Oh yes, I think it's time. If you are like me, you are also more than ready for warmer days, abundant sunshine, and the lushness and hope that comes with spring. Please mother nature, no more snow. I'm asking nicely. It's time to grow food. Can we just get on with it?
I think I speak for most, except for the rabid skiers among us, that we are ready for winter to close up shop so spring can do its thing. Once I get a sneak peek of spring/summer with these 60-70 degree days, my own sap gets flowing and I feel the urge to move our critters to pasture and get the veggies planted in the gardens. There continue to be so many worrisome things happening in the world that the farm still feels like a place of refuge where we can escape and just enjoy the bubbling steam of sap in the sugar shack, the green shoots of spring bulbs, and the deep squishy mud of spring. It's simple stuff - and it's exactly that simplicity that clears the mind and nourishes the soul. So come on down to the farm, visit with the piglets (that should arrive any day), take a peek in the brooder barn to see the chicks (arriving next week), and walk down the laneway alongside the gardens as they begin to bloom with lush produce.
While visiting, take a look around and notice what's here at this moment in time. Within a month or so the farm will begin to transform. All of the water wagons, coops, feeders, and water systems will soon be pressure washed, painted, greased, and repaired in preparation for another season of keeping our critters well fed, watered, and safe. Once the weather warms up a bit more and the pastures come alive the laying hens, our guardian dogs Portia and Sophie, and many of the mobile coops will be moved down the street to Codman North field so the birds can free range on the open fields. And once the hens leave the greenhouse the work of cleaning and sanitizing the greenhouse begins so we can give the space time to air out before we prep the soil for our summer tomato crop.
In the meantime, Jared is busy welding the frames for three new coops which will complete our fleet of seven larger open floored coops for the meat chickens. These modular coops will be built from scratch here on the farm - to suit our unique needs, and then reassembled at Mt. Misery field where we grow almost 6000 meat chickens to be sold exclusively here on the farm, in our Store.
And the lists go on and on. More piglets will be born, the cows will be moved to pasture where they will have their spring calves, the new flock of 1400 hens will arrive...and turkey poults too... and all the while the greenhouses and gardens will be growing a wide variety of greens, roots, shoots, and fruits. As my son Abe would say, "Good times". Indeed! Lots of work, for sure, but definitely "good times" ahead. And we look forward to sharing all these good times with you through our many volunteer opportunities, new and exciting workshops, the launching of our commercial kitchen, and the many community events on our calendar.
Hope to see you soon....Pete
Update on the
DRIVEWAY PROJECT
For many years now we have been dreaming of a new driveway for the farm. During winter while I dream of palm trees and turquoise waters for a warm-weather escape, I also dream of the day when I don't have to ice skate across the frozen driveway to get out of the farmhouse or maybe one day not have to drag mud and gravel into our new commercial kitchen. It's simple pleasures folks! And frequent visitors to the farm in winter can relate to this for sure. The driveway is in a sorry state!
Due to many many years of erosion and lack of upkeep, the driveway has degraded to a point where it needs a serious upgrade. Luckily, we are on the cusp of a vast improvement.
In the coming weeks, we hope the town will approve the last of the funding needed to regrade and improve the entire driveway and courtyard in front of the main entrance to the barn. In collaboration with many town departments and using some of Codmans' own funds, we plan a major upgrade to the entrance and parking area on this town-owned property. As a reminder, Codman Community Farms is an independent non-profit entity, but we reside on town-owned property and while we steward the land, the town remains the vital resource for maintaining the integrity of this historic property.
Once we achieve full funding we will be working with the engineering firm and the town to bring this project to fruition - hopefully by this summer or fall. As seen below, the main parking area will be slightly enlarged and shifted to the left, to the area where the dilapidated concrete foundation of an old barn once stood. A new ADA compliant entrance will be built into the side of the barn and the area in red, below, will be a new and improved courtyard to be used for community events and gatherings. Parking will no longer be permitted in this space.
After years of planning, we are excited about these improvements. They will mean a more accessible farm for all, a safer and easier parking experience, and a more friendly environment to enjoy all the farm has to offer, no matter the time of year.
