Farm News
Fall Season Re-Opens Oct 13
Hi all. The farm re-opens NEXT WEEK, Thu Oct 13th.
Fall CSA Pickups HOURS: Thu and Fri 10AM - 4 PM, and Sun 12 - 4PM.
*** Please note, we will be CLOSED Saturday’s and OPEN Sundays. ALSO, we will close at 4PM, not 5, as we loose more daylight going into Nov).***
Fall CSA Share’s Sold Out. As the season progresses, we will re-evaluate if we can open a few more slots. We will continue to sell extras to the public as available through November.
Sunday’s On-Farm this Fall… hay rides and pumpkin patch, live music, local food and drink. Beginning Oct 16th, Noon - 4PM through Oct 30th.
Details forthcoming as we dry out and get some sun on our greens. Luckily we got our sweet potatoes out of the field and curing before the rain came in. See you soon!
CSA summer wind down, NEW products, fruit and corn, annual Art’s festival.
This is it… this is the final week of the Summer CSA pickup on 9/15, 16, 17. OPEN Thu, and Fri 10 AM-5 PM, and Sat 10 AM-2 PM. Don’t forget next week… JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL ART’S FESTIVAL! Saturday 9/24, 10AM-3PM. Local artists, pottery, demos, food, drink, LIVE music.
THE HARVEST. Tomatoes - red, orange AND a few green - if fried green tomatoes are your thing! Zucchini, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Arugula, Winter squash - Butternut is in! Kabocha and Spaghetti too. Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Carrots, Flowers and Herbs. Get your flowers from a farmer:) As a thank you for your support - your choice - BONUS apples and corn! Details in Farm Shop. APPLES, CORN AND PEACHES… available for purchase too.
NEW PRODUCTS! Stock up. Beer - The Seed Brewery on-farm Thu and Sat; Ravioli’s - chicken/broccoli rabe, roasted mushroom and grilled veggie - pair with our own tomato sauce; Chicken Sausage - white wine/parsley and chicken apple; POTPIE’S - chicken, veggie and beef Shepard’s; Hot dogs and Burgers; farmer Bill’s Cheeses, Yogurts and Sheepsicles; And more from our other farmer friends… Mushrooms, Microgreens and Eggs.
*** End of Summer Farmer Report ***
Highlights and Challenges
HIGHLIGHTS. Strawberries… epic quality and bounty! Many months of labor throughout the spring, summer and fall go into managing this crop for 4 short weeks of strawberries. They are the best, got to have them! Onions - who cares, right? It’s an onion, but to a farmer who strives for large, sweet onions with good storage ability, we nailed it! Other notes… throughout the season, we expanded our Farm shop and High Tunnel production to increase our reach, services and farm fresh options in the community. Thanks to the high tunnels, we had our best tomato season and extended harvest to date! We also incorporated more cover cropping, mulching and bees for better yields and crop health. And we continue to grow our farmer training program and strive to make it possible for younger, beginner farmers to have successful careers in agriculture.
CHALLENGES. Heat and Drought. Hottest and driest season yet. We irrigated constantly. The weather continued to push back planting schedules and will delay our fall CSA harvest (reopening mid Oct). Despite some losses, we have replanted and look forward to cooler temperatures and big heads of broccoli:) Unable to change the weather, our well-seasoned farmer crew are healthy, have positive attitudes and overcome tough days to get the work done. We are tested daily, some more than others! Raspberries… limited quantities for many reasons, including weather, but we keep working at it. My advice would be don’t grow raspberries! Tractor issues - behind the scenes, we were down for several weeks without our most used work horse. We did a lot by hand (our backs were not happy), or pushed off work until we could get it back up and running. Thanks to a great farm team, planning and management, we make the best of it and work through it.
As the sun sets on another crazy farming season, we give thanks to everyone who makes this farm dream work, from our amazing staff and support organizations, to the customers whom are all the backbone of this farm’s success. We are passionate about growing and supporting the next generation of farmers, and committed to creating and sustaining a viable food system. Thank you for following us on this journey and being a part of the local food movement.
Please take a few moments to take our survey and let us know how we can improve your farm experience! Your responses are anonymous. Take a screen shot of your completed survey page, or print it out and get 3 free sunflowers:) We appreciate your input.
Much love to our partners and farm friends… Hammerbacher Kitchen, The Seed Brewery, Pastore Orchard, Nichols Orchard, Cycle Farms, Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy, Fulper Farm, Sicklers Circle View Farm, Griggstown Farm, Faith Flower Farm, First Field, Bee Cool Pollination, Mill Creek Apiary, Smith Poultry, CROPS, our local artist’s network, and Folk Across the Street musicians network. AND to our friends and family - thank you for standing by us!
Barn Concert, Sunflower Maze, Art’s Festival
Summer is winding down - 2 more weeks of Summer CSA pickups to go. Teasing a few Fall CSA crops this week and next. Fall CSA season SOLD OUT! As the season progresses, we will re-evaluate if we can open a few more slots. We will continue to sell extras to the public as available through November.
THIS WEEK’S HARVEST. Kobacha squash - if you like butternut and sweet potatoes, you will LOVE Kobacha! Leeks, Spaghetti squash, Onions, Peppers, Carrots, Garlic, Arugula, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Herbs and Flowers. Apples, pumpkins and more coming soon!
BARN CONCERT SUNDAY. Twisted Pine on the farm this weekend - check it out! Tickets $20 per person - *** advanced sales ONLY, no walk-ins. *** BYOB, potluck.
SUNFLOWERS GALORE! Walk the maze - $4 per person, kids in strollers or carriers enter free. Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers in a separate field.
PICK YOUR OWN FLOWERS. Zinnias $5/12 stems, Sunflowers $1/stem.
ART FESTIVAL. Mark you calendars, Saturday 9/24!
Beers, BBQ, Flowers, Music and More on the Farm.
Celebrate summer Labor Day Weekend on the farm! Put your farmers on the schedule… OPEN Thu, Fri 10-5 or Sat 10-2.
NEW! Sunflower Maze AND U-Pick Flowers.
In one field, walk the sunflower trail, linger and take pics. Maze Admission $4/person, kids in strollers or carriers free.
In an other field, just a short walk from the maze… “Cut-Your-Own” Sunflowers and mixed flower bouquets. $5/12 stems (includes 2 sunflowers), extra sunflowers $1/stem.
SHOP LOCAL, DRINK LOCAL, SUPPORT OUR FARM FRIENDS!
Grown on our Farm, 100%… Tomatoes, Cucumber, Zucchini, Spaghetti squash, Beets, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Garlic, Arugula, Watermelon, Herbs and Flowers.
PEACHES, CORN - Pastore Orchards.
BEER. On-Farm pours 4 for $5 and cans to go - The Seed Brewery. Thu 10-5, Sat 10-2.
MEATS, RAVIOLI, POTPIES - Burgers, Dogs, Chicken Sausage, Ground Turkey and Beef Cubes - Sicklers, Griggstown.
CHEESES - Mozzarella, Ricotta, Cheddar, Gouda, Chevre, Blue - Misty Meadow, Fulper.
EGGS, MUSHROOMS, MICROGREENS AND MORE- Cycle Farm and local sources, Faith Flower Farm. Sauce and Salsa - our homegrown!
‘QUE WITH KYLE, ON-FARM - Smith Poultry - SATURDAY 10-2.
Pulled Pork, Chicken and Brats. Get some! Pair with an iced tea, or chill in the fields with The Seed Brewery.
Potpies, Beers, Heirloom Tomatoes
Back to School. Schedules change... we get it. But you still have to eat!
THIS WEEK’S HARVEST. 100% grown on our farm.
Watermelon, Zucchini, Spaghetti squash, Potatoes, Garlic, Peppers, Onions, Carrots, Beets, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Flowers and Herbs. NEW! Try our homemade Tomato Sauce and Salsa - 100 % our Jersey tomatoes and farm ingredients!
NEW PRODUCTS IN STOCK. Perfectly paired with our home-grown veggies. Keep it simple. From kabobs on the grill and an heirloom tomato salad, to a no-fuss chicken pot pie.
Jersey Fresh. Yes, even the beer!
POT PIES! Chicken, Veggie and Sheppard's Pie. Griggstown Farm.
RAVIOLI. Plain Ricotta, and Chicken with Broccoli Rabe. BONUS... pair with our own Walking Bird Farm Tomato Sauce! Coming soon, along with our own salsa.
Chicken sausage - new varieties stocked up. And ground turkey. Griggstown Farm.
Beef cubes, ground beef, burgers and dogs. Sicklers Farm. Get your grill on!
THE SEED BREWERY. On-Farm Thursday and Saturday.
*** Selling cans/beers to go AND offering samples (4 for $5). Unwind with us and have a cold one. ***
HAMMERBACHER. Baked goods.
*** Limited quantities on Thu. Also on-farm Fri and Sat this week. *** If you miss them, as we sell out quickly, check out their weekly bake; online ordering.
Thank you for supporting our family farm and the next generation of farmers.
Melons, Beers, Flowers and More.
THE HARVEST. Cucumbers; Watermelon (red, yellow, orange); Zucchini (green and yellow); Tomatoes (red “Jerseys” and orange heirlooms), Cherry Tomatoes (orange sungolds, pink sweet treats and black cherry types). Onions (red and yellow). Bell Peppers - LOTS of color! Hot Peppers (jalapeno, cherry bombs); Eggplant (classic and round Italian heirloom); Garlic. Potatoes. Beets. Carrots. Cabbage. Spaghetti squash. Flowers and Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Chives, Oregano, Thyme).
Pick-Your-Own. Fields are full of beautiful flowers and tomatoes!
Short on time? Grab and go flower bouquet’s and cherry tomatoes by the pint for purchase (as available).
Local brews on-farm Thursday’s 10-5, Saturday’s 10-2.
Sample 4 for $5, AND cans to go.
The Seed Brewery Menu on-farm:
Stay Awhile - english dark
At First Light - coffee stout
Seashells - pale ale
Can it be so simple - pale lager
As Simple as Youth - keller pils
MORE JERSEY FRESH Products … in our Farm Shop:
MEATS. NEW! Hot dogs, Bacon Cheddar Burgers and Beef Cubes, Ground Beef - ALL 100% Jersey Beef - Sicklers Farm; Ground Turkey, Chicken Sausage - Griggstown Farm.
CHEESES. Ricotta, Mozzarella, Cheddar - Fulper Farms; Feta, Chevre, Blue, Gouda and More - Misty Meadow.
PEACHES, BLACKBERRIES AND CORN - Pastore Orchards.
MUSHROOMS - Faith Flower Farm; EGGS - Cycle Farms and local sources; SHEEPSICLES - Misty Meadow; MICROGREENS - Walking Bird’s “Jersey Joe”; HONEY - Mill Creek Apiary; TEAS - Joe’s Tea
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! See you on the Farm.
Tomatoes, Peaches, Corn and More!
THE HARVEST:
Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumbers, Eggplant (classic and round Italian heirloom), Garlic (and garlic scapes), Onions (red and yellow), Potatoes (red and gold), Peppers (colorful bells and hot peppers), Scallions, Spaghetti squash, Tomatoes (large red "Jersey's and orange heirlooms), Zucchini (gold and green).
U-PICK CROPS - bring your own scissors for flowers.
Cherry Tomatoes - SUPER SWEET! Our Sungolds will WOW you beyond anything you buy from the grocery store!
U-Pick Flowers
U-Pick Herbs
EXTRAS FOR SALE...
PEACHES, CORN, BLACKBERRIES - Pastore Orchards, Hammonton.
MEATS, CHEESE, EGGS and More - ALL Local and Jersey Fresh!
Sungold Cherry Tomatoes and Herbs - pre-picked on our farm, limited quantities.
Want more in your share? Lots of veggies for sale - grown on our farm! Bring and friend and show off your farm!
Thank you for your business and supporting a local family farm.
Peaches!
THE HARVEST, on the table in Farm Shop... online customization window closes at 6 PM Wed. Miss that window? No worries, you can customize your share in-person at pickup. Staff happy to assist you.
Tomatoes, Garlic, Eggplant, Peppers, Onions, Cabbage, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Spaghetti squash, Scallions, Beets, Carrots, U-Pick Cherry Tomatoes, Flowers and Herbs. Might have some holdover Broccoli, Kohlrabi and Garlic scapes for another week.
U-PICK, from our fields…
Cherry Tomatoes (orange sungolds, pink “sweet treats” and black cherry types). NOTE: please watch you step in the tomato field - pizza boxes, straw and drip irrigation lines are present.
Flowers. Mixed bouquets 12 stems (limit 3 sunflowers per mix bouquet). Extra Sunflowers $1 per stem.
Herbs. Choose u-pick (front of Farm Shop), OR purchase pre-made bunches. Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Chives.
Extras for Sale. ADD ON'S can be purchased in-person; see Farm Shop for availability and pricing.
Peaches and Corn - Pastore Orchard, Hammonton. And lots of our own farm-grown produce!
Meats. Ground Beef, Burgers, Chicken Sausages, Whole Chickens - Sicklers and Groggstown Farms
Cheeses, Yogurt, Sheepsicles - Misty Meadow and Fulper Farms.
Baked goods, limited supply - Hammerbacher.
Mushrooms, Microgreens, Eggs and More!
Thankful we made it through last week’s heat wave, and for the rain! Got to keep on farmin; onto CSA Week 8 my farm friends.
Tomatoes Eggplant Corn Peppers AND More - Feels like Summer!
THE HARVEST - Tomatoes - red AND orange “Jersey’s”, AND U-Pick cherry types - our famous “Sungold’s” - love at first bite! NEW - Spaghetti squash, Eggplant AND Potatoes (fingerling). Also on the table in Farm Shop… Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrots, Beets, Onions (red and yellow), Peppers - green bells, AND Hot Peppers - jalapenos and cherry bombs, Cucumbers, Zucchini (yellow and greens), Scallions, Radish, Kohlrabi and Garlic scapes. In the U-PICK Fields… Cherry Tomatoes, Flowers and Herbs. MORE from our friends, see below.
Extras for Sale - We are working hard in the heat to bring in the harvest - show your farmers some love and shop local! Sorry, no air conditioning on the farm, BUT we can have you in and out quick!
Corn AND Blackberries. Pastore Orchards.
Meats. Burgers, Ground Beef - Sicklers; Whole Chickens, Sausages, Ground Turkey.
Cheeses, Yogurt, Sheepsicles - Misty Meadow, Fulper Farms.
AND our home-grown veggies - harvested daily on our farm.
U-PICK CROPS… From our Fields.
Cherry Tomatoes
Flowers and Herbs
Stay cool and see you on the Farm.
Tomatoes, Corn AND More!
BIG week! New crops. Lots to choose from! Extras for sale in the Farm Shop. Bring a friend to shop and pick - show off your farm!
THE HARVEST. Tomatoes (red AND orange!), Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots, Peppers (green bells), Hot Peppers (jalapenos and cherry bombs), Onions (yellow and red jumbos), Lettuce, Arugula (little spicy!), Beets, Zucchini (greens and yellow), Cucumbers (slicers and pickles), Garlic Scapes, Radish, Kohlrabi, Scallions.
U-PICK. Blueberries, still picking - maybe another week to go. Get yours before they are gone!, Lots of Flowers (AND Sunflowers!), Herbs, Green Beans.
EXTRAS FOR SALE - Jersey Fresh!
Corn and Blackberries - from our farmer friends at Pastore Orchards.
MEATS: NEW! whole chickens (frozen), chicken sausages (assorted varieties), ground turkey - Griggstown Farms; ground beef and burgers - Sicklers Circle View Farm.
CHEESES: Gouda, Blue, Camembert, Feta, Chevre, AND Yogurts AND Sheepsicles - Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy; EGGS - local sources.
Microgreens and Herbal Tea (red clover, calendula, dandelion - blend with your traditional tea) - grown on our farm; support our young farmer’s project’s!
THANK YOU for supporting our farm.
The Weekly Harvest and LIVE Music Friday night!
THE HARVEST. Farm Shop Open to the Public. CSA members have priority.
On the Table in Farm Shop… Carrots, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower (orange AND white varieties), Lettuce, Radish, Scallion, Cabbage, Cucumber, Zucchini, Garlic scapes, Kohlrabi.
In the U-PICK Fields… Green Beans, Flowers, Herbs (can be included as a CSA item). Also Blueberries (additional fee).
U-PICK: How Does It Work? Open to the Public.
Green Beans. We give you containers. See Farm Shop for pricing and availability.
Flowers. Bring your own scissors and containers (fill up at the water cooler). 12 stems, mixed bouquets $5. Limit on sunflowers. See Farm Shop for sample bunch.
Herbs. U-PICK herbs can be included as a CSA item - See Farm Shop for sample bunches and stem count (varies by herb). Pre-picked herbs available for purchase at checkout.
Blueberries. Grab a blue can and head to the fields. OPEN ROWS WILL BE MARKED WITH ORANGE FLAGS. CSA members $4/lb., Public $4.25/lb. PLEASE PAY FOR WHAT YOU PICK AND EAT. Parents, please watch your children - THANK YOU!
FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT! Tickets must be purchased in advance $25/person - ON SALE NOW.
What instruments he requires, Lorenz builds from scratch and salvage. What parts five players would perform, he performs alone. The spectacle of his one-man set bears constant comparison to legends of showmanship, brilliance, madness, and invention.
Open air, barn concert with hay bale seating • Limited tickets available • BYOB/snacks • Rain or shine event
CSA Week 3
The Harvest. Cucumber (slicers and pickle type), Zucchini (green and yellow), Carrots, Lettuce (frilly red heads and spring mix), Kale (tuscan and curly types), Arugula, Rainbow Chard, Spinach, Radish, Garlic Scapes, Kohlrabi, U-Pick Flowers and Herbs.
Extras For Sale. Our home-grown produce AND more!
In the Freezer… Ground Beef, Hamburgers (Bacon/Cheddar) - Sicklers Circle View Farm; Chicken Sausages (assorted varieties) and Ground Turkey - Griggstown Farm; Sheepsicles (vanilla and raspberry) AND ice crème (blueberry, raspberry and lavender chocolate chip) - Misty Meadow.
In the Fridge… Cheeses/Dairy: Gouda, Blue, Camembert, Chevre, Feta and Yogurt - Misty Meadow; Eggs (chicken and duck) - Cycle Farms and local sources; Microgreens - Jersey Joe; Ice tea (assorted) - Joe’s Tea’s.
On the Shelf… Mushrooms - Faith Flower Farm; Crushed Tomatoes - First Field; Honey (pine barrens and ginger infusion) - Mill Creek Apiary.
Baked Goods and Provisions - Hammerbacher, as available . If you miss out (goes quick!), check out their weekly bake and order online.
U-Pick
Berries. Blueberries OPEN! Raspberries OPEN. But limited quantities due to an emerging disease. Grab what you can this week; we are keeping a close watch on this crop as it is a challenging one to manage.
Flowers and Herbs. Make it count as an item in your CSA share, or purchase extra. BRING YOUR OWN SCISSORS AND CONTAINERS.
Project Pizza Box!
Also known as sheet mulching, we are recycling used pizza boxes in our u-pick tomato field. We lay down the boxes in the walkways and cover with straw for weed control, disease management, moisture retention and an all around better u-pick experience. BRING US YOUR BOXES! No waxed or shiny boxes please. Pizza boxes preferred but will take anything uncoated. Thank you!
CSA Week 2
The Harvest. Zucchini, Spinach, Arugula, Lettuce mix, Kale, Rainbow Chard, Radish, Hakurei Turnip, Garlic Scapes, Kohlrabi. U-Pick Flowers.
Extras For Sale. Our home-grown produce AND more!
In the Freezer… Ground Beef, Hamburgers (Bacon/Cheddar) - Sicklers Circle View Farm; Chicken Sausages (assorted varieties) and Ground Turkey - Griggstown Farm; Sheepsicles (vanilla and raspberry) - Misty Meadow.
In the Fridge… Cheeses/Dairy: Gouda, Blue, Camembert, Chevre, Feta, Spreads and Yogurt - Misty Meadow; Eggs (chicken and duck) - Cycle Farms and local sources; Microgreens - Jersey Joe; Mushrooms - Faith Flower Farm; Ice tea (assorted) - Joe’s Tea’s.
U-Pick Berries. Raspberries OPEN. Blueberries? Next week. Strawberry season closed - thank you for making it a great one!
Baked Goods and Provisions - Hammerbacher, as available . If you miss out (goes quick!), check out their weekly bake and order online.
Project Pizza Box! Also known as sheet mulching, we are recycling used pizza boxes in our u-pick tomato field. We lay down the boxes in the walkways and cover with straw for weed control, disease management, moisture retention and an all around better u-pick experience. Bring us your boxes!
Pork Shares On Sale. Reserve a 1/2 or whole pig for either July or November/December (pick up at Walking Bird). All shares are custom butchered to your desired cuts. A 1/2 share will yield approximately 50-75lbs of meat depending on the cuts and weight of the pig. A whole share will be double the weight. The pigs are fed a diet of non-gmo grain from Steven’s Feed Mill in Lancaster, vegetable scraps from Walking Bird Farm, and dairy waste (whey, cheese, yogurt) from Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy. They are raised outside in the woods, get to root around, wallow and act like pigs. Questions? email Riley Blankenship rileybship222@gmail.com.
Happy Hours and CSA Week 1
Happy Hour’s on the farm kick off this week… along with our CSA Week 1!
Walking Bird Wednesday’s - THIS WEDNESDAY! 6/8, from 4-6 PM. (1 session per month, purchase tickets in advance only). Sit and relax, eat, drink, stroll the fields and enjoy the farm fresh air. In collaboration with Hammerbacher, featuring seasonal small plates, harvested direct from our fields - Jersey Fresh! And special guests The Seed Brewery and Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy.
CSA WEEK 1 PICKUP - THU, FRI 10 AM - 5 PM; SAT 10 AM - 2 PM.
THE HARVEST:
Arugula, Kale, Lettuce mix, Rainbow chard, Radish, Hakurei turnip, Kohlrabi, Garlic scapes, Calendula flowers, U-Pick). Also, Strawberries (U-Pick, as available). Likely last week for strawberries; it’s a short 3-4 week season!
BREAD SHARES, BY HAMMERBACHER - PICKUP THU ONLY 12 - 5 PM. Extra items for sale, as available.
EXTRA JERSEY FRESH FOR SALE…
Dairy: Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy - assorted cheeses, yogurts, cheese spreads and sheepsicles);
Meat: Griggstown Farms - chicken sausage and ground turkey; Sickler’s Circle View Farm - beef hamburger patties and ground beef.
First Field - canned crushed tomatoes and ketchup.
Eggs: Cycle Farms, and local sources.
Honey: Mill Creek Apiary.
Produce: Walking Bird Farm, direct from our fields! All crops are grown for CSA shares. When we have a bumper crop in excess of the CSA, we sell to the public; posted daily in our Farm Shop.
See you on the Farm!
CSA Pickup - How Does It Work?
Where do I pickup my CSA share?
Pickup your CSA share on the farm. New building! We have moved the CSA pickup from the tiny old barn to a larger, more open space. This building will host our CSA pickups, U-Pick crops and events. Pull in driveway (one way in and out); signs will guide you to parking. We look forward to sharing this new space with you and creating lots of good memories!
Pick up days and times?
Choose a day below - you can change your day from week to week:
6/9 Thursday 10AM - 5PM.
6/10 Friday from 10AM - 5PM.
6/11 Saturday from 10AM - 2 PM.
Pickup Procedure:
Bring your own bags (just like the grocery store). All greens served loose - for example, we weigh out your lettuce mix into a basket; you take the greens and leave us the basket. Re-usable mesh bags work nice for this.
Grab your share ticket (in alphabetically order at check in).
Pack your share from around the tables (we call this “market style”). Crops labeled with what it is and how much you can take. For example, a unit of Kale is 1 bunch, or a unit of lettuce mix is 1/4 lb.
Pick-Your-Own (if you choose, from the fields, when available). Bring your own scissors and containers for flowers. I recommend a container that fits in your cup holder, or something to hold water and keep your flowers fresh until you get home.
Purchase extras (in Farm shop, when available). Posted daily in Farm shop.
What is in my CSA share?
The farm will email members the harvest by Wed afternoon, and you will have until 6pm Wed to make changes. We allow customization of your share where designated items can be changed out if you so choose. There is no requirement to make changes - if no alterations are made, you will receive the standard share for that week. If you miss the customization window, most times we allow you to make changes in the Farm Shop. Friendly staff will be happy to assist you:)
For more, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
CSA Opens on 6/9
Hi all! CSA opens NEXT WEEK… pickup on 6/9 - 6/11. Due to a cool spring with cloudy days/ less sun a few weeks ago to weird, random 95 degree days, we are waiting on a few crops to come in. Hence, postponing the CSA pickup a week.
Where do I pickup my CSA share?
Pickup your CSA share on the farm. New building! We have moved the CSA pickup from the tiny old barn to a larger, more open space. This building will host our CSA pickups, U-Pick crops and events. Pull in driveway (one way in and out); signs will guide you to parking. We look forward to sharing this new space with you and creating lots of good memories!
Pick up days and times?
Choose a day below - you can change your day from week to week:
6/9 Thursday 10AM - 5PM.
6/10 Friday from 10AM - 5PM.
6/11 Saturday from 10AM - 2 PM.
Pickup Procedure:
Bring your own bags (just like the grocery store). Grab your share ticket (in alphabetically order at check in). Pack your share from around the tables (we call this “market style”). Pick-Your-Own (if you choose, from the fields, when available). Purchase extras (in Farm shop, when available).
What is in my CSA share? The farm will email members the harvest by Wed afternoon, and you will have until 6pm Wed to make changes. We allow customization of your share where designated items can be changed out if you so choose. There is no requirement to make changes - if no alterations are made, you will receive the standard share for that week. If you miss the customization window, most times we allow you to make changes in the Farm Shop. Friendly staff will be happy to assist you:)
For more, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What are we harvesting? Week 1 CSA share looks like: Arugula, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Kale, Radish, Hakurei Turnip, Garlic scapes and Kohlrabi. Also U-pick options from the fields: Calendula flowers and Strawberries. Lots of greens first few weeks. We will update you as we bring in the harvest. Looking ahead another few weeks… Spinach, Zucchini, Carrots, Broccoli and more.
PICK YOUR OWN. How does it work? CSA member exclusives to make a part of your share count for the week (when available) – flowers, herbs, cherry tomatoes and green beans. Bring your own scissors and containers for picking. Also, CSA member discounts for open to public/berry crops – strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
See you on the farm next week - OR stop in for U-Pick Strawberries! Follow our FB page for daily Strawberry updates.
Hammerbacher Bakery Shares 2022
Hammerbacher at Walking Bird Farm. Bakery Shares on sale, LIMITED QUANTITIES. Pickup ON-FARM, along with your weekly CSA Vegetable Shares.
BAKERY SHARES:
PICKUP Bakery Shares on 1 DAY ONLY, THURSDAY’S, 12– 5pm. (PICKUP CSA Vegetable Shares Thu, Fri or Sat). Can’t make it to the farm on Thursday? Send a friend! We cannot hold bakery shares for another day.
PICKUP ON-FARM, weekly, Jun – Sep. (Coincides with WBF Summer CSA Season).
NO swaps, NO special orders.
Payment due IN FULL at signup. No refunds for missed pickups.
Do I have to be a WBF CSA member? Bakery Shares open to ALL.
Can I still purchase additional Hammerbacher items on-farm? Pop up sales possible on Fri and Sat, as available. Guarantee your weekly Hammerbacher provisions with a Bakery Share!
Options and Pricing. Bread Share $336; Knish Share $384; Sweets Share $320.
ALSO…
Happiest Hour’s with Hammerbacher, ON-FARM.
2022 Events Schedule COMING SOON!
2022 CSA Signups OPEN
2022 CSA SIGNUPS ARE NOW OPEN!
100% of your CSA share grown on our farm (Crops We Grow.)
What’s New in 2022?
2 SEASONS! Summer share (16 weeks); Fall share (8 weeks). Choose 1 OR both, and extend the CSA season. 3 SIZES (We’ve tweaked the size of the shares too for a better fit and less food waste). Choose a season, size, pickup day and payment plan best for you.
SUMMER SHARES. 16 Weeks (Jun – mid Sep)
Summer, Small (personal sized share - 4 items/wk)
$288 (Pay In Full Discount $270)
Summer, Medium (small family/veggie loving couple sized - 6 items/wk)
$432 (Pay In Full Discount $405)
Summer, Large (veggie loving family sized - 8 items/wk)
$576 (Pay In Full Discount $540)
FALL SHARES. 8 Weeks (Oct through Nov)
Fall, Small (personal sized share - 4 items/wk)
$128 (Pay In Full Discount $120)
Fall, Medium (small family/veggie loving couple sized - 6 items/wk)
$192 (Pay In Full Discount $180)
Fall, Large (veggie loving family sized - 8 items/wk)
$256 (Pay In Full Discount $240)
PAYMENT OPTIONS. These up front payments are incredibly important; allowing us to pay equipment loans, order seed, purchase fuel for greenhouses, hire staff and more in the spring.
Pay In Full (discounts available, expires Feb 28th).
Payment Plan. 4 equal payments, occurring every 30 days from signup.
U-PICK CROPS. In 2022, we will continue to offer u-pick green beans, cherry tomatoes, flowers and herbs, CSA members have priority, based on availability. AND CSA member discounts on u-pick berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries).
Creative partnerships (with Hammerbacher!) and More. Finally, our partnerships with Hammerbacher and others will continue in 2022. Stay tuned for details on how you can get your hands on their amazing breads and other provisions. CSA members will be first in line for limited tickets sales for special events like barn concerts, dinner and more. Shop for extras in our Farm Shop from our farm friends like meats, cheeses, fruit, corn and more.
Thank you for eating local and supporting small farms and businesses. See you in the spring.
2022 CSA Shares
Dear valued CSA members, customers and followers,
As we enter our 13th growing season at Walking Bird Farm, we continue to be driven by the support of our community. Now is the time for crop planning and laying the groundwork for the 2022 season; and on cold winter days, we are not only motivated by an intrinsic passion to farm, but also the interactions with our customers and partners. We look forward to your enthusiasm for supporting local agriculture, eating healthy and working with our fresh produce.
Reminiscing on 2021, our u-pick strawberry and blueberry season was really nice and hefty, and we made great progress with our u-pick raspberry field, opening to customers for the first time in 3 years of persistent cultivation. From vibrant carrots and tender, frilly lettuces and greens emerging in late spring, to a bounty of zucchini and tomatoes big enough to share with friends and family, topped with an epic watermelon harvest that’s got us dreaming the day away. Another big highlight for us was the return of on-farm events like our fall craft fair, barn concerts and the end of season dinner.
In farming (and life!), it goes without saying, you never know what will get thrown at you in the course of a year. 2021 offered up many challenges, from navigating another year of Covid, enduring rising fuel costs and supply chain strains to staffing shortages. Weather extremes and subsequent pest and diseases are kind of the norm and expected, but with improved technologies like growing under controlled conditions (using high tunnels), we are able to continue to produce high quality crops. As your farmers, we are beholden to our customers, and in the midst of adversities, our commitment is to farming sustainably and growing your food.
Your upfront investment in our CSA, and supporting our u-pick crops and farm events is essential to us. Whether it’s picking your own berries and flowers to being with friends and family in the open air, we know the act of being on the farm can be healing and peaceful. We take great pride in your connection to our farm! In 2022, we are introducing exciting updates that expand our season, offer new/more convenient opportunities for our customers and partners, while improving the quality of life for your farmers. CSA signups open later this week… look for a 16-week Summer AND a 8-week Fall season; choose 1 or both! CSA memberships open first to our renewing customers, then the waiting list. Pay In Full discounts (for a limited time). More info and links for signup on our website.
With grateful hearts, we thank you for your support.