You get what you ask for
March 10, 2025
You get what you ask for
That is, if you are lucky. And I have found over the past 49 years that Jack will answer the question that I ask him. He and I went out for a walk Friday and I proudly showed him the peach tree in the front yard that was previously about 25 feet tall. Now, I listened to a lot of peach pruning videos this year, and everyone stressed that you want your trees to be short enough to manage (along with needing to prune pretty seriously with respect to fruit buds). As an aside, we lost a lot of peach branches last year because we had tremendous fruit set, hadn’t pruned adequately in March and then didn’t thin appropriately in June. Lesson learned and we have been careful to prune for shortness this year and to avoid excessive fruit set. Friday, we took about 15 feet off that tree in the front yard, and I was really asking Jack to pat me on the back for doing a good job. But he answered my question, “What do you think about the job we did on this tree.” His answer was, “You need to cut that central leader down some more so that you have more of a bowl effect (without a central leader)” I took immediate offense, and wondered how he didn’t appreciate all the good work we had done. Later I realized that I was actually the one at fault because what I really wanted was approval, and not constructive criticism. Next time maybe I will either ask for approval directly, or perhaps open myself to a growth opportunity and ask directly for constructive criticism! And yes, I will haul the ladder back out and clean that tree up first thing Monday morning.
Expressing Gratitude This Week
I want to thank the folks who keep the Many Hands Sustainability Center vibrant and active in the world. For those of you who don’t exactly know what the MHSC does, it is the non-profit arm of the farm. For several years now we have been increasing our investment in the Woo Community Fridges in Worcester. In 2025 we will provide 16 shares to the fridges for 22 weeks. We also are providing $3600 value of eggs – about 400 dozen eggs. Another important part of what we do through the MHSC is provide employment for young guys from the Stetson School in Barre. As it turns out, a farm with real work and lots of opportunities to test your mettle, for a young guy, is just what the doctor ordered. The MHSC also supports our educational efforts through the newsletter, with the many high school and college groups that come to the farm, our workshops, speaking engagements and publications about organic/regenerative agriculture, food preservation, and resilient self-sufficiency. Thanks to Matt Kornn, Dave Petrovick, Mary Fierro, and Jennifer Peck, our board members who met last weekend to advise us and oversee our activities.
We now need only $2,228 to fulfill our goal for Fridges shares for 2025. You can donate by sending a check to MHSC, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA 01005 or donate directly using this link.
If you work for a company that will match donations, please consider setting up a matching donation relationship with MHSC.
Thanks
2025 MHOF CSA
Snap peas and shell peas are up this week. On the farm that I grew up on, peas were one of the first items that we shelled and preserved for winter. Peas are one of those vegetables that almost everyone loves to eat. I only wish that we had them available for more weeks of the year. In 2024 we handed out shell peas during two weeks in July.
Shell peas, commonly referred to as garden peas (Pisum sativum), are known for their flavor and impressive nutritional composition, which includes a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds that contribute significantly to human health.
One of the most notable attributes of garden peas is their high protein content, which is approximately 22.3 g per 100 g of fresh peas, making them an excellent source of plant-based protein. Peas are rich in dietary fiber, which is vital for digestive health and can enhance satiety, potentially aiding in weight management and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Garden peas are a good source of essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols found in peas contribute to their antioxidant properties, thereby enhancing their protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. These compounds have been shown to play a role in reducing the risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.
In 1979 AAS awarded the sugar snap pea the vegetable of the year award, and I can say that I have bought (or saved seed for) sugar snap peas from that year forward. These are the “eat the whole thing” pea that is so incredibly sweet that the taste is like that of the sweetest fruit. These 8-10’ tall vines pump out the snap peas for us. We harvested them for 4 weeks last year.
Sugar snap peas are known to have a higher content of dietary fiber which contributes positively to gastrointestinal health by promoting digestive regularity and potentially reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases. The crude fiber content in sugar snap peas is significant, enhancing their role in weight management and supporting stable blood glucose levels due to lower glycemic responses.
The nutritional benefits of sugar snap peas over garden peas include a higher fiber content, sweeter taste, greater levels of essential vitamins and minerals, and a more diverse range of beneficial phytochemicals. These attributes not only enhance the eating experience but also promote better health outcomes, making sugar snap peas a favorable choice for nutrition-focused diets.
Tying peas to the fence on June 26, 2024
Download the 2025 CSA Order Form
Farm Zoom Interviews: Why are you a CSA member?
This week we feature Donnamarie Tizzano and Maria Leo on their experiences with our MHOF CSA.
We are taking shares right now. Here is the form:
Volunteering at MHOF
For now, we are only working Mondays and Fridays, but by April we will be working M, T, W, F, with a 2 ½ hour stint on Saturdays for those who can’t come during the week. Now is a good time to sign up for a season at the farm. Presently we are pruning apple trees, fixing bird houses and cutting, splitting and stacking firewood.
This Week’s Recipe from Jennifer: Bacon-Wrapped Corned Beef with Roasted Cabbage & Root Veggies
This dish is warming, grounding, and hearty—ideal for colder months or individuals with a strong Vata constitution. The use of cardamom and fennel supports digestion, while ghee adds necessary unctuousness to balance the dryness of slow-cooked meat. Cabbage, though nutritious, can increase Vata when eaten in excess, so enjoying it cooked and well-seasoned is key. The onions and spices provide digestive heat, helping to counteract the heaviness of the dish.
For a more balanced Ayurvedic approach, consider:
- Using bone broth or warm water instead of ghee for a lighter alternative (better for Kapha).
- Adding cumin and coriander to further enhance digestion.
- Serving with a small side of ginger tea to aid in digestion post-meal
Get the recipe at Jen Zen Living
The Boron Effect John Kempf
A short video that explains how boron works in the system:
The Boron Effect: Driving Nutrients From Roots to Tips
Meat Chickens
We have been raising meat chickens for decades now, and they are one of our signature crops. We raise non-GMO Freedom Rangers (that means that their parents were not fed GMO grain) that do well on pasture. They start their life in our brooder house and then move to pasture at around week four. For the next 8 weeks the birds live in movable pens and are moved 5 times per week. The hens end up about 5-6 pounds in weight and the cockerels grow to between 7-8 pounds. They acquire up to 25% of their nutrition from the pasture grasses and forbes and 75% from Green Mountain organic feeds. Thus, our birds are certified organic and free range. You can order your 2025 supply of meat birds now. We also have a handful of birds left in our freezer for purchase now.
Planting Schedule
We put years of practice into our planting schedule and also follow the biodynamic calendar as closely as possible.
Here is our greenhouse planting schedule for March:
- Onion seeds – March 7
- Chard and lettuce – March 10
- Leeks – March 17
- Kale, Collards, Lettuce, Cabbage, Asian greens, Parsley, Kohlrabi – March 21
Flower CSA
Last year we reinstated our flower CSA. For folks who are signing up for any size vegetable share, you can purchase a flower share too. We provide about 25 stems at least 10 weeks of the summer, though I think we passed out flowers over 14 weeks last year. You can purchase your flower share here.
Now Available at the Farm
We have much available at the farm right now.
Frozen Foods including Lard, Chicken, Apple and Pear sauce and more. Fresh Eggs, Shelf Stable items including Juices and Dried Peaches, Tinctures, and personal care Soaps and Salves.
Gut Health
Happy Friday!
I’m getting caught up on my emails and reading this newsletter. The topic of butyrate sparked my interest because my grandmother died of colon cancer and it’s something that lingers in my mind. Thank you for speaking on it! Now I’m off to a deep dive on how to incorporate this into my diet. DO you know if it’s best to get this by food or supplement?
Thank you for all that you do and share!
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
I am so happy to get your email. I have become really fascinated with butyrate. I love cold brown rice, and sometimes cold cooked potatoes, though I think I understand that you can warm these things up after cooking and still get the benefit. Lately I have been buying green bananas and eating them before they are ripe. And as I wrote about last week, lacto-fermented vegetables (cabbage is the star) also help with butyrate production. Jack and I eat that religiously from October through June or so. I have also been introduced to a supplement called Tributyrin-X produced by Healthygut.com, and started taking it recently. I don’t have enough experience to make a recommendation, but it looks promising.
Thanks for your kind words,
Julie
Here is a podcast on butyrate and Tributyrin – Tributyrin: Breakthrough Molecule for Microbiome, Histamine Issues, and Leaky Gut?
And here is a great article and audio tape about the importance of butyrate – Butyrate’s Impact on Your Immune System
And finally, healthy skin biome with Kiran Krishnan – Webinar – Deep Dive: Skin Microbiome, “Leaky” Skin, and Improving Skin Health Naturally
Kittens
We have one male left for sale at $75. They will be ready for you to take home on the weekend of March 15 and 16. They will be somewhere around 8-9 weeks old. We have a more traditional looking tuxedo type and two that have about equal parts black and white. Contact me to reserve a cat, put down your $75 deposit in advance, and you can pick him up at the end of the week.
Farm Doin’s
Monday and Friday this week were very, very cold on Monday and windy and cold on Friday. Wah, wah, wah – I know. But gosh the minutes moved slowly when I was on the top of a ladder in the pond orchard. I am grateful for the great warming spell mid-week, however, that cleared out almost all of the snow. And then, all of a sudden, I feel we have 100 things to do. Such is the beauty of spring. This is an appropriate time to wonder if perhaps I should have spent my time more wisely all winter, now that it is almost over.
We did finish all of the peach pruning this week and now are onto the pears, and the rest of the trees – pawpaw, cherry, plum. For those of you who would like to see some nice pear pruning videos, I will publish here some of Jack’s choices – Prune a Pear Tree With These Easy Steps
another How to Prune Pear Trees for Maximum Production
The chainsaw was down this week, so no wood management. We started our onion seeds on Friday, and also moved all of our fertility liquids back out of the basement and into the barn. Meanwhile Matt did a tutorial for Marissa, Justin and Randy on best practices for managing the sprayers. We also brought a good supply of potting soil into the basement to have at the ready for seed starting.
Friday, we interviewed Randy for a farmer job. He will let us know if he would like to join us on staff.
Julie
Quick Links
Buy Meat
2025 CSA Order Form
Contact Julie
Products Available Now at the Farm
Become a working shareholder
Donate to the MHSC
Workshops
Buy J and J’s book
Many Hands Make a Farm
https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/many-hands-make-a-farm/
