Welcome to the 17th annual Happy Farmer Blog!
Wow hard to believe I have been writing this for 16 years now. It’s been a wonderful way to record our song and share the farm with friends from near and far.
So what is the Happy Farmer Blog? It’s a space where I (Keena) share the more nuanced side of the farm; from seeds to pigs, I share what we are doing in hopes to relate where food really comes from. I do not complain, but I am honest about struggles and events. I try not to talk too much about weather, but alas it VERY much affects us and though we roll with it as much as we can, we sometimes feel the need to express the realities of what it’s doing to your crops in the fields (and sometimes to us, the farmers, physically). Although I am sure I will miss a week or two or three, I try and write every time we have a pick-up to give you a snapshot of the week’s events and what to expect in your share.
THIS week, I thought I’d start with introductions and the backstory of Little Ridge.
a 3rd person review / truncated version
Zach and Keena have lived here on Gould Road Since April 2003. Keena hails from Ohio (I know, she’s from “away”, but her roots are what make LRF corn so sweet), majored in Botany and Environemtal Science at Miami University (that’s in Ohio, folks), then went to West Virginia to work for the forest service (not western Virgina, WEST Virginia…it is a state, lol). It is there she met Zach. He mostly grew up in Virgina but was also working in WV for the forest service that summer of ’98. From there they moved to Pennsylvania for Zach to get his masters in Watershed Management. And there is where Keena landed her first farm job and fell in love immediately. Knowing Keena wanted to start a farm and Zach wanted to work as an Environmental Consultant, they chose Maine for its residents and state support of its wild lands and local agriculture. They moved to Lisbon, as a central, location and then never left. Although the soils aren’t sublime, they have an energy about them that imparts both joy and flavor, so here is where Keena decided to commune. It’s been 2 decades of careful planning and here they are, here you are; at Little Ridge Farm! They are so very grateful to be here and to have you here as well.
Benny is the new pup on the block. He turned 2 in April and is the successor of Simon, a beloved amazing dog of 16 years. Little Ridge dogs are superb greeters, and love you like you are their own. Sorry in advance if Benny jumps on your nice clothes : )
Keena and Zach have literally built this farm with the help of neighbors, family, friends, volunteers. It is really a work of love and devotion. Please know that they take growing food for you with great conviction. They are doing our very best for you, promise.
Alrighty, that’s us! I will take you on an employee tour at some point, as they too are instrumental at getting your belly good veggies.
In this cool wet, we have been doing all we can to get plants in the ground. Once they are there, they seem to be happy, but getting on the soil has been smooshy to say the least. Seeds have been even more difficult as they prefer to be placed in smooth soft soil not clumpy chunks, ha! I have no doubt the season will be bountiful, it just might be a bit delayed. But alas, that is the joy of eating seasonally; when it comes, it comes and every bite is so. very. fresh.
This Week’s Bounty: lettuce mix, tat soi mix, arugula, onions, radish, herbs
Upcoming Farm Events
Farm Yoga — Saturday June 14th 9-10am (I think it’s actually going to be SUNNY!
$15 (shareholders can use code CSAlove25 for 20% off)
Taste & Tour Little Ridge Farm — Saturday June 21st
Free Admission | Great for families | Bring your friends!
