It’s over. As of this afternoon, there are eight lambs, one calf, 150+ chicks, and eight piglets in the barn (or, in the case of the piglets, in the woods). Some highlights: Embracing Intensity My favorite photo from this birthing season features a handful of semester students grouped around a lambing pen. They are […]
A Farmer’s Reflections on the Birthing Season Read More »
The elementary schoolers helped us to finish cutting our seed potatoes today. Because each eye has the ability to grow a new plant, we can grow a number of potato plants from each potato and therefore cut each seed potato into multiple pieces, each of which will be planted twelve inches apart in furrows dug
Mashed, Baked, French Fried: Looking forward to a Potato-Heavy Season Read More »
Every year about this time, I start to watch the pasture closely, paying particular attention to the clover. When each clover leaf is the size of a dime, we know from historical experience that the pasture is just about ready for cows and sheep to start grazing. At that time, the extra-verdant spring grass will
Paying Attention to Clover Read More »
In the spring of 2017, one of our milk cows (Greta) gave birth to a calf (Gilbert). Assistant Farm Manager Hilary Crowell was on hand to record the birth, while Farm Manager Megan Phillips leaned in to give the calf a few helpful tugs:
Greta Births a Calf Read More »
Many of the great things that Chewonki has to offer stem from its outstanding farm and food systems. Although many of these things normally relate to food production, there are some experiences that one can get that will have an impact for the rest of our lives. Every night, there is a volunteer chore called barn
Witnessing a Lamb’s First Breath Read More »
Plants and sunshine abound on the farm these days. Elementary schoolers have started to trek down to the farm in pairs on a weekly basis to help with our seeding this spring. Here’s what’s in store for the next two months: Date Seed, DIrect Seed, or Transplant? Crop Variety name 3-Apr DS Peas Sugar
Seeding Update: April and May Read More »
From Steve Shea, the 5/6 teacher at the Elementary School at Chewonki: 5th/6th Grade Class Update Last week, our class gathered at the farm and circled up in the hayloft for a lesson on real-life economics. Lisa and Megan joined us and kicked off the unit by defining a few of the most important terms
Elementary Schoolers Tackle Farm Economics Read More »
Though we’ve been under and without snow off and on all winter, the seedlings (onions! flowers! microgreens! eggplants!) under grow lights in the basement of the Gatehouse are happily germinating. Hello, March! Our tired old greenhouse got a remodel in December when local contractors pushed out one wall by about two feet and replaced old not-quite-so-transparent-anymore
An Expanded Greenhouse! Read More »
We had a remarkable lunch yesterday, thanks to the Farm & Kitchen staff at Chewonki. “Beet Butter” a delicious rubine-red blend of pureed beets and fresh butter, was served up with warm bread and of course, more beets! Beets, with their intense color and taste have always lingered on the edge of controversy: “The beet is
The Beet is the Most Intense of Vegetables Read More »
A stretch of clear winter weather has allowed us to bring down several large oak trees as part of Chewonki’s ongoing forest management plan, with the the newly thinned areas opening the way for more light on the farm gardens. The farmers are happy. “This will make a tremendous difference in our production,” says Assistant
Tree Harvest at the Farm Creates a Mighty Pile of Benefits Read More »