it's starting...

The summer may be off to a slow start, but things are indeed happening around here: the tomato plants in our hoop house are waist-high, the seeds are in the ground, the blueberries  are in full bloom, and (thank goodness) the bees are buzzing. 

We won't officially open the stand until mid-June (we'll keep you posted), but we do have a fresh supply of greens (mesclun, spinach and kale) in the little fridge at the stand. We also have some of Lauren's special dandelion syrup...limited supplies of that, so come get it while it's fresh!

Lastly, NO, it's not too late to sign up for our Farm Stand CSA! What is that, again? 

At the beginning of the season you can buy a $150 membership (minimum).  You will then have an account page at the stand where you keep track of your purchases, and subtract those purchases from your investment. (When your initial investment runs out,  you are, of course, free to add as much or as little to your account as you like.) 

What's the benefit for you? 

We offer a 10% discount on Wednesdays to all farm members, as well as unlimited picking hours (come early, stay late!).

How do you sign up?

You can send a check, made out to Gail MacArthur, to PO Box 30, Marlboro, VT, or find her in person. At that point we will set up your account.

Soon, friends.

~Gail & Co.

PS: Since you're all asking, COFFEE & SCONES will begin Sunday, July 12th at 9am.

PPS: What is that handsome tractor? It's Dan's dad's old Farmall Cub which we've begun using as our cultivator...some things just never get better.

greens and such

Hey friends, 
We've put some greens in the cooler at the stand. We'll also have dandelion syrup there soon. Summer must truly be nigh! ~Gail & Co.

Spring

Welcome to spring! With all the abysmally cold temperatures, I know it's hard to imagine that we'll be eating fresh vegetables any time soon, but if the past is any indicator of things to come, I think it will eventually warm up! With that hope in mind, seedlings are growing in their flats for later transplanting and sap is beginning to flow. We are always inspired this time of year with plans for the coming season. A few new items we'll be growing are edible soy beans, purple carrots and neon chard. In addition there will afternoons when Whetstone CiderWorks' delicious hard cider will be available and perhaps something  to go with it to make a complete dinner entree. 

Be sure to consider joining our farm stand CSA whereby you can put down as little as $150 and shop at the stand without the need for carrying cash. See details below. Everything we offer is available through  the farm stand CSA, including Brian's organic, grass-fed chicken and beef, and Sunday morning scones. 

We are looking forward to another growing season and seeing you out in the berry patch!

Gail and co

Stand still full of goodies!

It may be fall out there, but that doesn't mean the stand is slowing down! 

We'll be open until mid-October. Potatoes, pumpkins, butternut squash, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, greens and fall raspberries  will be available. Also pickles, jam, salsa and Brian's beef and chicken, Lauren's cookies on Wednesdays and Fridays, creams and lip balm for those chapped winter days and Robin and Ty's CDs.

Great picking in the fall raspberries - most of them are at my house , so try to call a day ahead if you plan to pick. Get containers at the farm stand before coming.  -- $3.50 per pint.

Thanks, as always, for your support and patronage!

Gail (& co). 

Herb walk, July 27th

Lucia will be leading an herb walk at the farm on the 27th! She knows so much about the plants underfoot and their many uses. It'll be a lovely morning of learning! See you there!

Saturday, July 27th, 9 am-10 am
(rain date to be announced in August)

Join us at Whetstone Ledges Farm at
1000 MacArthur Rd. in Marlboro
with local herbalist Lucia for an informative plant walk.
We will explore some of the local plants and
learn medicinal uses for these plants in oils,
vinegars, salves and more.

-Wear comfortable walking shoes and
bring some drinking water.

And don’t forget, the berries are in! Feel free to stay a bit longer to pick your own delicious berries!
(price of PYO berries is separate from the plant walk)

Suggested donation of $10-$30
but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Call Lucia at 802-258-0940 with any questions.

Berries & Veggies are here!

Almost mid-July and the bounty is here! Today, July 12th was the first day of PYO raspberries - check the PYO shed for what is open for picking and where. Blueberries will be open this week-end - still early, but we are hoping to keep them well picked to aid in the control of the new invasive insect Spotted Winged Drosophila. (See below for more info.)

This past week we had lots of greens, the first carrots and beets of the season, garlic scapes and scallions, gorgeous red tomatoes and baskets of cherry tomatoes, peas both snap and shell, broccoli and raspberries. Also Lauren's delicious cookies on Wednesdays and Fridays, local author Suzie Crowther's new book The No Recipe Cookbook, three kinds of granola from Back Roads Granola of Halifax including gluten free, Bonavue Farms chicken and beef, Lauren's herbal concoctions of creams, soaps, lip balms and more, jams and preserves and Robin and Ty's famous Sunday sermon alternative of coffee and scones.

Spotted Winged Drosophila

The Spotted Winged Drosophila is a new invasive fruit fly which first appeared in Vermont in the days following Tropical Storm Irene. It affects all soft fruit causing them to rapidly soften and turn to mush. Unfortunately it is here to stay, so we need to deal with it as best  we can. It does no harm to people, just fruit. You can freeze infected fruit,  eat it, cook with it.

What we will be doing:

We have traps hung about in the bushes which will provide some control

We will be spraying two different organic insecticides; Entrust, which is a form of spinosad, and Pyganic, which is an organic pyrethrum. 

We are participating in a study to see if a new type of net can exclude the drosophila. You will see it in some rows of newer blueberries .

What you can do:

When picking, pick thoroughly to not leave ripe fruit on the vine or bush

Refrigerate berries when you get them home - cold will delay the development of any infected fruit.

Picking berries which are slightly underripe will help. although flavor is sacrificed a bit

Read and follow the instructions at the farm stand as to which area is open to picking. Some areas may be closed for a day after spraying.