End of Season 2012

  

The Mall is Closing.

 This weekend, Thanksgiving Saturday,

Is our last day for the 2012 season.

Come join us on our final day from

11 am to 4 pm

Yes, fall came in full force…it seemed like one day it was hot summer and the next…autumn.  The trees are at their peak in Northumberland and Thanksgiving is upon us.  It’s a much more relaxed feel here at the farm as we wind up harvest for our CSA box program and close up our farm-gate stand “The Mall”.

 It’s been a season of trials and tribulations.  We all felt the affects of summer’s drought – even our newly installed drip irrigation system couldn’t keep up with the intense heat and evaporation.  Our ponds dropped to record low levels, which halted all irrigation attempts in fear of running out of well water to our house.  We needed a little water for showers and laundry at least.

 The heat from the sun was so intense some days Gregory and I actually had to stop a couple of days and work inside until late afternoon.  I felt my skin was burning. 

 We tried seeding carrots three times with minimal germination results and a very low harvest yield.  Lettuces just wouldn’t grow or head up in the hot sun and crows ate our corn - all 14,000 seeds.  They sure know how good organic, untreated seed is and they went through a quarter acre like little machines.  We are quite amazed at their abilities.

 With no interns to help we had to cut back on our artisan bread production and our many value added items as there was just not enough hours left in the day.  However, we did manage to bake each Friday night for bread sales at The Mall and at the Port Hope farmers market. 

 

 

Community Supported Agriculture

Our final delivery of the 2012 CSA box program is Thursday and Saturday, October 11th and 13th.   We are already thinking about the 2013 CSA program and what we will have to offer.  Stay tuned through our website for updates regarding next year.  www.WicklowWay.ca

What’s Available at Wicklow Way …

Artisan Sourdough Breads

Arugula

Beets

Hot Peppers

Kale

Chard

Winter Squash

Pie pumpkins

Kohlrabi

Cookies

Smoked sea salt

Dried heirloom tomatoes

Smoked tomatoes

Chicken & Duck stocks

Olive oils

Balsamic vinegars

Our own honey

   

Upcoming Events…

 

Port Hope and Cobourg Farmers Markets

Cobourg on Saturdays 7 am to 1 pm

Port Hope on Saturdays 8 am until noon

Note…the Port Hope farmers market runs until October 27th.  The Cobourg farmers market runs until December 22nd though the start time adjusts to 8am come November.  We hope that you have time to visit us on Saturday mornings…it’ll be cold but we’ll be there.

 

Optimism…

We visited a colleague’s farm recently and were energized by the beauty of the food growing in their fields.  After 30 years of farming they definitely know a thing or two.  Our brains are spinning with thoughts of next year with aspirations of perfect vegetables, no weeds, the right amount of rainfall, and ideal temperatures. 

 I have been making fresh goat cheese two to three times a week over the summer and am starting now to make some aged versions to sell in November and December.  I feel a sense of peace and serenity spending time in goat manor…I could sit with them for hours.  They are humorous, gentle, inquisitive, frisky, tender, playful, and … they contribute to our farm life in so many ways.

     

Gregory and I wish to extend our utmost thanks and appreciation to all of our wonderful friends, customers, volunteers and new employees who stepped up, showed up, cared for our fields, harvested vegetables, washed, bunched and bundled for CSA boxes and farmers markets, laughed and got sore muscles, and shared wonderful meals with us.  We could never have made it through the season without you.  Thank you Sue & Joey, Brenda, John & Cathy, Emile & Donna, Manuela & Gary, Heather, Nancy , and not pictured – Magda, Robbie, Alyssa, Bob, and Lynn.

 Please continue to visit us at the Cobourg farmers market until December 22nd.

 

With warmest wishes for the winter months,

Elaina & Gregory

June  2012

www.WicklowWay.ca

 

“I am I plus my surroundings; and if I do not preserve the latter,

I do not preserve myself.”

 

Jose Ortega y Gasset

(1883-1955)

Spanish Philosopher