in our soil has been immense. Planting is going much faster, there are more earthworms gliding through the soil that has become more loamy, and the plants seem to be responding well. There is still so much we can do to improve the ecosystem of our farm, but each year will get better and better.
This feeling of inspiration doesn’t end at our farm. The farm is a microcosm of the planet. We all are aware of the dangers of climate change, whether we acknowledge it or not. The mentality that we too often see is, “if something is broken; give up on it, throw it away, and buy a new one.” As humans, we are stewards of the land we live on. It is our responsibility to put great efforts into making this planet one that can sustain life in all its forms. Even though sometimes it seems easier to give up on a place in search for a better one, soon, it will not be an option. Just like in our field, we can make change happen and improve the quality of our land. It will take time, but we will see small results instantly.
We want to thank you all, once again, for taking direct action to be a part of this change and supporting our CSA this season. By purchasing directly from a farm in your area, you are reducing the fuel mileage it takes to get your food from the farm to your plate, and are also giving the farmers a better chance to make a decent wage.
We hope that you enjoy the food, and let it be an inspiration to continue taking small actions to make this planet a nourishing place!