Greetings!

Events: Memorial Day BBQ

On Monday, May 28th, in lieu of our regular open house hours, we’ll be hosting a potluck barbeque at Touch the Earth Farm from 1pm to 5pm.

This is a great chance for members to get to know each other before the CSA season jumps into full swing, to check out the farm if you haven’t been by yet, and to sample lots of home-grown goodies from deviled eggs and tasty vegetarian dishes to roast heritage turkey and delicious, slow-cooked pastured pork.

Please rsvp by Saturday, the 26th, so we know approximately how much food to serve. We also request that guests bring along either drinks or a desert to share. Hope to see you there!

Business:

We're currently creating a waiting list for mid-season shares that may open up. Email us if you'd like to be added.

News:

Much has been happening here at the farm this spring. Peas and potatoes are popping along with many other tasty treats in our several gardens. Greens are up and should be ready for harvest in another week or two. The first tiny sweet-corn seedlings are just poking their heads through the soil, the strawberries are loaded with blooms, and we just transplanted 100 raspberry plants to the upper garden, which bodes well for next season's berry harvest.

This warmer weather means that we're very busy planting, potting up, cultivating, and planting some more. Our tomato seedlings are several inches tall and are almost ready to be set in the ground along with the peppers and eggplants. Of course, we have many more things growing here, too, promising a tasty growing season.

Our poultry has arrived, which means chicken and duck in early summer, Thanksgiving turkey, and holiday Goose! Email now for details on how to reserve your fresh, free-range poultry.

We've also welcomed our newest Touch the Earth Farm addition: Maya, a 10 week old tamworth sow, who is the sweetest little piggy around. She loves belly scratches, following us around through the pastures, and falling asleep at our feet. Maya will be joined by two male tamworths at the end of this month, one of whom will complete our breeding pair. We still have some frozen pastured-pork cuts available, mostly tenderloins and roasts; email for pricing and pick up.

Happenings:

We've been working to repair and revitalize the barn and the winter coop, which will soon be given a lovely new coat of paint, at the same time as we've been building our new three-season coop: a mobile trailer that can be towed through our pasture rotation. Approximately 6' x 13', the three-season coop will house our entire laying flock, keeping them safe at night from predators after the hens finish roaming for the day.

Pitch In!

We're currently collecting old sheer curtains in light colors to use as row covers; these help protect crops like broccoli from insect damage. If you, friends, or family have any to donate, please bring them along on your next visit.

We always recycle used pulp egg cartons, so please return them rather than throwing them away. While Maryland law doesn't allow us to reuse egg cartons for our eggs, we can use them for making homemade paper.

Thanks!

Danielle at Touch the Earth Farm