New high tunnels, bees, and a quick trip to Indonesia

Welcome to our new website, and brand new blog! For those who have been with us for a few years, you likely remember that we used to write weekly newsletters to accompany our CSA emails (inspired by Waldegrave Farm!). Now that we have a fresh website, we thought we'd tried something different. This way we don't have to use as many platforms (goodbye Mailchimp) and can keep a library of blog posts to refer to.

Where to begin! So much has happened since I last wrote an update. It's really incredible to see how much the farm has changed since we moved in just shy of three years ago. Right now the farm is looking lush with all of the glorious rain we've been receiving this month. Since we moved in we've been planting lots of perennial shrubs and nut trees (check out Floreren Farm for your tree needs), and it's a relief to see nature taking over and irrigating the young saplings. Farming and tending to plants feels like a whole different livelihood when one doesn't have to run around irrigating constantly and fret about possible rain in the forecast.

A new addition to the farm this year are two ten foot tall gothic-style tunnels. These will expand our tomato, pepper, eggplant, and cucumber production significantly. We set them up on a new section of the field that we've been preparing since we moved in. So far we're really pleased with how the crops are looking here. This picture to the left is from our first ever on-farm workshop. We hosted four gardeners who were keen to learn all about tomato plant care and maintenance. We gave pruning and trellising tutorials, answered questions, and had lunch together, to rave reviews! Keep your eyes peeled for more workshops in the future.

A few weeks ago our Uncle, Derrick, traveled from Cape Breton to help us set up

new bee hives. He kept bees for more than twenty years and graciously gave us all of his

equipment since he is moving on to other ventures. We have three hives to start, and so far they are all looking healthy. We're excited about harvesting honey and tending to the bees for many years to come. So far I have been stung about 20 times, but at least I know I'm not allergic!

Not farm related, but farm adjacent, at the beginning of June I traveled all the way to Banten, Indonesia to take part in La Via Campesina's first youth assembly as a representative of North America. I participate in La Via Campesina - a transnational

agrarian social movement made up of small-scale farmer and peasant organizations - through the National Farmers Union. There is a lot I could say about this experience: it was inspiring, emotional, challenging, and thought-provoking. It was a privilege to learn and share with youth delegates from 18 other countries. We had an opportunity to travel to an active site of struggle where Bantenese peasants are actively reclaiming their land that had been illegally taken by forestry companies. We planted rice and taro as symbols of our solidarity, enjoyed a totally local rice and fish-based lunch, and watched a cultural show. It was an emotional experience to witness the determination and strength of these farmers taking back their land, and their rights. If you're interested, you can read the political declaration of the youth articulation meeting that we drafted together.

On a parting note, I'd like to share a few tips that have inspired me to use lots of our veggies this Spring:

• Put herbs in your salad! I love chopping up a bunch of dill and/ or cilantro and tossing it with salad greens. They pack a punch and let you really taste the freshness of the season.

• Make a simple and zesty fennel salad - since the fennel are 'baby' sized right now, you can use the whole plant including the fronds because they're so tender

• Go wild with noodle bowls. You could basically chop up your whole CSA share, make some vermicelli noodles and a nice peanut or tahini sauce, mix them all together and have a fantastic lunch. Throw in some pan seared tofu or chicken and *chef's kiss*.

I hope you enjoy this new format - let us know what you think!

- Jessie