Late Spring Musings

The farm stand has syrup for sale and will so for the foreseeable future.  Garlic scapes are not far off and garlic will be for sale later this summer and fall.

The decision to scale back for the 2011 growing season was made in order to build Rachel and Stephen’s house across the street.  Before Peter’s death in July 2010, after a seven-month battle with cancer, he passed along this poignant piece of advice, “Don’t even think of trying to run a market garden and build a house at the same time.  You will not do either of them well.” 

After completing the 2010 growing season, last fall was spent milling a larger portion of the lumber needed to construct the home.  With the eager help of Dan Kusch, trees from not more than a few hundred feet from the house site were turned to lumber, stickered, and stacked. 

The 2011 logging season brought nearly perfect cold and sunny logging conditions during the month of January.  With the aide of Fred Lavigne and his skidder, Stephen and Fred pulled the remaining logs off the property needed to build the house as well as a substantial amount of firewood. 

The sugaring season this year was outstanding!  With Dan Kusch on board, we gathered daily record quantities of sap, which kept us boiling for more 12-hour stretches than we’d like to admit.  Our first boil was February 18 and our last was April 10.  In the end, we fell 10 gallons of the record 2005 season. 

Garden space was planted to full season forage crops last fall and this spring garden ground remaining was planted to cover crops of clover, rye and vetch, as well as oats.  Attempting to scale back also meant reducing the flock size to a manageable number.  With garden ground now growing pasture we could feed fewer animals, better feed, from right off the farm.  Of course, a few beds were planted to potatoes, carrots and onions and there were those 5 beds of garlic planted last fall that will be harvested in July… (right about the time Rachel is 38 weeks pregnant!!) 

Until then we will be across the street milling and building attempting to have a house built before the time the snow flies.  Please feel free to stop by anytime to say hello. 

Enjoy your summer,

stephen bartlett 

Booty Family Farm

Summer is slowly coming to a close but that does not been the veggies aren't still abundant and superb. Corn is still going strong as well as kale, chard, collard greens, peppers, tomatoes, leeks, onions, watermelons and more!
The farm stand is still stocked daily so be sure to get your vegetables for a nice warm dinner to warm you up on these increasingly chilly but wonderful evenings. Don't forget a carrot or two for the kids lunchboxes as school begins again!

Old Home Week extra market!

Howdy folks!
Old Home has begun and with that come an extra market!

You can find us tomorrow morning from 9am till noon on the green.
Stop by for tons of yummy vegetables including: Lettuce, mesclun mix, tomatoes, sweet corn, kale, swiss chard, peppers, carrots, strawberries, garlic, green beans, summer squash, zucchini, onions, potatoes and more!

You can tell that the summer is at its peak when the list for the farm stand is as such:

Lettuce, mesclun, kale, zuchini, summer squash, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, peppers, onions, and garlic!

All can be found down at the farm stand and at all the markets. Tomorrow we will be at Tamworth and Sandwich from 9 till noon so come on out to enjoy the sunshine and get some wonderful fresh organic produce still warm from the sun.

We are also in the process of harvesting all our garlic so if you feel like learning how to harvest and string garlic come on up and join the ruckus!

Thanks to all those who have been helping out in the garden, it has been a blessing.

Even if we don't like this constant harsh humid heat, its hard to argue with the fact that this sun and heat is great for the garden.
One thing this glorious sun is good for is TOMATOES! We had our first red ripe tomato yesterday, the earliest we have ever had! It was reported to be very very good. Very soon indeed there will be enough for the stand; we will keep you posted!

As for what is ready and in the stand: there is plenty of lettuce, mesclun, cucumbers, tons of zucchini, kale, cherry tomatoes, and lovely yummy peas!

Don't forget to stop by either Tamworth Farmers Market or Sandwich Farmers Market tomorrow between 9 and noon!

Keep Cool!

Happy July everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the sun and gearing up for a fun filled forth of July. With that in mind, come on up to the farm stand for lettuce, mesclun, garlic scapes galore, and some gorgeous zucchini and summer squash!
Also! We have picked the first 4 cherry tomatoes so they are on their way! Look back next week for more info on if they are in the stand or at any markets!

Its that time of the week again!

We will be at the Plymouth Farmers Market this afternoon from 3pm to 6pm(see earlier posts for exact location). So come on by and get the freshest of the fresh organic vegetables.

If you cannot make it to Plymouth but still crave some yummy vegetables, the farm stand will be stocked all day.
There is also fresh produce at Heaths Supermarket.
We have our first delivery to Lemongrass Restaurant so if your heading there tonight your sure to find some of our fabulous mesclun in your salads.