We are busy filling the fields with vegetable transplants and seeds.  This week the crew worked really hard planting peppers, eggplant, and the 1st tomatoes.  We plant these crops on biodegradable mulch to warm the soil.  Then we have to cover the plants with metal hoops and row covers.  We have little mini greenhouse tunnels cover about 3 acres of crops.  A lot of work but in order to have crops ready it is very necessary work.  We also planted 2 acres of potatoes and are seeding salad mix, turnips, beets, arugula, broccoli rabe, radishes, and peas out in the field.  Irrigation is set up and we are watering the plants and seeds in.  Some rain would be nice but we are happy with the weather (as happy as farmers are with weather).

All of the animals are out on pasture, a great feeling and so nice to see them all happily grazing.  

It feels like spring and we are on track for the first CSA delivery the week of June 10.

Find us on Facebook at Roxbury Farm CSA

Last week we transplanted cabbage, head lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, and chinese cabbage in the field.  We also seeded sugar snap peas.  This week onions, broccoli, scallions, and more head lettuce are ready to plant.  Building fence, laying water lines for our new cow barn, and a new irrigation line are also in our plans. 

On Friday we finally did some real work with our draft horse.  Jelmer worked on our equipment so we could spray the biodynamic preparations with Peter, the Belgian draft horse. 

You can now find us on Facebook at Roxbury Farm CSA.

It finally felt like spring yesterday (Wednesday).  Even though it is cold things are growing on the farm.  The greenhouse is going strong.  Keri and Shelly are re-potting the peppers and eggplant into larger pots.  Soon we will have to move plants into the cold frame. 

We are busy building fence for more pasture for our growing beef herd and repairing older fences to get ready for the the grazing season when the grass finally turns green. 

We have 84 lambs and 18 piglets.  The cows are still calving but so far we have eight calves; four males and four females.  Jean-Paul and Jody had a late night on Tuesday night helping Lily with her calf.  The calf was breech and needed to be pulled out.  Both Lily and the male calf are doing fine.  

Jelmer Albada arrived from the Netherlands to work for the season.  The draft horse equipment he purchased for us in Belgium and Germany will be shipped next week.  Jelmer is an experienced horse farmer so soon Roxbury Farm will have some real horse power in the fields.

We have shares available at all of our sites.  Tell you friends, family, neighbors, co-workers!

Spring has already started on the farm - we've had 20 piglets, 20 lambs and 1 calf born so far with more lambs & calves on the way.  The greenhouse is up and running with over 125,000 onions seeded this week along with kale, kohlrabi, parsley, and celeriac.  We're busy planning for the season and looking forward to another great year!

We still have shares available at all of the sites - if you haven't renewed yet or want to join for the first time, you can find the enrollment forms by clicking on your community in the 'CSA Membership' list above.

We are now accepting new members for 2013 - all sites still have shares available. 

Enrolling at Roxbury Farm for the first time?  Just go to the 'CSA Membership' tab above and click on the location where you would like to find a pickup site.  Find the Enrollment form at the top of the page, print it off, and send it in with a payment.  If you are interested in meat shares (beef, lamb, and pork), please print off the additional "Meat Share Form" and send it along with your vegetable share form.

Let us know if you have any questions - info@roxburyfarm.com or 518-758-8558.  Thanks for your interest in Roxbury Farm!

We are currently taking enrollments for those who were members in 2012.  We will hold your spot until January 31st so send in your form soon! We sent the forms out by email last week.  If you have not received your enrollment form, please contact us at the farm.  518-758-8558 info@roxburyfarm.com

If you want to be a new member for 2013, please check back on February 1st for enrollment forms.

The 2nd box of the winter share will be delivered this week, January 8th - 11th, on your regular day.  This week's box includes sweet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, butternut squash, and cabbage.

The final winter share will be the week of February 4th.  That box will contain sweet potatoes, Keuka Gold potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, parsnips and celeriac.

As we approach 2013 we look back on a season that brought forth a bounty, despite the many challenges our crops and animals suffered from drought, heat, damaging wind and rain.  

The CSA community of 12 farmers and 1400 families from the Capital District, Columbia County, Westchester County, and NYC experienced an abundance of seasonally picked vegetables.  Many members enjoyed the grass-fed beef and lamb, and pastured pork and chicken.  Others took the plunge to continue the season with hearty winter vegetables. 

 More importantly we were able to share this bounty with others. 

While it is already a great accomplishment that we were able nourish ourselves, it makes it even better that we have shared our bounty with many others for more than 23 years.  As a CSA community we donated over $100,000 of fresh produce to food pantries and community kitchens in 2012 alone.   

 We look forward to continuing this rewarding partnership with you in 2013. 

Wishing all of you blessings and good health in the New Year!

                                                                                   ~the Roxbury Farm Crew

A reminder to winter share members the deliveries are

This week (Dec. 4 - Dec. 7)

The week of Jan. 8 - Jan. 11

The week of Feb. 5 - Feb. 8

Current members can sign up for the 2013 season now.  If you did not receive your enrollment form by email or mail please contact the farm (except Harlem and Renaissance members, you will receive your forms later).  New members can find the forms here on the website on February 1st.

The first delivery of Winter Shares is this week, ON YOUR REGULAR DAY at your regular site.  This box will contain sweet potatoes, Keuka Gold potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, cabbage, and winter squash.

Several sites have shortened their pickup times.  If you have any questions, please let us know or contact your site coordinator.

Schenectady: 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Troy: 4 - 5 pm

White Plains: 4 - 6 pm

86th Street: 4 - 6 pm