Dear Hope’s Edge Farm CSA member,

We at Hope’s Edge CSA are very excited that June has finally arrived. We are excited because, first of all, May is over and we hope that the cool damp cloud covered days that were so prevalent in May are also over. Secondly, we are excited because this June marks the tenth year that we have been growing vegetables for our CSA community. Some of you have even been with us for that entire time. And finally, and most importantly, we are excited because it is once again that time of year when we can begin to enjoy fresh local unadulterated produce grown in our carefully tended gardens. We here on the edge of Hope, hope that you are excited as well.

The unusually wet May has put us a bit behind schedule, making what is usually a labor intensive spring season even more so. Since the weather has begun to turn, however, we are daily making strides toward catching up. With every passing day, more seedlings are being transplanted and more seeds are being sowed. But, since we are a few weeks late in planting, some of our expected harvest dates will also be pushed back slightly. Nevertheless, we plan to begin on time.

Besides bringing an abundance of wet weather, May has also been a month of farm births – two new calves and three baby lambs now frolic in the pastures beside their mothers. Another ewe is due to lamb soon and another calf is due this summer. All these new young animals are quite entertaining to watch whenever we get a moment to look up from our transplanting labors.

The “we” I keep referring to are myself and my hardworking crew for this summer. Tommy the herdsman and right hand vegetable grower has returned for a third season. Two young apprentices, Alexandra and Morgan, have also joined us this season in this labor of love. Together we will do our best to keep you well fed.

The first market day of this 2011 season is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21st, followed by Friday the 24th and Monday the 27th. The season will run for 18 weeks ending on Monday, October 24th.

The following information is IMPORTANT, so please take note.

TUESDAY AND FRIDAY SHAREHOLDERS: The pick-up time is from 11 a.m. (please DO NOT come earlier) until late evening. If for some reason you cannot come on your assigned day, your share will still be available for up to two days later. After that, your share will be recycled. PLEASE LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE if you are unable to pick up your share on any given week. This way we avoid over-harvesting and wasting food.

MONDAY SHAREHOLDERS: The Monday shareholders have the option of picking up their share in Rockland on Tilson Street near the water treatment facility between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Alternatively, you may pick up at Avena Botanicals in Rockport if that is more convenient, or if you are unable to get to the Tilson Street location during the short window of time that we will be there. However, whatever location you choose, I am encouraging Monday shareholders to pick up your share as soon as possible, as neither site has refrigeration facilities. Any share not picked up by Monday evening will be donated to hungry farmers. You will be notified when cut flower, strawberry, cherry tomato and pea picking seasons are upon us. It will be up to you to come to the farm for these items.

Below is a schedule of pot luck get-togethers for the season. These events offer you an opportunity to meet other participants and a chance to enjoy the farm in a relaxed and convivial way. Please try to come to one or all of these events.

Directions to the farm for those of you who have never been here are also given below. Follow Morse Road past a pair of corrugated metal buildings. On your right you will see yet another building with brightly painted murals on the doors. This is the pick-up shed. Come on in. Welcome to Hope’s Edge CSA.

I am looking forward to seeing many of you again or to meeting you for the first time. We are looking forward to feeding you food and beauty during the coming months.

Sincerely,

Your Farmer, Tom


POT-LUCK SCHEDULE

Tuesday, June 28, 6 p.m.

Friday, August 4, 6 p.m.

Friday, September 16, 6 p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 4:30 p.m.


DIRECTIONS

FROM CAMDEN VIA 105: Take 105 into Hope Center, continue two miles past Hope General Store. Turn left onto Ludwig Road. Travel 1/4 mile to Morse Road on the left.

FROM APPLETON/SEARSMONT VIA 105: Travel approximately three miles from the 105/131 intersection. Turn right onto Ludwig Road (this is the second turn on to Ludwig). Continue as above.