Farming by wendy

It is Summertime Officially!!! And you know what that means……… Fresh Farm Produce, Farmer’s Markets and CSA’s….

I know what your thinking… Local farms, yeah! Farmer’s Markets, got one down the road! CSA, ummm what? It’s okay, you’re not alone! Lots of people are just getting into the CSA groove, now it’s your turn!

CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture, a system in which consumers receive food directly from the farmers who produce it. But unlike a farmers’ market system, supporters of community agriculture actually share in part of the farmers’ risk. That is, they pay in advance for a portion of the farmer’s total crop. Crops that do well will be abundant in the share, crops that do less well will be less abundant. For their part, the farmers have a stable income that doesn’t depend on sunny weather on farmer’s market days.

Norwell has found a home for their CSA dreams and will be giving it a go this summer. At the 2009 Special Town Meeting, Norwell voters approved $50,000 of Community Preservation Act funds to start a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in town. Norwell Farms will run its farm operations at the Jacobs Farm Homestead located at 4 Jacobs Lane. The house, Norwell’s signature historic property, was built in 1726. Norwell Farms will grow vegetables on 1.6 acres in its first year and will distribute vegetables at the Carriage House across the street from the Homestead. The mission of Norwell Farms is to create and sustain an organic farm at the historic Jacobs farmhouse. We are committed to providing fresh seasonal food to our members and educating the community at large about the benefits of local, organic farming.

The idea was such a big success memberships were sold out in three days! Today marks the very first bin pickup for the Norwell CSA and I was lucky enough to find happy farm helpers working hard to fill the bins with beautiful early lettuces, radishes, peas and much much more! Jennifer Friedrich, Farm Manager, took a minute to chat with me in between lettuce baths and trimming. We wandered across the street and out to the field where last minute radish pulls, spinach clipping and pea picking was in full swing.

Kim Almeida, Farm Assistant, is the essence of the all natural farmer, grinning from ear to ear as she tends to the fields, there is no denying her pride.

There will be more summer updates on the New Norwell CSA! Stay Tuned!!!