Fall 2011 updates

The summer crew is gone : ( and we miss them ofcourse, but it is a lot quieter and more restful here on the farm.  We've been enjoying getting back into the routine of the chores (which the crew largely took care of this summer) and the slightly less frenzied rythm of crop planning for next year, budgeting, and coming up with lists of all the necessary repair and improvement projects that need to happen this winter.

 Despite crazy late rains, an unusually cold summer, and the slow economy, we at Fifth Crow are still quite pleased with how the season went.  The potatoes completely failed, but beets and broccoli did wonderfully.  We lost almost all of our tomatoes, but our dry beans did great and we managed to get most of them in before the first rains.  Although farming is all about growing and harvesting crops, the production is only one piece of the puzzle.  Just as important is the other end of the process: the eating.  We thank all of you for our success over the last several years, as we know it is in large part due to the generous and loyal support of our amazing customers, neighbors, and friends.  Thank you.

We just completed our final week at the Castro Market.  Although we had hoped to continue to go into December, we just don't have enough product.  But, we'll be back in the early Spring when the market opens, and you can still find us at the Inner Sunset Farmers Market on Sundays and the San Mateo Farmers' Market on Saturdays.  Hope to continue to see you there!

We had a successful first year of our CSA program and will be expanding delivery options & adding more members this coming year.  We'll be sending out information and beginning to sign up new members shortly after the holidays.  What will be changing?  ... boxes will be available for pick up at all our market locations, we'll be extending the season by several weeks, and we'll be adding a little more dry goods and value added items to the boxes (jams, pancake mix, wheat berries, popcorn etc.)  For information about this last year's CSA: http://fifthcrowfarm.squarespace.com/csa/-- Info on how to register for next season will be e-mailed/ posted soon.

What else is in store for fifth crow in the coming year? 

Here's a little sneak preview of our to do list:

build another greenhouse and hopefully by next fall some in field hoops for late fall/winter growing

finish a real bathroom with flushing toilet hooked into our new septic tank!!

We're hiring on two full time staff next season!! Welcome Rafe Rivers and Augustin Garcia.

Plant more trees!  Last winter we added more apples and pear trees, this year we hope to plant even more pears and perhaps some persimmons too

... and more

Thank you again.

Teresa (thanks little sis for our new favorite mug)