Welcome to the twelfth issue of “Notes from the Farm!"
Bass Root Farm Mission - We aim to nourish our local community by producing nutrient dense food while striving to be good stewards of the land using sustainable and regenerative farming methods. We want our farm to be a site for learning, sharing, and cultivating wellness, an ideal place that provides a rich quality of life for all living things.
Notes from the Farm, Issue 12
December 2022
I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again." - Lewis Carroll
Winter at the Farm. Now that our markets and CSA are done for 2022, we can slow down a bit, rest our weary bodies, and begin planning for 2023. Throughout November, we worked to put our field plots to rest by mulching with leaves, planting cover crops, and covering some beds with tarps to protect the soil from erosion. In our tunnels, we planted winter greens and other crops for overwintering so that we have carrots, onions, and beets to look forward to this spring. When time allowed, Michael continued working on framing the 30 x 12 greenhouse so that we can move transplants from our indoor nursery into it this spring.
This month we will place our annual seed order and begin planning next year’s crops and rotations. After a few growing seasons, we now have a better understanding of what to expect and what to plan for. Even though farming is weather dependent and adjustments are needed, having a solid plan going into the season provides peace of mind and a direction to follow.
2022 Successes. We had a number of accomplishments this year. Here is a snapshot of some of them:
CNG Certification. We became a Certified Naturally Grown farm through a rigorous application and farm inspection process.
Launch of our CSA. Beyond selling at farmers markets, we chose to start our own CSA. We truly enjoyed getting to know our CSA members, their families, and providing them with farm fresh produce throughout the growing season. If you are interested in joining our CSA, please read more about it below.
Farm Intern. We were very fortunate to host Jackie Edgemon from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Trinity Health. We provided produce for the CSA at Trinity Health St. Joe’s Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.
New High Tunnel. This structure doubles our covered growing space and allows us to extend our seasons earlier in the spring and later in the fall.
More Chickens. We added 16 more layers to our flock, for a total of 46 hens.
New Tools and Improved Practices. We used a variety of new tools for propogating, planting, and harvesting.
New crops. This was our first attempt at cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, curly kale, lacinato kale, and winter squash.
Farm Concert. Hawaiian musician and farmer Paul Izak performed a concert in our back pasture in June.
Help Wanted
Join Our Team. Do you or someone you know enjoy physical activity, working outdoors and learning about farming? We are looking to hire two people to help out part-time (20-30 hours per week) from April through November. Team members will help in all aspects of the farm including seed starting/propogation, bed prep, planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, harvesting, washing and packing. In addition, team members will assist with the distribution of CSA shares and with the booth at market. Please email us atbassrootfarm@gmail.comif you would like more information.
Community Supported Agriculture
CSA 2023. Would you like a weekly share of fresh vegetables with an option to add farm fresh eggs? Do you want to purchase more of your food from a local farm? Consider joining our CSA! We will be accepting applications for 2023 CSA subscriptions early next year. If you are interested in this opportunity and wish to be on our CSA email list, please let us know by emailing us at bassrootfarm@gmail.com. We have limited spots available!
What’s in Season? Although production has slowed for the winter, we do have small quantities of some vegetables available for purchase. Currently, we have arugula, kale, mesclun mix, and spinach for $5 per item. Please send us an email with your order and we will confirm if we have it and when to pick it up. We accept cash and credit card.
Keep in Touch! Thanks for reading this newsletter. If you would like to keep up with us on a more frequent basis, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@bassrootfarm). Have a wonderful holiday season!
