News from Down on the Farm

Wow, it's been a month since we spoke, or wrote, ah, read, uh, you know. It's MARCH!!! I've got lots to tell you!  We've been working on preparing our raised beds for planting and putting fresh compost on our asparagus beds in hopes to give them a little boost this spring. Our raised beds will be covered this year which should allow us to begin planting a little earlier than we normally could.  We have been manuring (is that a word?) our fields this winter and doing some tilling so the soil will be ready to plant when the time is right.

The hens have been laying through the winter like there's no tomorrow.  So once again the supply is outweighing the demand.  Guess who wins, you!  This Saturday from 9-7 all eggs will be $2.50 a dozen regardless of size.  I know what's going to happen, this summer when market business increases 100 fold, the girls are going to say,"Oh, we are worn out from all that work." and stop laying eggs.  I just know it!

Our new website should be hitting computers around the world in the next couple of days. If you get a moment, check it out!

Still plenty of room in the Chicken CSA.  The produce CSA is sold out.

We have been welcoming overnight guests to the farm since last July through Airbnb.  You can check out our listing athttps://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20269705?location=Rousedale%20Farm%2C%20Fallston%20Road%2C%20Fallston%2C%20MD%2C%20United%20States&s=GjB4CmIT. If you have visitors this year and not enough room, if you have family visiting and don't want them in your home or just want a getaway with me cooking you a fantastic breakfast, feel free to give us a try.

Our next "School of Crops" session will be held Wednesday, March 21 at 7 pm at the farm. We believe Joan Parris, master gardener, will join us again.  We are hoping we will be able to be outside for a bit for the March session.  This is the month that we should be able to start planting a few things and we, hopefully, can help you get started in the right direction.

We had a nice visit with Mike, Tiffany, and daughters Scout and Harper at their Crooked Creek Farm in Pylesville today.  They have started a pastured pork business and wondered if we may be interested in carrying their products in our market.  We will keep you posted.

And finally...
We are looking for someone to help around the farm. Looking for: Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, self-starter, eager-beaver, situationally aware, go-get-‘em, teachable, positive, non-complaining, grateful, rejoicing, get er done, dependable, faithful, perseverant, and take responsibility types of individuals. With an interest in organic farming, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.  This is not easy work. You'll be working outside..a lot.  In the hot scorching sun...a lot.  Dealing with manure...a lot.  Pulling weeds...a lot.  Prepping fields for planting, planting, harvesting, cleaning chicken coops, learning what we're growing and how and why we grow the way we do so you'll be able to answer questions in the market.  The pay stinks just like you will at the end of the day.  Sound like fun?  Let us know if you're interested.  Any experience would be a bonus.  Email or stop by the farm.

But wait, it gets even better for you few that have read this entire email.  Saturday if you say the secret word which is "BINGO" your eggs are only $2 a dozen.  If I'm not in the market to confirm the secret word, you'll have to honk your horn or ring our bell to get my attention and your bonus.


Locally Yours!
Steve

Farm Update

Hi!
Don't forget our School of Crops will be held this Tuesday evening at 7. Join us to talk about growing a garden successfully and what you should be doing this month to get ready.  We will have special guest, Master Gardener Joan Parris here to share her expertise and we will have a video presentation on the importance of honey bees.  $15 at the door. Please RSVP by noon Tuesday if you can make it.  steve@rousedalefarm.com or 410-215-6776

There is still room in our Chicken CSA.  Details on our web site www.rousedalefarm.com.  For those who have joined please have half of your money in by March 1 and the remainder by April 1.  If you can let me know if you would like to join now, it will help with the planning.

You will see a whole new situation when you stop by the farm to purchase your eggs.  Due to new state regulations, we now have to grade and weigh every egg.  So now you will see a shelf for jumbo, a shelf for extra large and a shelf for large eggs.  Most of our eggs from the girls are extra large, but we do get a few on either end of the size spectrum.  Pricing will be $5 for jumbo, $4.50 for XL and $4 for large. 

The transplants are all ordered and the seeds have all arrived for our 2018 season.  We will be planting 94 different varieties of veggies! We may have to knock out a wall in the market to make room!

Locally Yours!
Steve

2018 Chicken CSA

Hey Everyone!
Our Chicken CSA returns this year!  It's a great way to get our delicious free range chicken at a savings over buying directly from our market. You can sign up for 1-4 or more chickens per month for 6 months from June-November. Chickens here are, of course, raised humanely, fed a non-medicated, vegetarian, all natural diet and allowed, or should I say forced to range free. These chickens would prefer to hang by the buffet all day.  Chickens are sold as whole chickens weighing around 4 pounds. Packaged just like a grocery store chicken, but inside the package ain't no grocery store chicken.  Many have told us that our chickens are the best they've ever had!  Chickens will be available in our market at $4.75 per pound, much less through the CSA program. 
Plan 1  One chicken per month   $110
Plan 2  Two chickens per month  $215
Plan 3  Three chickens per month  $305
Plan 4  Four chickens per month  $395
If you're interested in joining this year's chicken CSA, decide what plan will work for you, pay half down by March 1st to hold your spot and then the balance by April 1.  Any questions, feel free to email me, call or text.



Locally Yours!
Steve

Farm Update

School of Crops #2 and Date Night at the Dump

As you know I'm a big fan of the Harford County Landfill off Scarboro Road, better known as, "The Dump".  I visit, at least, once a month.  No, this is not another story about me jumping in a massive dumpster after an errant trash can situation.  Instead, it's about an infiltration that seems to be happening there. I've noticed more and more women visiting the dump.  Now we all know that the women folk can't leave man stuff alone especially if we seem to be enjoying ourselves.  So I got to thinking that maybe they're checking it out for themselves just to see what it's all about. OR....could they be single ladies visiting the dump to find love.  On more than one occasion, a woman with a load of trash has been seemingly struggling with the unloading process and I felt as a gentleman I should ask if she needed assistance.  Some have rejected the offer, but some have excepted the help with a smile.  Which prompted me to burst in the door upon my arrival back home and exclaim to Vicky, "I have a great idea!  Date night at the dump!"  Of course, she looked at me like I had taken in some sort of toxic fume while I was there.  But think about it.  Men are drawn to ladies nights at the local bars to meet women.  I believe women would be drawn to the dump to meet men!  I think it may already be happening on a small scale!  Can you picture it? Search lights in the sky like a Hollywood opening, bars set up at the "battery and latex paint recycling" kiosks,  darts and foosball by the "glass, cardboard and mixed recyclables" dumpsters. Enjoy drinks a little closer to the stars on top of the mountain of trash Scarboro has become.  And, who knows what might happen at the "cushion and mattress recycling" areas after the D.J. spins a Barry White classic.  Just watching the heavy equipment at the compost and mulch area alone, is enough to send a couple to the "used oil" wedding chapel!  I'm nearly ready to share this idea with county exec Barry Glassman.

And now the news from down on the farm...

In order to avoid any of our attendees having a lovers quarrel, we will move School of Crops #2 from Valentines Day, Wednesday February 14 to Tuesday evening February 13 at 7.  I had to agree to move it to avoid my own lovers quarrel.  We are happy to welcome master gardner Joan Parris as a special guest that evening!  Joan will give us her take on getting the garden plan together for the year and, of course, answer any questions you may have. We will also have a short honey bee video presentation and discuss where we should be at this point in our garden preparation. Remember, next month, (March) we can, hopefully start planting a few things!  Our January meeting ran close to two hours.  $15 at the door.  The School of Crops is designed to help you have a successful garden this year. Whether you're starting from scratch or have attempted a garden before, we will help get you ready and be there for you as you go through the year long process of growing some of your own food. Please shoot us an email and RSVP by Monday the 12th if you plan on attending or if you have any questions.

Our 2018 produce CSA is now filled for the year!  Thank you to all who have joined.

I will give you all the details on our upcoming 2018 chicken CSA in our newsletter next week. That will be starting towards the end of May.

Locally Yours!
Steve

School of Crops this week

Rousedale Farm 2018

Hi all,

Happy winter, er uh, spring, I mean winter, or summer, no winter, yeah winter.  Actually the streak of real cold we had before we moved into a couple days of spring and then back to winter, was the longest streak, I’ve been told, of not getting above freezing since 1972!  The chickens handle the cold temperatures much better then you would think.  They insulate themselves by puffing up there feathers to allow more air in to surround them, and that air is heated by their body heat.  I’d try that for my head but I have nothing on top of my head to do much with.  Speaking of the chickens, with nothing planted, we allow them to range freely.  Customers driving down the lane often encounter a chicken or two on the road.  I’ve noticed different strategies to handle the situation.  Some folks come to a complete stop until the offending bird moves.  Some honk their horns.  Some get out of their cars to shoo the chickens away.  None of these options really work all that well.  What I have found that works the best is to keep moving slowly ahead and the chicken(s) will get out of your way, even though it may look like a chicken dinner will be the end result.

Just a reminder…our first meeting for our School of Crops will be this Wednesday evening at 7 here at the farm.  On January’s meeting agenda:

Site Selection
Soil Test
What to grow 
Seeds or plants
Making your garden plan
What going organic means
Plus much more to discuss that will insure you a successful garden this year!
The cost is $15 per meeting or if you would like to sign up in advance for the whole year $120.  Please let us know if you’re attending before Wednesday.

Our 2018 CSA is now accepting members.  All details on our web site www.rousedalefarm.com

Eggs and Honey available everyday 9-7

Have a great week!

Steve