Gathering Momentum

2016 WE LOVE YOU FOR TEACHING US SO MUCH!
What a year 2016 has been! We learned so much about our strengths and weakness (like we do every year) but this year we really seemed to be narrowing in on what works and doesn't work for our farm. In 2016 we bowed to the compost tea gods for filling in for our lack of rain. Clenched our ears closed to avoid listening to the army of flea beetles pattering around our half eaten brassicas. We're confused and amazed by a set of mysterious ALL yellow watermelon plants that produced with vigor. Realized growing winter squash is something we do really well. We're excited and devesteated by growing quinoa that was over taken by bugs. Discoved the life altering hula (stirup) hoe which made weeding seem like a part time job! Stubbornly grew sweet potatoes with no plastic only to be haunted by the voices of those who told me "better use black plastic or your sweet potatoes will be tiny." Felt victorious when we produced the same amount of produce during a drought and on 1/3 less the space then we used in 2015. Wished the season was longer so we could have completed all our projects listed for 2016. Went from "Aww look at all the baby deer frockling in the field" to "Who ate the radiccho and beet greens -ugh!." To finally growing a radish we think is the tastiest -Diakon and one that is an aquired taste -Spanish Black. We meet new farmers (Jocelyn & Chris/ Sarah & Joey) who show us new ways of thinking and strengthen bonds with old farmers (Emily, Ann, & Joel) which makes us realize their is always more to learn, Every year on the farm has its own distinct feeling, 2016 was a feeling of DIRECTION and even though I started the New Year in my old homeland (USA) I knew my only direction was Nova Scotia farming!

2017 WE ARE READY FOR YOU!
I have a feeling this year is going to be known for big changes in cooperation! Since mid-last year us and group of other small farmers have been meeting regularly to DEFINE what we ALL NEED from cooperation; us, farmers, markets, customers, nova scotians, etc. With those needs we formed the Small Atlantic Farms Co-op and are running a 50 share CSA  for 14 weeks locally and in the city. Our hopes are this co-op will enable us all to farm smarter and strengthen communities access to fresh local food. We all need each other, farmers, growers, and eaters, We are all part of this community no matter who we are or what we do. Together is better! Adam & I started last year with several goals, one of them being more involved with other farmers and the community and then by magic a cooperative opportunity lands in our lap! We needed this! We needed to discover just how deep our want was to be part of something more then just ourseleves. I think so much of todays society revolves around how good you are at being independent as a form of power but really their is always a balance to me made. 

Squash Bathing In Autumn Light

Quinoa That Grew So Beautifully All The Bugs Found It?

Our Co-Op Meeting: What Are Our Needs?

Yardlong Beans

Burgundy Amaranth

Black Futsu

   SO WHAT'S NEW -2017 VEGGIES!

1. Yardlong Beans - 18"  Climbing Chinese Bean
2. Orca Bean - Black & White Dried Bean. Awesome flavor and really creamy grew out a pound of seed last year and saved most of the seeds for this year to grow out.
3. Vermont Cranberry Bean -Another dried bean we want to try.
4. Celery - We are giving this another go after a couple years of throw our hands up. 
5. Celeriac - Taste like a concetrated and creamy version of celery. Now that I know I like ferment celeriac (Thanks Jocelyn) I now have to grow it. 
6. Italian Dandelion - We decided we eat enough of the wild dandelions (that our dogs pee on) that we should try and grow some dandelions with purpose and pee free!
7. Thai Long Green Eggplant - We can thank High Mowing seed for accidently leaving one of these seeds in our other eggplant packet. These eggplants were tender, dense, smooth and absolutely no bitterness!
8. Burgundy Amaranth - Super nutritious green that is under rated and making a come back! We are always on the hunt for greens that flea beetles doesn't eat.
9. Claytonia - A really winter hardy green with heart shaped leaves that are succulent.
10. Charentais Melon - A smaller and more fragrant version of a cantaloupe.
11. Anaheim Peppers - Good for roasting and mild heat. We wanted to grow them to have more dried pepper options in the winter!
12. Black Futsu - A pumpkin that can be eaten raw (said to taste like a melon) and flavor is said to change as it stores becoming more nutty and flavorful. From Japan.
13. Marina di Chioggia - An italian heirloom pumpkin that is suppose to rock with flavor and be awesome for gnocchi.
14. Shunkyo Semi Long - Hot and sweet radish with a beautiful bright red-pink color from North China. 
15. Jaune Boule d'Or - Small bright yellow turnip from Northen France.
16. Gerogia Candy Roaster- A bright pink/orange colored squash with an irregular banana shape but awesomely sweet flavor.
17. Epazote - An herb traditionally used in mexican cuisine in beans specifically to reduce flatulance.
18. Papalo - Taste discribed as somewhere between arugula and cilantro (some of our favorite flavors) and is used as a fresh herb.
19. Pipicha - An herb used with mexican meat dishes with a strong fresh lemony-cilantro taste. 
20. ​Saltwort - Japanese herb used in salads and sushi.
    
    There is always so many new awesome veggies to grow each season, some are winners and some are not. We will just have to wait and see what 2017 thinks !

    2017 PROJECTS

1. ​Build a germination chamber, for better germination.
2. Reconstruct our old blown over greenhouse for add winter production space. This project keeps being put on the back burner but we need to get it down this year. sincce we plan on going year round this year!
3. Solar Dehydrator for drying large batches of herbs, peppers, tomatoes, etc!
4. Figure out some way to cure squash and sweet potatoes....
   

2016 Melon, Squash and Cover Crop Seeds Saved.

2017 CSA UPDATES

​The Martime Small Farms Co-Op will be running the 14 WEEK CSA. Your share will be comprised of veggies from up to 4 different farms. All of which are NO SPRAY or ORGANIC! The 30 WEEK CSA will still be ran just by olde furrowers.

We will be offering other goods from fellow co-op memebers through the CSA. One is a Ferments CSA from Seven Acres Farm and the other is a Free-Range Chicken CSA from Moon Tide Farm. As well as our usual offerings from other fellow farmers Humble Burdock Farm (Flower CSA) and Emily TeBogt (Meat & Egg Add Ons) 

We will be losing our spot at KBI since Kathy has retired and was the main person who managed the shares there. They have been with us since the very beginning and we are SO SO GRATEFUL for all the years we had with them. With that being said we are on the hunt for a new location in Burnside area, so let us know of any possible locations. Also, would like to add that all of the KBI group will be offered home delivery if we are unable to find a new location in burnside - you all are to amazing to lose!

We have gained another WONDERFUL drop off location in downtown Halifax at the Grainery Co-op.

2017 Personal Updates
I have started a new application process with immigration canada under the spousal sponsorship for permanant residency under the advisement of a lawyer after my open work permit was refused and my other permanent resident application was sent back unprocessed due to an improper passport (which I have used since 2010 for all my other applications). I since then have flown back to states obtained the right kind of passport, flown back to canada and now am considered a vistor. Hoping to be back in status in 3 to 6 months, under another open work permit. Will be applying for an offical vistor status if that does not happen and will be allowed to remain in the country while they process my PR application but not allowed to work. If that isn't confusing I am not sure what is. Let just hope that doesn't happen! 

I want to end this blog post with a poem Adam wrote. Not many know Adam as a poet but thats what I know him as. He forever amazes me with his words and thoughts!
With Love,
​Courtney & Adam

A Craving, A Life

the system with it's gears
working overtime and in arrears
crushing down in polite oppression
streamlining minds and implementing depressions
your stats kept in a hard drive
vital statistics, cold and dry
let the lean fight back
they'll make a good story
let the stubborn stay on
let them diminish in worry
and the addiction'll take control
it'll be seen as a virtue
a body craving only pleasure
not living, but craving, it's true
the system is a symptom
a shadow chasing it's tail
walk out into the light
your skin is so pale
sunshine enter your retinas
and nature's pattern unfolds
more than surviving, more than enjoying
more than tolerating, more than keeping on
more than standing, working, keeping pace
more than fulfilling your duty as a good citizen, son, daughter
so very much more than all of that
your life is to a craving as the entire ocean is to trash in the wind
and you are so much more than a thin plastic device
than a utility, a container, a precocious tool
to be used and disposed of when no longer current
you are the universe becoming aware of itself
the earth coming alive and rejoicing
you are the eyes and memory
of all that is in front of you
and all that's behind you
all that's within you
all you touch
all your miraculous presence ignites, enlights, excites
any craving is but a grain of sand 
on an endless beach of wonder
a moment of solitude around a city corner
to travelling across the tundra
a packaged, processed, preserved portion
to a field of vibrant vivacious growing goodness
so don't waste your time 
on things that make you feel dead inside
when life is happening, just outside your comfort zone

Poem Written By: Adam Webster