Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, “The Truck Patch”. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
Before the Farm Wedding: Thirteen THOUSAND Sweet Potatoes to Plant + Video
Hi Reader,
The farm wedding is one week away!
Annika, our oldest daughter/flower farmer, is marring Vincent, at the oldest Catholic Church in our area, next Saturday, after long months of preparations.
Farmer Reuben started making the wine over a year ago, Vince cured meat for charcuterie boards and made a freezer full of lasagna. The pigs we've been raising since January are ready for roasting, we've ordered the asparagus from Farmer Leroy and Annika finished sewing her wedding dress.
Yes, the reception is on the farm, under tents, featuring a pig roast and farm made food.
Guests from out of town will start arriving and the final details will fill our week.
How Much Can We Get Done Before the Wedding?
Tending the farm will continue as we squeeze as much work as possible into the next five days in preparation for being closed on Friday and Saturday.
Guess what arrived on a UPS truck so packed full that the driver made us his first stop?
THIRTEEN THOUSAND sweet potato plants that need to be planted. Coming from North Carolina, the sweet potato delivery is always timed to our best time to plant in PA - after all danger of frost is gone - the first week of June.
Preparing the fields for planting melons, cucumbers, summer squash and sweet potatoes has the field crew raising clouds of dust as they work as fast as they can to get as many rows of plastic down as possible.
How Much Rain?
I just checked in with my mom today to ask when we last received a good soaking rain.
"Well, we had a 1/8 of an inch in mid May but that didn't do much. You'll have to look at my calendar. I record all the rain fall there."
If that calendar is correct, our last significant rainfall (2.2 inches) was on April 30. That was a long time ago in "vegetable years."
What does this mean for our vegetables?
They will struggle.
Our drip line irrigation is super important so the plants don't wither and die. We can't water every bed at once so we have to rotate the lines that are on and not forget to switch lines at the right time.
The Hand Dug Well Dried Out
My Dad remembers the drought in 1963 because that was around the time that my grandfather paid to have a new well drilled on the farm.
The hand dug well went dry that summer which meant that it was difficult for him to keep his barn full of chickens watered. Not to mention inconvenient for my grandmother to wash dishes and laundry.
We use the same "new" well for watering two fields on the main well that supplies the house too. Sometime we have to turn off the irrigation to run the laundry but we make sure it's running all night for those poor plants while we are sleeping.
Consequences of a Dry Spring
You are affected too! Yards are turning crisp and brown. The creeks at the parks where children play are dry. Your gardens need frequent watering.
We don't know if our harvests will be affected yet but it causes a stressful planting season for all the farmers in the area.
Farm Members Encourage Us
Knowing you are supporting us and telling others about your favorite farm keeps us going.
We look forward to see many familiar faces this Saturday when farm members pick up their Market Box CSA.
Chatting with Farmer Reuben and picking up fresh bread from our On Farm Market gives farm visitors a tangible way to support and encourage us.
These conversations always help us to keep struggling against the elements to grow food for you.
Would you like to send a note to Farmer Reuben and his dusty, sweaty crew to keep up their spirits? I'll make sure they know the work they do is appreciated by so many people.
How Can You Help? Visit Us!
You can't do much about the weather but...
While we wait for rain, let's do something FUN!
The connection with real people and real farmers is important for you and for us.
Farm Tours and Pizza Nights are perfect opportunities to come out to enjoy the farm and get real Face Time with the farm staff.
Bring Friends with You! You can help us connect more people with their farmers.
Making that connection with people helps us encourage better eating and better food shopping habits with the wider community.
Mark Your Calendar
Brick Oven Pizza Night
JUNE 30
A Brick Oven Pizza Experience on the Farm Patio and Deck
Farm Tour & July Grill Out
JULY 1
Do one or both: Farmer Reuben's farm tours are not to be missed! Kids welcome. Discount for Farm Members.
July Fourth weekend is the perfect time for a grass fed burger or hot dog lunch before your tour. Details coming soon.
We Couldn't Do This Without You!
Send Farmer Reuben and his crew a note. You can even VOTE for your favorite crew member!
| Send us some love! |
And Visit us OFTEN!
STOCK UP THIS WEEK!
WE ARE CLOSED NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE WEDDING!
We'll keep farming for you!
Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm
Directions to the farm
Bake day = Friday 10 am - 6 pm
for fresh bread, cookies and more
Early Day = Saturday 8:30 am - 3 pm
for farm shopping to start your weekend
Farmer's Favorite Bread this Week? Walnut Raisin!
Weekly Specials:
Free Greek Yogurt - 32 oz
Blueberry, Raspberry, Plain, Maple ($7)
This offer is always good: Free Credit at our Farm Store IF you sign up for a Market Box subscription. We are giving $15 farm store credit today when you sign up for a market box subscription and show Wray in the store your completed membership. It's a great way to sample many of our special farm foods.
| JOIN NOW |
Tessa DeMaster
Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, “The Truck Patch”. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
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