Welcome to Taproot!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
March 30th
The day was full of meetings for me and farm production for Josh. I was in Truro at the Agricultural Land Reviews Committees final consultation meeting. We will now begin to write our report.
Josh was here on the farm treating the greenhouse for the aphid issues we've been having, keeping the fires going and ensuring that transplants of greens that were cut for fresh greens last week made it into the ground in one of the tunnels. They will continue to grow outside and we'll harvest again in a few weeks. He is also checking in on the Swallows Nest. The floors are being done this week. And he is getting things planted at the farm in Canard. Full days now!
Final registrations are trickling in. This is wonderful. Thank you!
Get ready for lots of wonderful spinach in the weeks ahead. You may wish to prepare for freezing it a bit at a time for next winter since we have lots planted!!
I will have a posting up soon and an email sent out on details for next week. Yippy, first week of year two coming right up!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
An Awakening.....
Please bare with me while I explain myself.
This morning I was down at Swallows Nest cleaning up after a beautiful family gathering yesterday to celebrate the life of Josh's Aunt. She is not well and will be leaving us soon.
Swallows Nest has always felt to me like a place we need to share with people. A place for celebrations of all sorts or for taking time away from regular life. All along it hasn't felt right to have a price tag set in stone around the use of this beautiful place.
This morning it dawned on me that I want all of you members to have access to this space. To come to the farm and to have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and the sense of community, earth and farm that one gets here.
The realities are of course that we need to make mortgage payments, and I have been spending too much time worrying about this. I do believe that by putting it out there things will all work out:)
Please disregard our hand out earlier this week. All of the features remain the same but for people who have shared with us and support us on this farm we want you to feel welcome. So, full weeks, two days, one night, any duration of time is welcome. And a policy of 'pay what you can' will be in effect for all CSA shareholders. Money need not be an obstacle.
I hope this finds you well.
Patricia & Josh
PS. If you didn't get the one-pager this week - see the link here.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A day at the job fair
Granny Smith apples from Washington!
What am I to do? I am here at this job fair to hopefully employ local people and to generate activity in our economy. I am here representing both Taproot and Noggins, we grow apples, and the lunch we were provided is in part supporting Washington.
What would you do?
I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Final class of the day
Visiting EMS
The first class is arriving now.
Enjoy the rain!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sad night for Chickens
They were the ones that we started last year and were so colourful. There are coyotes around and a few of them must have come in for a chicken treat. It just so happens that on that night we didn't close the gate, an evening ritual that was missed because I was rushing us our the door. Anyway, no fault needs to be had, but the fact is now that they are no longer.
The chicken house will be cleaned out and prepped for the new chickens that are ready to be outside.
Ahhhhh.....there I told you.
Good Night.
Bull Frog Power
You may be interested in this for yourself. This is an email I got earlier today.
Dear Patricia,
We wanted to let you know about a new campaign that Bullfrog Power launched today. The campaign features a deliberately provocative theme: “Pay more for energy”. The purpose of the campaign is to provoke a dialogue on the real cost of energy. While climate change and air pollution are very difficult challenges, the most powerful solution is clear: we need to pay the real cost of energy, including health and environmental costs that are currently hidden.
The campaign will run for approximately 8 weeks, and includes a website where customers like you can upload comments and videos explaining why they’ve chosen to pay more for clean power.
You’ve already signed up for Bullfrog Power, paying a little extra each month to support the development of 100% green, pollution-free energy. Just imagine if everyone did it.
Visit paymoreforenergy.ca to learn more about the true cost of energy and share your reasons for paying more for clean energy with your family and friends.
Thank you for your continued support,
Bullfrog Power
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Tunnel#3 up
Friday, March 19, 2010
Finalized the list
I am just getting around to year end activities - Carolyn has been helping me clean up a few errors. For those of you who are accountants I know we are pushing it, sorry:)
Have a wonderful weekend!! The forecast looks great for life and dry for the farm. Luckily your farm is situated on top of a large water reserve - there is water everywhere on this farm. Hopefully we'll never see a day when that water is gone.
Happy Spring!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
New Book - by Sarah Elton
Locovore: From Farmers' Fields to Rooftop Gardens, How Canadians Are Changing the Way We Eat.
http://thelocavore.ca/
Sunny day - birds singing
Friday, March 12, 2010
Tunnel challenges
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tunnel up
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday activities
It has been a great day here on the farm!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Greenhouse and computer
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday March 3
Monday, March 1, 2010
Farmers market visit
Stirring the Pot: WOW Dishes it Out
The Women of Wolfville are about to mount their ninth annual production - Stirring the Pot: WOW Dishes It Out. We have wanted to examine the food we eat for several years, and this show is our collective response to a myriad of food-related issues facing the post-modern world.
The Women of Wolfville is a network of over 200 women, about 50 of whom have been preparing for this production for the last six months. Stirring the Pot will be staged four times at the Festival Theatre in Wolfville, at 8 p.m. from Thursday through Saturday, from March 4 - 6, along with a 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon matinee.
Through their annual theatrical adventures, the Women of Wolfville have raised over $150,000 for charity since 2001. The 2010 show will support school breakfast programs, the Wolfville Food Bank, the Acadia Community Farm, along with food-related programs in India, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
Tickets for this year's production are $12 students/seniors and $15 for adults. They are available at the Box of Delights in Wolfville.
10 Health Benefits of Apples
Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.
Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.
Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.
Lung Cancer Prevention
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.
Breast Cancer Prevention
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
Colon Cancer Prevention
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.
Liver Cancer Prevention
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
Diabetes Management
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
Weight Loss
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.