Hello CSA and friends of Shalom Orchard and Winery,
Happy Spring!! We are ready to harvest baby salad greens mix, baby spinach, arugula and Easter Egg radishes. Prices are: $4.00/5oz for arugula and spinach, $4.00/4oz for salad mix, and $2.00/bunch of radishes. We will be happy to mix the greens, arugula and spinach for $4.00/4oz. We can have these ready for you beginning this Friday – please email ahead so we can harvest them just before you come for the freshest possible salad!! We also have garlic at $6.00/#, red and yellow onions at $1.50/#, shallots at $5.00/#, eggs at $3.25/doz., and chicken, both whole and quarters, at $3.00/#.
Based on our current bud development (tight/open cluster), we anticipate our full apple bloom during the week before Memorial Day. This is a very hard call as it changes with the amount of sun, rain heat, etc. But we are thinking of having the Apple Blossom/Beltaine Celebration on Saturday, May 20, with Sunday, May 21 as the rain date. How many of you think you could come out to celebrate Spring and the new growing season? We would propose starting around noon with a potluck, games for the kids and, hopefully, a May Pole. Bring any instruments you play. We look forward to getting to know our new members (you now number 21 families) and enjoy a day on YOUR farm!
We are busily planting peas, onions, leeks, potatoes, carrots, beets and more greens. We bought our seedlings from Chuck Weber of Lamoine, who has a certified organic greenhouse. He does a great job and he will have beautiful flowering hanging baskets for sale on a wagon at the Grange Hall in Lamoine this spring and summer. We have also started our apple scab spray program – which means Jim is out on the tractor spraying before every rain.
Sarah Wilcox, who joined us for an apprenticeship this season will be with us until next March and she is very helpful and an eager and quick learner!! Khimba is still with us and continues to be a wonderful helper and organizer! We are so very grateful to Sarah and Khimba for all they bring to the farm. We are also so very fortunate to have Molly, our apprentice from last season, back on a part time basis and especially during blueberries- welcome back, Molly! We are still looking for one more apprentice to round out our staffing.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you soon and to growing wonderful food for you this season!
Charlotte and Jim