Home    Up

October 2006

Dear Farm Friends,

 

Welcome to the October (2006) issue of the Newton Farmer. We celebrated our first harvest last Sunday on a perfect fall day. Thanks to the efforts of Sam Fogel and his group of volunteers, the festival was a terrific success. Over 300 folks attended and listened to the fantastic music of the band Boston Front Porch and folk singer Cindy Mapes. Kids (and I think some adults, too) decorated pumpkins with leaves, flowers, cranberries, and various food items (including daikon radishes and broccoli flowers from the farm). Muslin flags were created with prints made by lemons, onions, green peppers, and other vegetables dipped in ink. Children also made cards and had their faces painted. Home-made breads and hot apple cider were served, and many tasted the delicious soup made by Le Soir chef, Mark Allen. A few of the many dedicated volunteers were acknowledged (and all were thanked) by our farmer, Greg Maslowe, who spoke about his experience on the farm and the pleasure of moving into the farm house with his family last month. The seeds of the community farm, from the Newton Conservators to the present, were described by Jon Regosin, NCF board president. And Mayor Cohen spoke enthusiastically about the value of having a farm in our community. All in all, it was a day of celebration and appreciation for the many who have supported this farm. Rebekah Smillie rsmillie@rcn.com

News from Greg Maslowe, Farm Manager I am writing this month with a mixture of excitement and sadness: excitement at having made it through this first season and sadness that things are coming to an end for the year. This year has been full of challenges at the farm, but I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and I hope that all of you have enjoyed your time here as well. I would like to conclude my series on our produce by talking a bit about what we grow. I would like to address two issues: 1) the types of vegetables I grow; and 2) the particular varieties I grow. When making my crop plan I try to balance a number of factors. I want to have a range of vegetables available spring, summer, and fall. So I need to pick things that grow well in each of these seasons. I want to grow the vegetables I think people will want (though this requires an ongoing process of farmer education about local preferences). I want to balance this with a desire to introduce people to new vegetables. And finally, sometimes I just want to grow something because I am fascinated by it or think it is too beautiful not to have on the farm. Coordinating all these factors into a list of vegetables people will want to eat is part of what makes winter fun for farmers! The issue of varieties is probably even more central to why our produce does not always look like what you are used to seeing in the grocery stores. Most of the varieties sold in groceries stores were selected because they produce uniform shapes and colors; they are tough and can handle the abuse encountered in 1,500 miles of transporting; and they can be picked very underripe (since it takes a week or two to get them that 1,500 miles). I do not have these limitations. I typically pick my produce a day or two before I sell it, and it travels less than 5 miles. Thus, in the deep dark months of winter, I can make my selections based on taste, texture, beauty. I pick varieties that I hope are going to make you love vegetables. Sometimes this means your tomatoes might be ugly, or your eggplant is not the shape and color you are used to. But my hope and belief is that it also means that you will be treated to a sensory and culinary extravaganza all season long. Bon appetit. Greg Maslowe newtoncommunityfarm@comcast.net

Congratulations! Congratulations to us all for completing the interior of the farmhouse in time for Greg and his family to move in the end of September. It would be impossible to thank or even name all the people (somewhat more than 20 people, I believe) who contributed to this true community effort. . . everything from dismantling the kitchen and stripping wallpaper in July to the final cleanup on Saturday morning just before they moved in. The upstairs looks really good and the new situation really eases the stresses on the whole family. But. . .we still have work to do. In particular, volunteers are needed to complete painting the guest-room upstairs, and to strip wallpaper and paint in the front hallway and the downstairs rooms. We plan to organize a few workdays in November and December. We also plan to insulate the attic in the near future. Watch for announcements for those workdays and come help out. (In particular, any farm-share participant in 2006 who has not completed their eight hours of work would be most welcome.) And, congratulations again to all of us! Peter Barrer pbarrer@verizon.net

News from Bowen Elementary School Just as Newton Community Farm was gearing up, a group of teachers, staff members, and parents at Bowen Elementary School came together to form an Outdoor Classroom Committee. The Committee was inspired both by the coming refurbishment of Bowen’s schoolyard (thanks to the hard work of the Bowen Park Initiative and CPA funding) and by the desire to provide students with more hands-on learning experiences outdoors with clear tie-ins to the curriculum. Activities for all grade levels are being designed for Bowen’s schoolyard in its raised garden beds, at its weather stations, and in the patch of woods behind the school. The resources Newton Community Farm provides appeared to the Committee to be a natural extension and enrichment of the educational opportunities the schoolyard offers. Over the past summer, Bowen kindergarten teacher Jane Walsh worked closely with Greg Maslowe and student intern Liz Gleason to develop educational programming at the farm for kindergarten field trips in the fall and spring of this academic year. There was a lot of work to do prior to the field trips: learning stations at different areas of the farm were developed, kindergarten parent and family member volunteers were trained, and the farm itself was prepared for a multitude of five- and six-year-olds. In mid-October, Bowen kindergarteners came to the farm for their first visit. The children rotated to four learning stations, staffed by the volunteers: they learned about compost and dug in the pile; daffodil bulbs were planted around a pear tree; vegetables were harvested; and they found out about the farm tools in the tool shed. All of the learning stations tied in to specific areas of the kindergarten science units on tools, life cycles, weather and seasons, and bulbs. But beyond the creation of authentic, hands-on, inspiring learning opportunities at the farm, there are other, wider goals. Kindergarten teacher Jane Walsh hopes that by introducing the children to this “wonderful community resource,” her students will “begin to develop an understanding of where food comes from and the importance of land conservation and a healthy environment to grow that food.” Hopefully, this experience can be extended to more of Newton’s schoolchildren. Lisa Schumann

Join the Education Committee Join the Education Committee We are looking for creative and energetic folks to serve on the Angino Farm education committee to develop and oversee an ambitious education program for young people and adults. Please contact Peter Barrer, 617-630-0923 or pbarrer@verizon.net.

Supporting the Farm If you are able to donate any of the following items from our wish list, please contact Greg at (617) 797-1611 or NewtonCommunityFarm@comcast.net. Donations are tax-deductible! * 3/4 ton or greater diesel pick-up truck * Lawn mower in working condition * Wood desk in good condition * Computer desk in good condition * Locking file cabinet * (2) Bathroom sinks in good condition (must have mixing valve) * Folding chairs * 6' folding tables Please look for our fall appeal letter coming to you soon. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to us at any time and are always greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to Newton Community Farm and send them to NCF, 303 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459. For more information about becoming a supporter, please contact Jon Regosin at berkowitz.regosin@verizon.net or (617) 244-0736.