tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91689521825482500292024-03-13T23:25:36.932-07:00Unity Farm Product UpdatesUnity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-52530216101634480562018-03-13T11:36:00.000-07:002018-03-13T11:36:09.215-07:00What happened to Spring?I'm sitting here looking out at a vast sea of white snow, thinking of all the thousands of seedlings we have growing in the hoophouse, and wondering how the timing is going to work out if temps fall back into the teens next week. Yikes. One thing I've learned is that we don't give enough credit to the survival factor of cold weather plants - I'll bet the kale, spinach, chervil and parsley are going to do just fine, with a little help from another layer of remay. Fingers crossed. We've had a tough beginning so far with voracious moles and a very determined rabbit. Caught the little bunny in a have-a-heart trap and relocated to a far end of the farm. Happy to report our seedlings this year look awesome - both greens and flowers. Transplanting soon and harvesting spinach and kale that have overwintered. Stay tuned for a picture of the tulips, which are up 6 inches and growing fast!<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-89086491765431211322018-01-10T09:58:00.003-08:002018-01-10T09:58:52.778-08:00Happy New Year and Welcome 2018!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!<br />
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Why does the new year always seem to slide in there and before you know it, second week already. It's been really wonderful to have some time off and enjoy the snow and the stillness of winter. Time off....that's a matter of speaking of course, because really that means that physically we've slowed down at the farm but mentally we're working overtime on planting plans and new market ideas and dreaming of new greens and flowers to try out for the year. I'm so excited to welcome Johanna and Emily to the Unity Farm team this year - it's all girl power folks! Well, still have the boys for horsepower and Trooper as the male mascot......and ace mouser patroller. <br />
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We're taking orders for greens for restaurants and grocery stores, and welcome anyone who wants to have flowers this summer for an event to let us know. Looking forward to a wonderful, joyful and very productive new year and hoping the same for you too.<br />
<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-29930823711246538162017-11-25T11:32:00.002-08:002017-11-25T11:32:47.676-08:00November updatesCan't believe an entire month has gone by without posting - sigh - can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone already. Can't believe we had snow already here in the valley and that it stayed a couple of days! And now it feels balmy again. Very strange weather to be growing things in. I was feeling kind of bad because our kale and chard didn't get as big as they have been in falls past, then I heard that many other farms are experiencing the same thing, plus getting hit hard with disease on the spinach and vole invasions. Guess we're pretty lucky overall. Just delivered literally armfuls of red, orange and yellow twigs to our florists for wreaths and holiday decorations. Nature provides no matter what the season, if we know how and where to look. I'm learning a lot from our florist customers on Mother Nature treasures. Starting the first horse holiday rides in Middlebury next Saturday. Our heads of lettuce sales have taken off this year, thanks to new restaurant clients.<br />
Several weeks ago, I was feeling kind of down because of my perceived pressure of competition among all the flower growers in our area. I was telling this to a friend and she quietly said, "wouldn't it be wonderful if there were flowers for everyone and you could fill the whole world with flowers"? She was so right, and it opened up the doors of possibilities to me, because of course, there is always room for more flowers, for more love, for more gratitude, joy, laughter, sharing and embracing wholeness everywhere. In this holiday season, may you find the doors opening for you for infinite possibilities.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-25673937981201291882017-10-08T14:53:00.001-07:002017-10-08T14:53:35.063-07:00Busy Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Signs of Fall around the farm include big piles of pulled out flowers (sigh) and long lines of greens taking over the hoophouses. Always have a hard time pulling out the last of the annuals and the bees aren't too happy either, since they are still busy getting pollen for the winter. Luckily we have plenty of goldenrod and asters around the pond. I've seen two praying mantis this week - one of my favorite creatures along with the great blue heron out mousing in the cover crops. Weeds are still growing, so Ernie was busy the other day finding the lettuce and carrots, with Trooper "helping" of course. Troop is 5 1/2 months old now and getting big! He's turning into quite a mouser himself. And leaf chaser. And hole digger. We've got a lot of gorgeous lettuce and plenty of spinach coming in. Kale, chard, mustards, and arugula are looking good too, and hoping the weather turns cooler. It was 120 degrees in the hoophouses last hot spell - too hot for anyone's liking.<br /><br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-51684661620427911562017-08-31T15:19:00.002-07:002017-08-31T15:19:43.380-07:00Fall Harvest and Special GuestsJust had to take a picture of our cooler today filled with kale, chard and salad mix ready to go for tomorrow. And flowers! Love the zinnia bouquets - they always brighten my day no matter what the cloud cover. We're gearing up for our winter season and direct seeding spinach, arugula and lettuce, along with seeding kale, chard and parsley for transplants in a month. Lots to do for a farm that operates year around. How did I get myself into this?!! Soon we'll be putting up a bunch of bulbs for the first time this year to see how we do - lillies, ranunculas, anemone and narcissi. Tulips go along the borders of the beds in the hoophouse. And so the cycle continues.<br />
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We've been noticing a few monarch butterflies around the past couple of weeks. Thought that was was awesome AND THEN we started spotting monarch caterpillars on all of our annual aesclepius munching away merrily. Really? You have to eat our cash crop and are completely ignoring all the wild milkweed we left for you all year? How can we be mad though - have waited for these guys to show up for a few years now. OK, munch away.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-66404289608407724892017-08-26T13:14:00.001-07:002017-08-26T13:14:41.707-07:00Group PhotoIt's about time to update a photo of the entire Unity Farm crew. We've been growing! More staff, a new farm van, Trooper our new puppy, more varieties of flowers and greens. Sadly, Pete is not with us anymore and it still seems very strange to not see him with the other boys. I guess I'll always think I have four draft horses because his presence is very much with us. Better hurry up and get that plastic back on Hoophouse 1!<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-5180293490701642082017-08-26T13:09:00.001-07:002017-08-26T13:09:29.125-07:00Trooper is here!Our new shiloh shepherd puppy has arrived! His name is Trooper and he's taken our hearts by storm. As you can see from his nose, he's been very busy investigating the barn, dirt piles, compost piles, the barn cat's food and other choice morsels around the barnyard. Trooper welcomes everyone with a tilt of his head and a wagging tail. He would love to see you at Unity Farm.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-40241830366880603312017-08-01T15:36:00.003-07:002017-08-01T15:43:48.729-07:00Flower Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to open the cooler door with the cooler packed with flowers and stand in the cold air breathing in their heady fragrance. We just get better every year with knowing what to grow and how to grow. The fields are becoming a checkerboard of small plots devoted to cover crops, perennials, edible windbreaks, herbs, garlic, and ornamental shrubs, while the hoophouses become more and more colorful with a wide variety of annuals. We are expanding our venues beyond selling to florists, adding restaurants, special events and more. Feel free to call me and ask what we have available! We grow to please.<br />
<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-54971157305936198662017-08-01T15:29:00.001-07:002017-08-01T15:29:35.365-07:00A MemorialThree weeks ago we had to put down my beloved horse Pete. While all the boys are special in their own way, Pete was always my favorite. Can't really tell you why - he ran over me with a loaded wagon of logs once which resulted in ACL surgery. He always knew exactly what to do and would get very irritated if you hacked away on the reins and didn't let him do his job. At 2000 pounds, he had a very good appetite and would always nicker loudly at breakfast and dinner when you came into the barn. It's very quiet now. He and Jaguar were my first team, and taught me most of what I know about driving, farm work, enjoying the day, working hard and doing a good job. Whenever I rode him I felt like a queen. In his grave we put a big bag of his favorite Granny Smith apples and an envelope filled with our letters about all our favorite memories of him and what we loved about him. His head is pointed to the north and now he can run again in freedom. Goodbye Dear Friend. <br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-31705294117383230252017-05-31T18:45:00.001-07:002017-05-31T18:45:58.575-07:00Flowers in Bloom!Sigh - I thought I could keep up with a weekly update on what's available, but these weeks just seem to slip by before ya know it. All the greens are growing and loving this cooler, damp weather (glad somebody does). On the last week of spinach though, it's decided to bolt and we'll cruise through the summer before planting more next fall. Have beautiful chard, robust lettuce, super tasting kale, a hoophouse full of mustard greens and flowers! Interesting budding this year. I think with the few days of extreme hot weather, then days and nights of cooler weather, the buds set on the plants much shorter than normal. Should all even out though - the bachelor buttons, saponaria and bupleurum are close to 3 feet!<br />
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Here's a list of the flowers we have this week:<br />
Lupines<br />
Bachelor buttons<br />
Bupleurum<br />
Field Daisies<br />
Allium<br />
Calendula (double/triple petaled and gorgeous)<br />
Stock<br />
Saponaria<br />
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Next week the peonies, double petaled poppies and dianthus should be blooming.<br />
Happy June to you!<br />
Cathy<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-40079945124986868872017-04-20T12:24:00.001-07:002017-04-20T12:24:14.566-07:00We've Got the Greens!We've definitely hit our stride and the hoophouses are full of beautiful spinach, kale, chard, lettuce and mustard greens! All available, plus gorgeous tulips.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-4202712917766588532017-03-11T14:00:00.001-08:002017-03-11T14:00:06.380-08:00March is Looking Green!We're on a roll in the greenhouse!<br />
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Thousands of kale, chard, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach and flower seeds are planted and growing! Last week we actually started planting in the hoophouses, but have my fingers crossed they stay warm enough under 2 layers of remay this weekend. Brrrrr!<br />
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Tulips are coming in like little soldiers. Can't wait to see them start blooming.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-63104368306995577502017-02-12T12:13:00.001-08:002017-02-12T12:13:41.880-08:00We are up and running!I'm delighted to say we started the farm back up February 1st. Ahhh, feels so good. With the new greenhouse operating, we were able to plant spinach, kale, chard, lettuce and mustard greens. Five days later, the spinach already germinated. We're also experimenting with Johnny Jump-Ups in mini pots and getting the Bupleurum going as well. <br />
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There's about 2000 tulip and brodeia bulbs coming up as well. Unfortunately the moles have decided they make a great snack, so the Jaws of Death traps have had to come out. Always hate when that happens. The two middle rows are taking a break from planting for a few months and have a good layer of cardboard and aged horse manure on top. The tarp speeds up decomposing and the earthworms love it!<br />
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Chad is busy broadforking all the beds before we add soil amendments and get ready for transplanting, which will be sometime in March. Expecting spinach and salad mix ready to harvest by April.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-34111290491235318082016-12-18T14:47:00.001-08:002016-12-18T14:47:16.300-08:00READY FOR SLEIGH RIDES!<br />
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We're hoping this winter is going to bring snow and clear sunny days for sleigh rides. Rocket and Jaguar are fit and ready to go. Check details under the "wagon and sleigh rides" heading for details. Hope to see you this season!<br />
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Cathy<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-59412253974261795452016-05-31T12:51:00.000-07:002016-05-31T12:51:07.146-07:00We're now Certified Organic!I'm delighted to announce that Unity Farm's greens, flowers and hay field are now officially certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF). We are proud to carry the logo on our products and look forward to having new labels that say we are certified organic. That is one of many good things that came out of being in the hospital - I actually sat down and filled out all the paperwork required for the certified organic application!<br />
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The heart transplant happened very quickly and I was home by Good Friday. In fact, I got a heart 4 1/2 hours after being listed, which is the fastest in Mass General's history. The recovery has been going smoothly and I'm about 3 weeks ahead of the usual recovery schedule. Must be all the great energy from the farm, right?! Looks like we'll be heading to Boston for the stem cell transplant around June 27th, and then I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 weeks after that. By the end of July the majority of health issues will be over and we can start looking forward to rebuilding for a whopper of a year in 2017. In the meantime, we've been planting windbreaks of edible shrubs like elderberry, currant and hazelnut, planting more perennials, planting cover crops, mowing and working the horses. Starting to feel like summer already and so glad to be out enjoying the outdoors.<br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-57715657068358524832016-03-06T03:24:00.000-08:002016-03-06T03:24:12.425-08:00Message from Cathy - March 6, 2016Dear friends and customers,<br />
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I am sad to let you know that our greens and flowers will not be available this year. I've had to take the year off for some medical reasons - actually, right now I'm in the hospital at Mass General having just had a heart transplant! That is part one, because in a couple of months I have to return for a stem cell transplant that will take the rest of the year to recover from. The good news is that the farm is going to be used growing delicious greens and herbs, just not by me. And, the horses are still working and would love to do wagon rides - you can always contact me, I'm right here on my computer and phone.<br />
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I hope you will remember how beautiful our flowers are and how good our greens taste - we'll be back and better than new in 2017!<br />
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My best wishes and gratitude to all,<br />
CathyUnity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-78530130073778655212016-02-18T12:07:00.000-08:002016-02-18T12:07:07.623-08:00February and the days are getting longer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This funny roller coaster weather drives us nuts. Even if it's partly sunny the hoophouse can get up to 65 degrees even though it's freezing outside. When the sun sets the temps inside the house go rapidly down. Our challenge is to keep the temperatures as even as possible. The spinach is starting to grow rapidly and our Salanova lettuces are holding up very well. Some of the bulbs we planted are starting to break ground. We've direct seeded more lettuce, asian greens and spinach in between kale and chard. It's going to take off soon!<br /><br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-71929227710213686132016-01-29T05:46:00.000-08:002016-01-29T05:47:37.716-08:00Spinach going strong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's the third week of January and our spinach is still growing, in spite of the short days. We like our spinach leaves to be big and crunchy, so that when you cook with them they keep their shape and green deliciousness. Asian greens and Salanova lettuce are still holding their own, waiting for another couple of weeks before leaping into February! Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-78894340585295183012016-01-11T19:54:00.001-08:002016-01-11T19:54:40.367-08:00Week of January 11, 2016The weather has still been amazing, but everything is starting to show the effects of some heavy harvesting. We still have salad mix (lettuce and asian greens), and the spinach keeps growing, but definitely at a slower pace. Last week we were able to send out spinach, kale, chard and salad mix. This week just salad mix, then we'll have to take a break for a couple of weeks and let things have a chance to grow back. Here are some pictures of our hoophouses covered up with remay, which helps keep temperatures warmer for the plants, then the plants still looking green and healthy underneath. Today it was 28 degrees outside, with 13 mph winds. With the sun out, it was almost 60 degrees inside with the solar gain! <br />
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<br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168952182548250029.post-55987616598743907282015-12-21T09:15:00.001-08:002015-12-21T09:15:12.206-08:00Still harvesting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We still have salad mix (lettuce and asian greens), spinach, kale and chard looking good in the hoophouses - pretty awesome. Over the weekend, it was 62 degrees in there when the sun was out! This time of year though, the light is making the big difference on how much the greens are growing. When the days get to be under 10 hours of daylight everything pretty much slows waaaaaaay down. We're doing once/week harvesting instead of twice and having to cut back on how many customers we can serve. Today is solstice, the shortest day (or the longest night whichever you choose to focus on) of the year. This week we have salad mix, kale and chard going to Shelburne Market, Richmond Market and Lantmans. Going to give the spinach a week or so to regrow because we harvested hard last week.<br /><br />Unity Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00361244811514864697noreply@blogger.com0