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