So this is it. The final newsletter of the season. Possibly the final newsletter ever. I'm feeling emotional.
Our work is a labor of love. It is a labor of sacrifice, stress and dedication to something we believe in. It's not glamorous and we certainly aren't making tons of money from it, but the satisfaction of doing what we know and love has been the driving factor in getting us this far. It has been quite a journey.
I've spoke in the past about the production of putting on for market and CSA twice a week and how I've likened it to a Broadway show. This may be a bit of hyperbole considering it is just the two of us, but I believe the analogy remains pertinent. From what needs to be harvested, to the assembly of the boxes; every aspect is taken care of by either Terra or myself.
It starts in the late winter. Figuring out what we want to grow and how much/frequency starts in January. Then we have to coordinate a seed order that fulfills all of our needs. From there we need to get soil and get stuff going!
This year we took the time and effort to graft our tomatoes. This was our second year attempting the process and it was much more successful than last year. Our soil has a disease that affects tomatoes, so grafting desirable varietals to hearty root stock was necessary for us to get any yields at all. I am very proud of the outcomes we've had with the challenges we face. I'm confident in our ability to take on any such task to make things grow.
Preparing beds for planting is another intense process that requires a lot of work. Incorporating compost, peat moss and fertilizer in to our native soil means that materials need to be hauled and placed and spread to be adequately involved in the soil. Heavy lifting and a lot of trailer work is needed to get things where we want them to be.
The most difficult part of the season is early on when we have planting and preparation that needs to be done while also tending to the weekly harvest that is part of our weekly CSA. This year, our employee made this a little easier, although having a greenhorn to teach while maintaining everything else was a little tedious. As the season rolls on, our bed turnover and planting schedules become more reasonable and we are able to focus mainly on harvesting. I look forward to those times.
Lightly put, our CSA is the lifeblood of Common Roots Urban Farm. You, our members, are the reason we continue to dedicate ourselves to this endeavor. Unfortunately, we may have run out of the means to facilitate such a project. For that I apologize and sincerely hope you can appreciate our love for you and this farm work.
I never plan on retiring. I always imagine myself working until The Creator calls me home to be with my ancestors. I love to work. I was made to work. It is in my blood and it makes me feel whole. Our future plans are unclear at the moment, but we are forever grateful for the opportunity to be your farmers and to have been given the chance to grow good food for you. We love you.
Let's keep in touch.
Eat well and enjoy.
J&T