It’s official: the Durham Herb Fair has been cancelled for this season. I’m guessing the other events where I have traditionally sold plants will also not happen. So, like last year, I would like to start taking seedling orders. There will be two pick-up days at the farm: Saturday May 29th and the next Saturday June 5th. There’s a link to the plants I’ll have available beneath the picture! If you don’t see what you are looking for, ask. You can reply to this posting, or send me an email at saugeenrivercsa@gmail.com

The votes are all in and three times as many of you voted to have the next winter pick-up in TWO WEEKS. So the new schedule it:

February 2, and 16
March 2, 16, and 30

By then we should be into spring!

Happy New Year! Thank you to those members who have already signed up for the coming year. Please let me know if your intention is to rejoin, and make a first payment for the 2021 season if you are able. New this year: I will be having CSA members pick-up on both Tuesday’s and Friday’s. You can choose which day will be your normal day (with the option of switching the odd week if need be). If you don’t care, you will be assigned Tuesdays, since I’ll still have the market open to the public on Friday’s and need most CSA members to pick-up Tuesdays… If you prefer Friday, let me know. Two reasons for this change: first it will let me take on more CSA members, since I ended up with a waiting list last year; also it will spread the harvest more evenly between the days.
At this time, I’m only accepting members who want to rejoin and those who signed up on the waiting list. Come February if the CSA is not full, I’ll open it up to any new members. So please, even if you can’t make a first payment at this time but still want a share, let me know.
I finished placing the farm seed order earlier than ever this year, since last year there was a panic around seeds, and some things were sold out super early. I spoke with some people in the seed business and they felt like companies were more prepared this year, so was optimistic that there wouldn’t be as much of that this year. I won’t know until all the seed arrives, but fingers crossed!

Winter Share pick-up time will be from 2 – 6 pm every other Tuesday. Here are the dates:

Dec. 1, 15, 29
Jan. 12, 26
Feb. 9, 23
Mar. 9, 23

Weighed items will be pre-weighed but not bagged, and nothing will be washed (as usual for winter, allowing you all to still experience soil!).

Only one member will be allowed in the root cellar at a time and there will be a sign at the door saying “Enter” or “Please wait.”

It’s almost the end of August, and those who have not paid up their CSA share for the main season, now is a good time to either finish paying or let me know your payment plan.  In another month or so I’ll start signing folks up for winter shares.  Priority will go towards those who have had winter shares in the past.  The fall crops look good, I would say better than last year, so I will be able to take at least the same number of winter shares as last year.

Just a reminder that you can get bread delivered for you at the CSA on Tuesdays.  Aster Lane Farm’s bread is amazing and easy to order.  Go to http://www.asterlanebread.com to see what they do.  Send them an email to orders@asterlanebread.com and get on the list to order from their weekly selection. They send out what is available each week on the weekend, you just need to fill in their form by Monday morning.  All communication is with Bennett and Catherine, so ask them more questions through the email.

For folks who don’t have a share, or would like a bit extra, the farm market will begin this week, Friday’s from 3-7pm.  It will be similar to last year, only there is a limit to two people in the store at any one time.  Hope to see you there!

Anyone who was a member the last few years, but has not rejoined, please let me know if you would like a share, since I could squeeze you in, but registration is now closed for any new members.

An update: This is the closest to a ‘normal’ spring that we’ve had for a while.  Over the 24 springs the CSA has been operating, on average I have managed to get the first crops in the ground before the end of April.  The last five springs this has not been possible with it either being still covered in snow! or just too wet.  This week I managed (with help) to get the first lettuce and scallions transplanted and the first peas and carrots seeded ahead of this rain.

Let’s hope for a not too wet, and not too dry season!

The space previously reserved for apprentices has been changed to a Bed and Breakfast.  A new page has been set up for it here on the website.  If you know anyone looking for a farmy place to stay, have them contact us.