CSA Week 1

THE HARVEST…

Arugula, Lettuce mix, Kale (choose Tuscan and Curly), Garlic Scapes, Swiss Chard, Hakurei Turnip (a sweet salad turnip!), U-pick Herbs. U-Pick Strawberries (ALL berries EXTRA, not included in CSA).

Questions?

• Customize Your Share.  Yes, you can do this!  If you are confused by your Week 1 share email... we are learning new CSA software this year, and I have a few tweaks to make on how I enter harvest data into the system before Week 2.  Thank you for your understanding. Customize in Farm Shop - our friendly farm staff will take care of you.  Tell us your share size and we will fill you up!  AND Purchase Extra Produce (as available).

• Extras. Yes, you can do this! LOYAL TO LOCAL… chicken sausages, ground turkey, sheep dairy products, mushrooms and baked goods (as available). Other extras to be added throughout the season. Extra Produce will be listed for sale in Farm Shop (as available).

• Strawberries, U-Pick. ALL u-pick berries are EXTRA, not included in CSA. Grab your share (at the old barn on the left), OR pick strawberries first (park at the bldg. near flag pole). ALL U-PICK MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE CLOSING. Please allow enough time to do so AND grab your share. Thank you so much!

• Other U-pick Options? Choose Herbs, Flowers, Cherry tomatoes and Green Beans as a share item (as available). You can include these in your item count for the week.

• Change Pick up Day? If you are unable to pickup your share on your scheduled day… you can do so on another pickup day, during CSA pickup hours. We cannot hold your share beyond CSA days/hours; you can choose to it donate it. Or, have a friend pick up your share in your place. You do not need to notify us… but please explain the pickup procedures to them.

PICKUP HOURS - CSA WEEK 1:

THU 10 AM - 5 PM; FRI 10 AM - 2 PM (CLOSING EARLY FOR FAMILY WEDDING); SAT 10 AM-2 PM. Normal Friday hours will resume for Week 2, and the remainder of the season (10 AM-5 PM). Thank you for your understanding.

• Bring Your Own Bags. You may help yourself to items on the tables (like bunches of things). For loose greens, we will have them pre-weighed; we will serve you. We are not pre-bagging or distributing plastic bags. Please bring your own bags for loose greens (arugula and lettuce mix). Reduce waste and recycle, thank you!

• Masks NOT required.

• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.  Anything not covered in this message is in “Frequently Asked Questions and Answers”. Please read before first pickup.

• More Questions? Our farm staff will be happy to assist you - no worries! Farm Shop days are for meeting your farmers and community, eating healthy food and having fun!

Memorial Day Weekend

U-PICK STRAWBERRIES: Due to heavy picking and rain, U-Pick Strawberries will be CLOSED through Memorial Day Weekend. We will reevaluate the fields on Tuesday and determine when picking will resume. Thanks to everyone who came out to pick over the past week. We picked a lot of strawberries!

CSA REMINDER: 2021 CSA starts June 3–5. This will be the kickoff of our 12th CSA Season! Signups are officially closed as we are SOLD OUT for the 2021 Season. Follow our Facebook page for updates on extra vegetables available for public purchase throughout the season. CSA customers, if you ever miss an email, the weekly updates will always be loaded to the NEWS section of our website: https://www.walkingbirdfarm.com/news

U-Pick OPEN Friday

U-pick Strawberries OPEN today, Friday 9 AM-3 PM, or until sold out. Get yours before the rain! We will be closed Saturday. We will re-evaluate field conditions and keep you posted about Sunday/Monday picking. It is possible we will be closed. Today is beautiful day to pick! Thank you for your business and supporting local.

CSA Opens Next Week

CSA OPENS… June 3rd, 4th 5th.  

CSA Week 1 PICK UP… on any of these days, and during pickup hours:

• Th 10 AM – 5 PM

• Fri 10 AM – 2 PM (Friday pick up, Week 1 ONLY… closing early at 2 PM for private event/family wedding). 

• Sat 10 AM – 2 PM

FRIDAY PICK UP, WEEK 1, PLEASE NOTE: We will resume normal business hours on Friday the following week, and for the remainder of season, Friday pickups 10 AM – 5 PM.

CSA Week 1 Harvest… Kale, Arugula, Lettuce, Salad Turnip (Hakurei), Swiss Chard and Garlic scapes.  Waiting on Kohlrabi and Radish… hoping rain will push these along for Week 1 as well.  U-pick Herbs (rosemary, sage, chives, thyme, oregano and mint).  AND U-pick Strawberries (ALL berries extra, not included in CSA). 

CSA Week 2 Harvest, a look ahead… all of the above AND maybe Carrots, Beets, Scallions and Zucchini.  Spinach is having a hard time with the heat and lack of rain; I will keep you updated on crops and other field conditions throughout the season.

And in the weeks following, the harvest will continue to get heavier and more diverse.  First few weeks are mostly greens.  Lots of salads!  I will send another update before the first pickup with more details about your CSA. Looking forward to seeing our CSA members next week. 

Strawberry Picking OPEN

OPEN today! 9-3. Pick before the rain, and beat the heat. Strawberry season is VERY short... don’t miss it! Open for CSA and public. Wed, Thu 9-3, and Fri (if not raining). And we definitely need the rain! Come out and pick early if u can...lots out there!

Strawberry Picking Update

U-Pick Strawberries OPEN this week: Wed and Thu 9 AM-3PM. And maybe Fri if there is no rain - looks like rain though (OH PLEASE RAIN!!!) We desperately need the rain! I see a chance this weekend, so if you want berries, come out Wed or Thu. Fields are ripening again from heavy picking. The 2nd flush of berries are usually smaller... and they are just as sweet:)

Demand is high and strawberry season is VERY short - come out and get yours before it is too late! And thank you for supporting our farm.

Closed Sunday

U-Pick Strawberries CLOSED Sun. We will reopen during the week as the berries ripen again. Thank you for visiting us Fri and Sat... you picked us out! Please check our website and social media for real time updates - it will be a few days, not sure exactly when, it’s weather dependent. Thank you for supporting our farm, and we look forward to seeing you soon for more picking — at Walking Bird Farm.

U-Pick Strawberries

U-Pick Strawberries OPEN today, 9AM-4PM, OR until sold out. CSA customers have priority, AND get our CSA discount. Berries are beautiful... beat the heat and get out early! See u on the farm.

Strawberry U-Pick Opens Friday!

OPEN for CSA Members ONLY this weekend.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9 AM-4 PM.  OR until sold out.  Get out early for the best berries!  We will post if we are picked out for the day... it could happen before 4!  This is the first pick… they do go quick and there will be more.  Depending on weather and customer volume, the fields will be periodically closed and opened… this is normal for strawberries.  We will evaluate and update field conditions daily.

CSA pricing $3.50/lb, Public pricing $3.85/lb. Cash and Cards accepted. 

Containers for picking? We have boxes for you that you can take home.  If you prefer to use your own containers to pick into, please bring it along.

Where to park and CSA member check in?  Follow signs for parking.  Proceed to lot near the flagpole (not the CSA barn) and enter the building. 

Do I need a mask?  Not required in the u-pick fields. 

Group limits?  The fields will be full, and we expect our customers to maintain proper social distancing.  One adult per 4 children, and please stay in the walkways.  Enjoy yourselves and be courteous to your fellow u-pickers. 

Do I need an appointment?  No. Berries are first come, first serve.

Not a CSA member? Strawberry U-Pick will be open to the public Memorial Day Weekend, OR sooner, depending on field conditions.  Please check back soon for updates.

Strawberry season is short and in high demand.  Managing this crop, and other berries we grow, is a yearlong, labor intensive effort for us.  Fruit crops require much more maintenance than our annual CSA, and therefore we need to charge additional fees outside the CSA share to cover our costs.  As a thank you for the consistent support of our CSA membership, we do offer a 10% discount on ALL u-pick berries throughout the season.  Thank you for your support... see you on the farm! 

Cinco de Mayo Farm Update

After days in the 80’s and lows in the 40’s then 4 days of being wind blown, spring conditions are normalizing on the farm. We have lots of beautiful crops growing and we’re just a few weeks away from opening our 12th CSA season!  Lots of wild bee activity has us super excited.  Strawberries are loving this warm weather and the blueberries are loaded with flowers.  Won’t be long now before the u-pick fields are open!  Our garlic crop is looking beautiful and we have not one, but TWO high tunnels loaded up with tomatoes. The staff is working hard helping us keep all of the planting on schedule.

At this point we’re nearly sold out of CSA shares for the 2021 season, so if you still want to get in, you only have a couple of weeks left since we typically get a run on signups as we near Memorial Day Weekend.  In addition to our home grown CSA veggies, we are planning to once again load our farm shop with all the goodies you’re accustomed to from our farm (and chef) friends.  Plus, we’re working on some other surprises for the Summer and Fall.  Looking forward to seeing our long time customers and welcoming the new ones.

See you on the farm soon!

CSA Signup Week… Who’s Your Farmer?

Thinking of joining a CSA? Who’s Your Farmer? Ask this question… and so many more! It matters. Do you trust them? What is their experience? What motivates your farmer? When equipment breaks down, animals get sick, somebody calls out of work and Mother Nature wreaks havoc on crops… ALL on the same day, can your farmer “plow through it”? It is your investment, your food dollars, in their hands. As a farmer with 13 years of CSA growing experience, I can assure you managing a CSA is complex and demanding. And as a farm owner, growing your food is my primary focus and commitment. Ask…how much will you get and for how many weeks? How do they grow it and why? What happens if a crop fails? In farming, there is much to overcome on a daily basis. Does your CSA have a strategy to deal with a range of scenarios? I work throughout the winter on crop plans, making calculations and managing risks. Before a seed goes in the soil, critical decisions that determine a crop's success are made. Additionally, I attend agricultural conventions and get involved with organizations to learn from other farmers, educators and experts in the food industry for the betterment of agriculture and the health of our communities. If you want to know more about me, my commitment to agriculture and my community, my growing practices, or my CSA, reach out! Choose your farmer and CSA wisely. Walking Bird CSA signups are OPEN! Early Bird discounts expire this weekend. Regular prices in effect March 1. Thank you for supporting local farmers. It is my pleasure and privilege to grow your food.

We Bought B&B Farms!

April 30, 2020

We did it! WE BOUGHT B&B FARMS! After years of business planning, exploring all options, negotiating, stress and doubts, Ryan and I came to terms several months ago to purchase the farm from his aunt and uncle, lifelong farmers, Art and Carolyn Brown. At times, it was not clear if retiring and passing on the farm was the right decision. It’s a family, it’s a business, it has personalities, and a history. And it is complicated. In my heart I am conflicted the Brown’s are moving off the farm to make room for us, yet forever grateful to continue to grow the farm that I love.

Art, being the farmer that he is, would do anything to help another farmer, including selling his farm to a next generation farmer like me. I have farmed with Art for 10 years; retired or not, his help and advice will continue to shape the farms’ progress. B&B Farms was built by farmers, and it will continue to be owned and operated as such, by the next generation of farmers.

Buying and selling in this current climate is not business as usual. Virtual hugs and handshakes to everyone who helped us manage and navigate the farm sale amid Covid 19. From family and friends to other farmers, agricultural professionals, lawyers, Farm Service Agency, and local business partners, all of us are adaptive and resilient. Due to social distancing, we closed the deal at separate appointments and wore masks and gloves; somehow the significance of the moment was not lost. There is hope, and we will have much to celebrate together.

Times are uncertain; it is an unprecedented time to live in and buy a farm in. This has been an emotional journey, especially during a global pandemic. The silver lining is we are still farming. We are planting and growing healthy, quality food for our community. We value your business and are proud to be “essential” and put food on your table. Local support for our CSA bought this farm! We are focused on the future and ready for whatever comes next.