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Welcome to Boulder Knoll Community Farm

Greetings to members of Boulder Knoll Community Farm for 2010!

Welcome to new and returning sharers!

I’m anticipating a great growing season. We appreciate your enthusiastic support of our farm and of local food. We look forward to some great happenings this year – cooking demos, pick your own flowers and maybe berries, fruit from High Hill Orchard in Meriden, and a farm dinner or two by talented chefs from Caseus Fromagerie Bistro. We’ve expanded our membership to 53 CSA shares and will donate food to two soup kitchens in Waterbury and Meriden. We’ll continue to sell produce to Caseus and host educational programs to area youth and children.

Now that the rain has let up we can start to transplant the many seedlings that I have started in the greenhouse. They’re happily awaiting their permanent homes in our rich soil. Kale, scallions, Swiss chard, leeks and onions can be transplanted in the next week or so. Beets, carrots, peas, and greens will get direct seeded in April. Flowers, tomatoes, eggplant, basil, escarole, lettuce and peppers are growing, but need a few more weeks. Wow, there sure is a lot to do!

The farm needs your help

April and May are busy months for cleaning up, prepping beds and planting. I’ll be sending periodic emails to update you on our progress.

Since we really need your help in these early months I’ll be sending notes with available work times and descriptions of tasks that need doing.
You’ll never be on your own; I will always be there to teach and supervise your work. I’m generally at the farm for at least part of every day, so weekdays and weekend times will be available.

I’ll need someone organized who can act as work coordinator for the farm. Last year a couple of members split the season; their work was invaluable to me. Please let me know if you’re interested in doing this job for your work contribution.

I’ll be scheduling a potluck/ work party sometime this spring – a fun way to get to know other members and get a lot done as a group. Watch for it!

Upcoming events

  • Healthy Kids First with Tim Cipriano, Saturday April 10, 2010, 4 – 6 pm,
    Hosted by Greg Melville, 474 Maple Avenue, Cheshire, CT 06410

    Chef Tim Cipriano, the dynamic Executive Director of Food Service for the New Haven Public Schools will speak on bringing healthy food from  local farms to school children in Cheshire and New Haven. For more information about Tim and New Haven school food please check out Tim’s blog.

    Everyone’s invited! For more info or to RSVP, please click here.

  • Join us for a tour of the farm. Sunday April 25, 12:00 noon. You and your family can have a walk through the garden. I’ll tell you about the logistics of the CSA and answer any lingering questions you may have. Bring a bag lunch if you’d like. I’ll supply the drinks.

Farm Blog

Check out our website and blog at boulderknollfarm.com. Thanks to Dan Groberg, web-master extraordinaire, we have a recipe and food ideas section to which we hope you’ll contribute. There’s a member forum for asking questions and sharing thoughts, a work needs page and a page on which I’ll post the anticipated harvest for the next week. We hope this site will be useful and well-used!

Wish List

Almost everything on the farm is begged, borrowed and even picked off the side of the road at bulk pick-up time.

Here are a few things we need this year:

  • garden trowels
  • digging forks (especially the kind with D-shaped handles and 4 or 5 straight tines)
  • 2x4s or 2x3s in decent condition (for construction)
  • two large water coolers with a spigot for drinking water and hand washing
  • hoses of any length (with non-leaky fittings)
  • large sheets of cardboard for paths
  • your kitchen scraps for our compost pile (put them in the right hand pile for now)
  • racks that we can dry onions on (look for closet shelving or other closely spaced grates)
  • saw horses
  • a “garden weasel” (this is a spiky, rolling thing with a waist high handle that you use to break up the soil surface)

Thanks again to everyone who joined the farm this year. I’m looking forward to great food, great learning and great community.

Brenda Caldwell
Your grateful farmer
Boulder Knoll Community Farm

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News from the Farm – February 10, 2010

Hi Everyone,

Join the CSA for 2010

CSA members from last year and those on the waiting list can sign up for the 2010 CSA starting Feb 15th. After March 1st, we open up to the rest of the world, so if you want to get in, sign up early. We have a few 60 hour and 30 hour work-intensive slots available (permission of the farmer required!). We’re increasing to 50 members this year, but we expect to fill up by the end of March. CSA members will get fruit grown by High Hill Orchard in Meriden as part of this year’s share. We’re planning for pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries and flowers. We’re going to be growing a lot of the crops that folks asked for – cukes, purslane, sweet potatoes, big sweet onions.

Website

Check out our updated website at http://www.boulderknollfarm.com. Along with information on the CSA, you can visit our “Updates” page to find recipes, storage tips and general ideas and questions. Email info@friendsofboulderknoll.com if you have anything to post. Read about additions and changes to the 2010 CSA and find out how to sign up.

Seed orders are done!

I’ve ordered from Fedco, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Pinetree and Seed Saver’s Exchange. I also buy leeks and onions from Dixondale Onions in Texas and sweet potatoes from Tennessee. In a few weeks I’ll be starting tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and flowers and keeping them on heating coils in my basement under lights. When it gets a little warmer I’ll be growing lots of flowers and vegetables in a new hoophouse that I have at home.

Boulder Knoll Community Farm on the radio

Boulder Knoll Community Farm will be featured on WPKN 89.5 FM, Thursday, Feb 11 from 12 – 1 pm. Thanks to DJ Richard Hill for asking me for an interview.

Farm dinners by Caseus

Jason and Joe from Caseus Fromagerie Bistro in New Haven have promised a couple of on-farm dinners this season. Stay tuned for dates for those events. Check out their outstanding restaurant (and call ahead or you probably won’t get in!): Caseus Fromagerie Bistro, 93 Whitney Ave, New Haven CT 06510, ph 203.624.3373 (6.CHEESE) www.caseusnewhaven.com

CTNOFA Winter Conference

I encourage anyone interested in organic food, growing, and sustainable living to attend the winter conference of the CT Northeast Organic Farmers Association. I always have a great time listening to the keynote speaker (this year: Michael Shuman, author of The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition), attending workshops, shopping at the vendors’ booths and gorging myself at the potluck lunch. If you’ve never been, you’re in for a treat. For info go to http://www.ctnofa.org

Stay warm and dry!
Brenda Caldwell
Your cozy farmer

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Boulder Knoll Communiy Farm in the Advocate

Looks like we missed this one. Alan Bisbort of Cheshire discusses Boulder Knoll Community Farm in his March 3 article ”The Party’s Over” in the New Haven Advocate.

“Where I live, this effort — no matter how nascent or small — can be seen in the revival of what was once the largest working farm in town. It’s more than a desire to return to New England quaintness. It may be the path to the future. The farm was acquired about 10 years ago as open space, soon after which the environment commission (on which I sat at that time) wrote a management plan for the property that included a farming component. But then it died, paralyzed by town hall’s petty bickering.

Out of frustration, a group of active citizens came together to pitch the idea of a community-supported agriculture (CSA) project on the farm. After much wrangling (and the loss of a season’s planting), they finally got the approval. The first crops are going in this year and shares are being sold even as we speak. It is a small step (two acres will eventually be cultivated), but it is a step, and the whole town is jazzed. As a “subscriber” in the past to a CSA in another town, I was astonished by how much food could be grown on half an acre of carefully tended land.”

Click here to read the full article.

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News from the Farm – Week of October 26, 2009

Garlic!
We’ll do a garlic planting on Sunday 11/1 at 1 pm. This is something kids could help with. We’ll need to clean out the beds before we plant.

Work needs
I’m working on preparing new beds for next year (including flower, raspberry and strawberry beds), weeding and composting this year’s beds, spreading leaf mulch, laying path material, pulling dead plants and trellises, putting row cover on winter greens. Please let me know if you can help at any time. I’d really like to get most everything done by Thanksgiving. Ha! Famous last words.

Gleaning
There’s still some food in the field. If you would like herbs, kale, collards, chard, komatsuna, tatsoi, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, green beans, you may harvest this food for yourself any time you want. This is one of the benefits of your membership in our CSA.

Soup kitchen donations
We continue to harvest for soup kitchens in Meriden and Waterbury. Their pick ups are on Thursdays. Thanks to members of Temple Kol Ami who are doing the pick ups and driving for these donations.

Wanted!
Leaves You can bring bags of leaves to improve our soil. Please put them directly into the garden inside the side gate near the road or the end gate near the herb garden. You can dump them out of the bags so you can use the bags again if you want.

Cardboard
If you have some large pieces of cardboard, please put them in the hoop house. They are REALLY useful for paths.

Congratulations

  • To Kim Stoner, President of the Friends of Boulder Knoll, who has won the Conservation Partner of the Year award from the Southwest CT Soil Conservation Service. They cited her tenacious work to get an agricultural operation going on the Boulder Knoll property as one of the endeavors worthy of this award.
  • To CSA members James McGrath and Kathryn Frund for being selected for the Board of Directors of Friends of Boulder Knoll. Thanks to both of you for volunteering for our community. Thanks to the existing Board members, and to Dan Groberg, who have done so much to support and promote the farm.

Recap of the produce we gave out this year.
See the attached spreadsheet. Not too bad for the first year with no tomatoes and minimal eggplant and peppers. Keep your eyes peeled for a survey about this year – pick up times, produce you wish for, work experience, communication, etc.

Thanks for all your positive support!
Brenda

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News from the farm – Week of October 20, 2009

Annual Meeting
You are warmly invited to the annual meeting of the Friends of Boulder Knoll at 7 pm on Thursday, October 22, in the Old Chapel at Elim Park, 140 Cook Hill Road in Cheshire.  We will review and celebrate the past year, elect this coming year’s Board of Directors and officers, and discuss plans for the coming year.

Work needs
I have been away for a few days but am back now ready to get the garden ready for next year. If you can spare a few hours during the week or the weekend, please let me know.

I am planning to be at the farm during afternoon hours for the next few weeks in good weather. I do have some flexibility, so if you would like to come out in the morning, please email or call me (home 393-1245 or cell 645-1734). We need to spread manure and compost on all the growing beds, pull out and compost plants, take down trellises, plant cover crop, mow, weed and put wood chips on paths.

Garlic Planting
Stay tuned for info about this November event.

Extra Share
Thanks to all those who took the opportunity to receive an extra week of veggies from the farm. We opened this up to those on the waiting list after you signed up. We will receive over $250 in donations from existing members and friends for this (very cold) effort. If you haven’t sent your donation, please send a check made out to Friends of Boulder Knoll to PO Box 1329, Cheshire, CT 06410.

Compost
Keep it coming! We want kitchen waste including coffee grounds, egg shells, paper towels and napkins. I’d welcome leaves too (no large sticks please). Please place new stuff on the far right side of the bins.

Thanks to all of you, especially people who have come out to help even after they’ve put in all of their requisite hours and Fellis, who knows just when I need a hot cup of coffee, a muffin, or a warm veggie treat.

Brenda – Your exuberant and sometimes chilly farmer

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Recipes for the week of 9/28/09

Recipes

  • Potato salad with raw greens:
    (    Everyone has loved this salad when I’ve made it.)
    Potatoes, cooked until tender and cut into cubes
    Onion, chopped
    Carrots, peppers, parsley, dill chopped – add or omit to your taste
    Hard boiled egg if you like
    Kale, chard, spinach, tat soi, or other greens, chopped pretty finely
    Dressing – mayo (Vegannaise made from grapeseed oil is great!), lemon or lime juice, a little water –  Whisk together and pour over the veggies.

    Let the mixture set for a bit before serving so the greens wilt and flavors meld.

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News from the farm – Week of September 23, 2009

Potato harvest this Friday from 430 – 530
Bring a garden fork, gloves and a kid or two. And good grief, let’s get some pictures!

Harvest Potluck postponed until Sunday, Oct 4th, noon – 2 p.m.
due to predicted rain. Please bring a dish made with CSA or other local ingredients. Please also bring your own eating utensils and bowl or plate if you can. We’ll have some there too. The benefit art and bulb sale will happen at 474 Maple Ave on Saturday from 10 – 6 even if it’s raining. If it rains on Sunday too, we’ll have the potluck indoors at 474 Maple Ave. Thanks Greg Melville for the use of your home.

Last share-out harvest next week
Anticipate a distribution of potatoes, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, bok choi, maybe beets or carrots, parsley, broccoli or broccoli raab.

Extra share on Thursday, Oct 15th!
For a $10 donation to the Friends of Boulder Knoll, I will provide an extra share on Thursday, Oct 15 from 5 – 6:30.We are opening this up to folks on the waiting list and other members of the wider Friends of Boulder Knoll organization, but shares are quite limited. Please sign up by emailing me at mariebrenda@SBCglobal.net or at the farm at next week’s pick up. If we get a big response, Thursday could be too late so let me know soon if you are a Thursday pick-up. There will probably be many different kinds of greens, broccoli, bok choi, carrots, lettuce, parsley, etc.

Request
Please remember to tell me if you can’t pick up or email or call (393-1245 or 645-1734) if you have forgotten. I’ll be happy to save it for you. Doing the work to harvest food that isn’t picked up wastes time on busy harvest days.

Recipes
Don’t forget to check out this week’s recipes on our blog at http://tr.im/AhSf

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Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

B,L &  (Fried Green) T
Fry ½ lb of bacon  – remove from pan  – save the grease.
Slice green tomatoes and dredge in corn muffin mix.
Fry the coated tomatoes in the bacon grease until golden brown.
Construct the B.L.& (fried green) T on your favorite bread.

From the Whistle Stop Café: Fried Green Tomatoes

3-4 green tomatoes
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 tsp salt & pepper
Milk
Vegetable oil

Mix together flour, cornmeal, salt & pepper. Add enough milk to create a thick batter. Heat 2 inches of oil in a large skillet. Batter each tomato slice, and wipe off excess. Carefully place in hot oil, browning on both sides. (may or may not need turning, depending on the amount of oil) To cool, drain in a colander to keep tomatoes from becoming soggy. Salt to taste.

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News from the farm for the week of August 30, 09

Greetings!

Harvest and prep continues to be a very important work priority. This week will be sunny and  cool – a good time to pitch in if you can. 

I am anticipating the following harvest this week:

  • Leeks
  • Tomatoes
  • Basil (regular and specialty)
  • Lettuce, arugula, tatsoi salad bag
  • Garlic
  • Beans (if we have another harvester besides me)
  • Choice could be
    • Beets
    • Carrots
    • Squash
    • Eggplant
    • Peppers
    • Tomatillos, hot pepper

Tag Sale Saturday, Sept 5. The Greg and Susan could use some help setting up early Saturday a.m. They are also taking donations of plant divisions to sell. Please call Susan @ 988-1844 or Greg @ 439-7003 if you can help in some way.

Work needs Several members have contributed above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you! There are a few members who have a bit of time to go. Please get in touch with Liz Aldred to schedule time. I’m thinking about a potato harvest for next Sunday morning. Please let me know if you can come to help – and bring the kids!

See you at the farm!
Brenda

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News from the Farm – Week of August 23, 2009

Hi everyone –

Tag Sale –
Next Saturday, August 29, 8 am ‘til 3 pm to benefit Friends of Boulder Knoll
474 Maple Ave, Cheshire, (Greg Melville’s home) just north of Hines Hardware.

Good items still welcomed including plants from your garden.
Help at the sale would also be great!

Contact organizer Susan Fox-Erlich at  FoxErlich@aol.com or Greg Melville at gwmelville@earthlink.net.

Please spread the word and come by next Saturday for good stuff! 

This week’s share may include

  • Tomatoes
  • Squash
  • Lettuce
  • Cukes (maybe)
  • Leeks
  • Little sweet turnips
  • Greens
  • Regular Italian and specialty basil (lemon, lime or Thai)
  • Choice – eggplant, tomatillos, beans, beets or carrots
  • Herb garden – pick your own

Work needed: Harvest and prep Monday and Thursday

  • Plant perennials in next year’s cutting garden
  • Sheet mulch the cutting garden
  • Transplant lettuce
  • Wednesday evening around 5:30 – help unload composted manure from a truck
  • Turn the 1st and 2nd compost piles
  • Weed squash, broccoli, etc.

Thanks To Liz Aldred who’s doing the big job of soliciting and keeping track of work. I so appreciate it.

See you at the farm!

Brenda