Live Earth Farm Nwsltr Wk 1 2007

Greetings from Farmer Tom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elisa, Tom and baby goat Each season is a new beginning, and here on the farm nature's fertile embrace is irresistible. It's Spring and the earth is alive! I am joyous and a bit nervous at the same time as we start this our 12th seasonal dance. The freshly tilled soil smells rich and musky, and the first germinating seeds and transplants are like infants brimming with the promise of bountiful flavors, smells and colors. Five baby goats were born in the last few weeks and two more are expected; the baby chickens are growing fast, scratching and pecking like their older peers. We might truly have a bumper crop of pears this year never has our pear orchard had such an explosive bloom; the bare and dormant trees transformed almost overnight into what looked like white clouds. The warm weather has been a blessing, ensuring a good fruit set (which is always the biggest concern with our Warren pears). The fava beans are tall and lush, with and abundance of slender little beans, tomato seedlings have been transplanted into the fields, and green beans are already starting to sprout out of the ground the earliest I can remember. Spring on the farm can be compared to the early phase of pregnancy: we are planting, planning and laying the groundwork for the healthy abundance to come.

Newly planted arugula beds It seems like we are having an early start all around not only in the fields, but also in the CSA. I am excited that this year for the first time ever we will begin the season with everyone on board (we are sold out of shares, so, starting the season with full membership close to 550 families!) Everyone here at the farm is delighted to welcome so many returning and new members to our Community Supported Agriculture journey. We are embracing this seasonal dance as a community, and it is our shared commitment that represents the heartbeat of Live Earth Farm. A commitment where we explore and discover that eating with the seasons may not always be the most convenient or easiest, but it awakens and nourishes our minds, hearts and bodies. Every time you open your share, remember that you are linked to the land and people who work here, and that you are also an extension of that relationship by preparing the food you receive. I know that the meals we prepare sometimes require us to be flexible and creative, but in a wonderful way: I see cutting, washing, cooking and most importantly eating as a unique contribution, as though we are adding flavor to the earth we depend on.