Well here comes the next "cold snap". Just finshed collecting a bunch of mulch hay from over in New Haven.  The chickens should be real happy for the rest of the winter be able to rummage around in that. I was wondering......a customer asked why my eggs taste better than other local eggs......could it be that my chickens are vegetarian for the most part. I feed them my compost but it is only vegetable matter. They also get alot of seeds from the mulch hay that I keep putting down....Greenhouses are at thier low point right now. Man things look depressing in there. That will all start to change about mid February though. March things will really get going again. Seeds are here now I have to get the grow lights rigged up and start things growing. First up alot of lettuce and the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Well take care-Joe

The snow continues to fall and I keep buying seeds.........winter planning is in full swing. I only have 2 more conferances to go to and the scramble is on to do my taxes.. Farmer's Market in Montpelier continues to do well. I just wish I had more product for everyone.  I have learned alot and will hopefully be able to fix that next year. Talk to you all soon. Joe

Good Morning Folks, Joe the farmer here (not to be confused with Joe the plumber-not a relative). Well how about that surprise 12 inches of fluff we got this weekend? What a time for the snow blower to break. I fired it up and started moving snow and the clutch cable broke. So it was get it all done at once in one gear or not get it done at all...........I went for option 1 and managed to get it all done....almost.  Chickens are doing well and still laying lots of eggs. Transplanted some lettuce and Sorrel into the far greenhouse yesterday. We'll see if this weeks Arctic blast kills it or it makes it and I have early Romain (Late March) for the market.  The CSA is selling well. I have 11 full shares left and that will be it for this season. So if you are thinking about joining please consider sending in a deposit to hold that place. I sell out every year.  Now on to meat birds.....I have been doing some shopping and need to figure pricing out but I will do meat birds a few times this season for just the CSA.  I attended a seminar this weekend about state inspection and the laws governing on farm sale and processing.  So I can sell direct to you the consumer if you pre buy the birds. My understanding is that at that point you own the birds and are just paying me to raise them and process them. Sounds a bit odd but that's the way it works. I will also be doing Duck. A personal favorite. No pigs this year maybe next. My to do list for the season is starting to get pretty full and I can't take on any more projects.  If any of you know of someone who wants to work on the farm this summer have them contact me.  Need to figure my costs but at a minimum I want to hire a part time individual for 20 hours per week. This will be April to the end of October.  Don't forget it's the Montpelier Winter Market this Saturday the 17th at the Vermont College gym. That's the big brick building right at the top of State St. and College. We are there from 10Am to 2pm. Things tend to sell out by noon or so. I will have a limited amount of salad. Things are slow in the greenhouses right now and at least for another 3 weeks or so.  I attended 3 conferences last week.....ahhhh continuing education for the farmer.  I was hesitant to go thinking I had way too much to do on the farm ( I also tend to be a home body) but they were great. Saw allot of my peers and met allot of great people! Learned a great deal and actually realized how much I have managed to learn on my own over the last few years.  Still way too much to do but, as one presenter said...each season is a restart.  Really nice to meet and speak with Sandy and Paul Arnold about winter salad production.  Well have to go, talk to you soon.  Joe

Ah! One other thing. I was hoping that those of you interested in splitting a share could use this blog to post and find someone to split with..just a suggestion. Joe

Jan. 7,2009

Hello Folks, 

Just returned from a 2 day farming conference. Nothing like spending some time with your peers to reaffirm that what you doing is good and that everything is going to be all right! Had some fun learned an awful lot from the presenters as well as my fellow growers. Sleeting outside right now and the kids did not have school. I am still trying to figure out where my days go considering it's winter I am supposed to have "nothing to do" since I am a grower. Still trying to get those starts moved into the greenhouses and then transplant. This could be a great experiment with a lot of potential if they survive.  I am off to 2 more conferences later this week and presenting at one. Should be interesting and fun. Winter Farmer's market continues to be fun and go well. Makes me realize how many nice people I have gotten to know over the last 9 years up here, and how many of them appreciate good local produce and eggs. Well have to get back to my book keeping. I am paying the price for just letting things pile up for the last 8 months. Ouch! Hopefully I will get with a better system next summer. Trying to develop that too! Hope to see all of you at the January 17Th market. Joe 

Well Good Morning and Happy New Year! Getting ready for another Montpelier Winter Market day this morning. Things  have been cold around here and greens are slowing way down in the greenhouses. They have been holding up well so far and a few experiments are looking promising as far as winter growing goes.  That said I am still very anxious to get to March 1st. That's when day length has traditionally gotten things really moving again in the greenhouses.  Off to attend a few growing conferences next week and then it's tax and spring planning time. Have to get things done before mid-march.  As far as wildlife is concerned I now have a fox sneaking around a bit. Chickens are doing well and laying about 40 eggs a day. Well have to go, hope to see you at market today. Joe