Where Has the Time Gone?

Hello, Farm Friends:

Farmers Caryl and Gary--with the farm team--have been busy in the dirt! Tomatoes, peppers and many other plants are in the ground. The tomato patch has been hayed and caged. Seeds have been folded into the soil, and weeds are being pulled.

We again have an amazing farm team this year. Three of the team members include our early-season, worker-share volunteers: Audrey, Rosemary, and Valerie. At the beginning of the year, we asked Valerie to write about her experience with our farm. I waited until now to share because many of you will soon be starting your CSA farm experience--just like Valerie did last year. And... maybe you'll be a be a worker-share volunteer next year--just like Valerie!

Happy Weekend,
Tara
(Farmer Caryl's Daughter)
P.S. All 4,080 sweet potato plants are in the ground! That alone is a major accomplishment! 
P.S.S. I am in 100 percent agreement with everything Valerie says about Farmers Caryl and Gary!

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING... by Valerie K. 

Where has the time gone?  It seems like only months ago I was picking up my first ever CSA share and meeting Gary and Caryl for the first time as well.  I actually met them mid-summer last year!
 
I have to admit, I had no idea what this CSA thing was all about, nor did I know that I would quickly develop a close, family-like friendship with them both.  My first experience was literally met with open arms from Caryl – a big welcoming hug, which caught me off-guard because I am a very shy person!
 
As the weeks went by, I looked forward to my Thursday pick-ups so that I could “farm-talk” for a while and bring home my goodies.  Soon, I was helping them after work whenever I could.  I learned so much from how to use the items in my CSA share to canning and fermenting.  They are so willing to teach and pass on their organic farming knowledge to everyone!
 
I have to say, Gary and Caryl are some of the most generous, honest, and friendly people I have ever met.  I am anxiously waiting for spring to actually get here so that I can start helping again, but this time from the very beginning of the new farming season!