We can now get
excited about our local farms and their early spring offerings. We have
good news to share about our two largest local produce suppliers.
We
have just learned that Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, which has been
delivering to us on Wednesdays and Fridays, will be adding Mondays to
their delivery schedule. To keep our produce as fresh as possible, we
don't always try to order enough of their produce to last from Friday until Wednesday.
Now shoppers earlier in the week will be able to appreciate the bounty
of their 75 plus member farmers, who bring to us traditional Amish
farming methods as well as modern innovation. Lancaster is our major
supplier of local watermelons, and we have never had enough room to
bring in what we need to satisfy all of our members. With this extra
delivery, we will get a good deal closer. By the way, the largest of
these Lancaster farms is 25 acres but most of them are much smaller, as
small as 1/4 acre. So if your bumper sticker happens to read "Suport
your Local Organic Family Small Farm", look for the Lancaster label on
our shelf signs. Learn a bit more at the Lancaster web site: http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com/
On the other hand, Hepworth
Farms, founded in 1818, is not so small. Amy and Gail Hepworth, seventh
generation farmers, have been reclaiming land from farms that have
fallen into disuse. Last year, they added 50 acres, which was devoted
primarily to tomatoes. This year, they have added 50 more acres, and the
Hepworths like to say that they are preserving the Hudson Valley, one
farm at a time. Seven
of the new acres are devoted to farming in "high tunnels". High tunnels
(aka cold frames or hoop houses) reduce the effect of some
environmental variables, allowing farmers to dare to plant early in the
season, and also to delay the very end of the growing season. Their
acreage now exceeds 400 acres. Learn a bit more about the farm, and view
spectacular photography at: http://hepworthfarms.com/
This
just in-first harvest of local burdock. This is a picture of David Stern of Rose Valley Farm, revealing his method of harvesting burdock. Note that the
root is not pulled, nor dug up, but rather is harvested from the side.
