Kimberton CSA

Sneaking in some field work and transplanting between rainstorms

Great transplanting day! Couldn't ask for better spring weather these past few days

Check out this upcoming webinar on housing Purple Martins hosted by our friends Gretchen and Marylin at the Purple Martin Conservation Association who also help keep the colony thriving at Kimberton CSA! https://patch.com//chesco-webinar-hosting-purple-martins-p

Last week we raised our iconic gourds and new T-14 housing unit in anticipation of the return of our Purple Martin colony. There was an official sighting of three scouts the other morning! Welcome back Purple Martins!! For those not in the know, Purple Martins are migratory birds who fly up from the Amazon Basin in spring to roost and lay eggs. Once the fledglings hatch, they are back off to the jungle for winter. There are not many natural habitats left on the eastern side... of the US, so Purple Martin Landlords (us) provide free standing, hollow nesting sites for the birds. The nesting spaces need to be maintained and landlords are forever chasing off other birds, including two invasive species: the English sparrow and the European starling. The sparrow and starling are particularly egregious to the Purple Martins as they peck open their eggs and can kill fledglings. Luckily, we know some superstars from the @purplemartinconservation Gretchen and Marylin help us manage our tenants and keep track of the colony's eggs and fledglings for the national database. So, with a lot of help from our friends, KCSA’s colony is not only a conservation effort, it also forms part of the farm's integrated pest control (IPM) system. The acrobatic Purple Martins eat flying insects that can damage our crops. #themoreyouknow

Baby collards loving the sunny days

All hands on deck! Greenhouse construction is moving along!

Hotshot spicy mustard mix just about ready to be planted!

Happy #CSAWeek Day 5! In addition to being certified organic, we are also certified biodynamic. Biodynamics aims to take organic further. Biodynamics is rooted in the 1924 course of lectures by Rudolf Steiner called Agriculture. It is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming. We look at the farm as a living organism with soil, plants, animals, and the cosmos working together to create an expression of the harmony of these elements. Seven Stars Farm is direct...Continue reading

It's a leaf day for those following the #biodynamic calendar so we're sowing some salad mix to celebrate this beautiful day!

Happy #CSAWeek Day 4! Growing vegetables without the use of any synthetic pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides are a focal point for organic agriculture. One of the reasons we choose to be certified organic is because it is a third-party verification that we are following the protocols set out by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). NOP standards help provide baseline customer protections, improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and contribute to soil health and c...onservation. Some methods we use to promote organic integrity are crop rotation, the use of compost, cover crops, integrated pest management (IPM), and biodynamic practices (more on this tomorrow!) These methods help with carbon sequestration. This is the process of pulling carbon from the atmosphere and holding it in the soil to be used by plants. This helps reduce carbon emissions and hopefully, if utilized by more farms, can offset the amount of carbon being burned by fossil fuels and reduce the effects of climate change. To get a visual representation of some of these ideas and practices, check out Kiss the Ground Movie available here: https://kissthegroundmovie.com/

Happy #CSAWeek Day 3! You’ll get the freshest, nutrient-dense produce possible. Most of our crops are harvested Tuesday and Friday mornings for distribution on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, and Saturdays at Lansdale Farmers' Market. This increases the shelf life of the crops and keeps the nutrition levels high. You’ll be able to enjoy a huge diversity of both crops and varieties of seasonal vegetables that are not always available in grocery stores and some you may have nev...er even heard of! We have compiled a catalog of some of the crops we grow with descriptions and recipes to try. Check it out here! https://www.kimbertoncsa.org/gettoknowyourvegetables

Happy #CSAWeek Day 2! Supporting your local food system is easy and can have tremendous effects. Buying a CSA share reduces the miles your food travels to get to your plate, reducing the carbon footprint of your meals. It allows you to establish a direct connection with the farm and the farmers growing your food. We can dive deeper into our farming practices and answer any questions people may have about any of the crops we grow. ... Our members come to the farm on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and experience the seasonality of a diversified vegetable operation (and participate!) by utilizing the u-pick opportunities that we offer throughout the year. Learn more about our CSA at www.kimbertoncsa.org

Happy #CSAWeek!

#CSAWeek is right around the corner and we're still accepting signups for the 2021 season! A friendly reminder to all of our #lansdalefarmersmarket friends that we have shares available for pickup at Lansdale Farmers' Market too! Check out our website for more information on community supported agriculture (CSA) and secure your spot for 2021! www.kimbertoncsa.org