Our recent snow storm may have covered the fields (and any tools we missed in our big cleanup sweep) but it has also uncovered a whole aspect of the farm that usually goes unnoticed; the animal life that parallels our daily routines. We are suddenly privy to a step-by-step map of the comings and goings of our cohabitors. From the delicate set of mouse prints that end at the lip of a hole under the barn to the pointed tracks of deer venturing to our compost piles to munch cast-off apples, we’re getting a clear look at patterns and numbers. A walk through the woods last night turned up a bobcat track. The turkeys have clearly been crossing the road by the irrigation pond with some frequency. And even the airborne owl left a perfect wing print where it swooped down on a midnight hunt.
We often tromp, plod, or hurry around the farm from one task to another, making our own circuitous paths but fairly oblivious to the other creatures who make this land their home. So it’s nice to have a visual reminder that we’re not alone. Our frozen winter squash, dry hay, and field edge trees are appreciated for the food, shelter, and habitat they provide. For the most part, our foot paths cross and then diverge from the animals’, but from time to time we’ll take the same route and surprise each other around a corner. The moment may be fleeting, but the tracks will tell the story in the snow.
Cheers,
Norah and the Sweetland Crew
Week 5 Winter Harvest
Apples (Golden Delicious & Enterprise)
Carrots
Celeriac
Garlic
Lettuce
Baby Pac Choi
Sweet Potatoes
Red Kuri Squash
What’s Cooking This Week
You can find ingredients for all of these recipes in our farm store! We source meats, dairy, grains, beans, sweets, and more from local and sustainable producers. Don’t forget to use your CSA member discount!