New-member orientation at Caretaker Farm upcoming June 3

Submitted by Bill Densmore for Elizabeth Smith
elizabeth@caretakerfarm.org

CARETAKER FARM NEWSLETTER - May 15th, 2005

Orientation for New Members on Friday, June 3rd from 5 - 6 p.m; or on
Saturday, June 4th from 10 - 11 a.m. Rain or shine. R.S.V.P. Please confirm
that you can come (and that you have received this Newsletter) to
<elizabeth@caretakerfarm.org>. We will give you a canvas bag, the Membership
Handbook, a compost bucket (if you¹d like one) and a tour. If you are
unable to come, identify yourself as a newcomer when you come to the first
pick-up and a Distribution Helper or one of us will get you started.

First Distribution: Tuesday, June 7th; Friday, June 10th from 1:00 - 6:00;
or Saturday, June 11th from 8:00 - Noon. The Weekly Newsletter which is sent
out on Monday of every week, lists what vegetables are ready. Copies of the
Newsletter are available on the barn desk.

First Event of the season: SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION - on Saturday, June
18th, 6 - 9 p m The beginning of summer! Save the date. Potluck Picnic,
Music, Contra Dance, Fun and Games. Details will follow.

FARM NEWS:
Spring is taking its time to arrive! We have scheduled distribution to begin
on June 7th to give the crops more time to grow. The tops of the mountains
are only just beginning to show signs of greening, which the "old timers"
say is an indication of when to plant peas. A large group of volunteers
joined us to plant 1200 pounds of potatoes in record time: 2 1/2 hours! (One
pound of potatoes yields a minimum of ten pounds of potatoes to harvest in
the fall!) The greenhouse is bursting with young plants which are being
transplanted into the fields as fast as we can go. Now that the risk of
frost is behind us, we can get the flowers and tomatoes in the ground. As
the sun inches towards the longest day of the year (officially the beginning
of summer),the plants grow with amazing speed and the harvest begins! .

We have a fine crop of new lambs, four rambunctious pigs, and 40 more
chickens who are just beginning to lay. The cows are taking a break from
calving this season because we have just the right number to graze our
pastures.

This winter we have also been sharing the history and structural complexity
of Caretaker Farm with the new farmers. Don Zasada and Bridget Spann, and
their 21 month old daughter Gabriela joined us in December at which time
both families began the process of transferring responsibility for the farm
from our shoulders onto theirs (not an easy task.) When completed, it may be
seen as a pioneering model for preserving and maintaining local working
farms in perpetuity.

We look forward to seeing everyone again and to Don and Bridget¹s meeting
you and your meeting them!

2005 Membership Information *Collect a copy from the desk in the barn to
keep for reference.

Distribution Times:
Summer: June ­ October
Tuesday and Friday Afternoons: 1:00 ­ 6:00 p.m.
Saturday Mornings: 8:00 a.m.- Noon
Fall and Winter: November - February or until the root cellar is emptied.
Pick up twice monthly on the 1st Friday-Saturday and 3rd Friday-Saturday of
each month.

Visiting Hours:
Caretaker Farm welcomes you to visit the farm any time except Sunday to work
with us, "pick-your-own", drop off compost, picnic by the pond, or to simply
relax. The farm is closed to visitors on Sundays. Try to avoid Pick-up Hours
for return visits to alleviate parking congestion.

Membership Dues: Payments due on 1st of March, May and July
Mail to: Caretaker Farm, 1210 Hancock Road, Williamstown, MA 01267
Or Deposit (in marked envelope) into the "Mail Box" on the desk in the barn.

Payment Questions: Please contact Liz Kodela, CSA Treasurer
Telephone: 458 ­ 5891, E-mail: e.kodela@verizon.net

Communication Information:
Telephone Numbers:
Sam and Elizabeth Smith: 458 ­ 4309
Don Zasada and Bridget Spann: 458 ­ 9691
Apprentices: 458 ­ 2785
E-mail Addresses:
Sam - sam@caretakerfarm.org
Elizabeth - elizabeth@caretakerfarm.org
Don - don@caretakerfarm.org
Bridget - bridget@caretakerfarm.org

Weekly Newsletter: E-mailed on the first of the week. Copies are available
on the desk. Please send photos, recipes, poems, stories, questions and
comments. To Editor: elizabeth@caretakerfarm.org

The Farm Store: Self-Serve / Honor System. All purchases must be recorded in
on the "Sales Sheet". "I.O.U¹s" (hopefully few) must be recorded in a
receipt book and paid within a week. Cash payments or checks should be made
to "Caretaker Farm".

Caretaker Farm Products: Farm Bakery - Breads, Pies, Cookies and
"Specials,"- using freshly milled organic grains, Free-range Eggs, Honey,
Grass Fed Lamb, Beef and Pork - available on a pre-order basis.

>From our neighbors: John¹s Fresh Eggs, Quimby¹s Maple Syrup

***We welcome your comments***
You can send comments to Elizabeth@caretakerfarm.org