We are going to have our first CSA night this coming Monday, May 11th from 6:00 to 8:00. Production-wise we are off to a very slow start this spring. Unfortunately, I can’t promise you more than a medium-sized bag of salad greens these first couple weeks. If you feel like that is not worth your time at this point, I will take no offense. We’ll have a lot more in the months to come.
• Directions: Follow West Adams (the street that runs in front of Sherman Hall) out of town (West) past the Georgetown subdivision. Our place is the very first place on the left after you cross the Lamoine River. Right after you cross the bridge you will take a left at the first graveled entrance (we’ll try to remember to have it marked). You will be parking on the gentle hillside to the East (towards town) of our house. Please do not park in the driveway.
• What to Bring – I recommend bringing the following: quart and gallon sized ziploc-type bags, a knife or garden scissors for cutting salad and a safe insect repellant. We’ll have some of these items available for your use and our large salad spinner on hand as well.
• Thursdays – Our plan for the season includes having some members come out on Thursday mornings instead of Monday evenings. However, I am still teaching through the month of May, so we won’t do Thursday pick-your-own until June. I would like to get a list of names of people who would like to be included in the Thursday group. So, please let me know if you think you are going to prefer that option.
• Children – Children are always welcome, of course. However, our set up at the new place has the potential to be a little more hazardous. My prime concern is the two barn buildings. They are going to be wonderful places for fun and adventure I am sure. However, I still haven’t had time to clean them out completely and to check thoroughly to make sure they are (relatively) safe. For now, I would ask that you help us keep the kids out of the barns or just go ahead explore the barns with them.
• Another potential hazard for very young children is a small lilly pond next to the house. I’ve considered filling it in, but haven’t had the heart to do it. If you have toddling youngsters, please make yourselves familiar with it. I’ll try to have some sort of barrier up by Monday.
• At our new site we have two plants that you and your children will want to be able to recognize. Poison Ivy and Stinging Nettles are abundant along the marginal areas. The stinging nettles produce a burning, bumpy rash that goes away after a few minutes. Poison Ivy can produce an oozy rash that lasts for weeks if you are highly allergic (as I am). In any case, the best prevention is to learn what they look like. Neither of these plants should be a problem if your children stay in the mowed areas.
• Mosquitoes, gnats and ticks are an issue this time of year. I recommend that you not use DEET based repellents on your children’s skin. If you do use a bug repellent with DEET, I suggest that you put it on your children’s clothing and shoes (for ticks). Unfortunately, ticks are a real hazard in the spring. I suggest making CSA night bath night for your children (and for yourselves). Before bathing, check your children carefully for ticks. It is also a good precaution to take their clothes and put them in your washing machine right away. For the record, I haven’t seen as many ticks here as at the Bellingham Road place.
• Potatoes – I would like to invite the kids to help me plant some potatoes this coming Monday (it looks as if it will finally be dry enough!). If you have any potatoes sprouting in your kitchen/pantry bring those along.
• Garden Help – I am going to need some help this coming Saturday (the ninth) between 1:00 and 4:00 to get our place ready for people. I have some difficult perennial weeding and mulching that I need help with as well as some work on the driveway entrance, the barn doors, the porch and much more. If you are interested and able please join us, but please don’t feel obligated in any way.
Karen and I are looking forward to seeing you all!