What the Farmers Almanac didn't tell us was...

I hope this post finds you and yours in good health and spirits, and that you are able to take a break and get outside, and get centered. It’s indeed strange to find ourselves in a situation that we knew someday would come (“Not if, but when”, said anyone who knew anything), we just didn’t know it would be now. Well, here we are.

I don’t need to reiterate everything that we’ve been told. The stakes are high no matter which way you cut it, and the timeline is uncertain. But mostly I wanted to reach out to you all about this season, and my initial thoughts.

To start, I’ll continue to provide the markets and our Market CSA with vegetables this season. It’ll be a challenge to put together the how, because the world of farmers markets could be turned on it’s head. But I’m dedicated to making it happen.

It is unclear just what the farmers market outlay will be this season, and I don’t suspect we will know for sure for another month, maybe even two. But at this time farmers markets are deemed a necessity, and so unlike restaurants and bars, they can be open. I suspect that the market managers will wait and see what the trajectory of the next month is before deciding what their response and set up will be. But I have faith that they will all operate in a way that protects the health of their customers and vendors. And myself and the farm crew this year will do the same.

A few items at a glance that are on the table for solutions will be preorder and pick up for vegetables at the market. This would reduce close interaction, reduce food handling, and ultimately make for a safer transaction. Another I will consider is to add home delivery to the market days. This would be complicated, have an added charge, but this seems like the safest way to make a food exchange.

How we respond will really be dictated by the conditions going into the summer. But I’m dedicated both to getting you your food, so that you can be as healthy as possible, and do it in a safe manner. If that means only doing preorder and home delivery, then so be it.

I am all ears for suggestions. I’m going forward knowing that there are solutions to the problems we will face.

I’d be remiss not to add, that in times like this, your local farmers are far and away the safest option that you have for sourcing your food. We always have been. Our produce is handled by myself, my small crew, and then you. No one else. Ask anyone from the crew last year, and they will tell you I’m a hand wash nazi who spends half his Sunday just washing and sanitizing market totes for the next week. Those efforts will continue and be doubled, along with the usual commitment to providing chemical free nutrition so that you are all as healthy as you can be.

As of now, there is almost no snow in the fields, little standing water, and a beautiful looking Spring week on the horizon. I’m hoping to be planting in the fields in a few short weeks. I’m impatient to get some veggies to you all.

More news later. Stay safe.