Winter CSA Week 6; A place to call home

Though to snow and cold have slowed progress a bit, we are now “dried in” on the new house we are building for our farm crew. The windows and doors are in, and as soon as the plumber and electrician finish up we can start stuffing insulation in the walls and ceiling. In addition to looking forward to warmer working conditions, we are racing a Dec 31 deadline to receive grant funds from the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, whose mission is to expand access to affordable housing in the state. We are excited and proud to be working with the program, as we know full-well the challenges that our crew and so many others face in finding local affordable housing.

Offering housing to our farm crew started out as a way to attract candidates to our farm. Later, during covid, it offered us a way to create a “pod” and continue feeding the community. Recently it allowed us to enter the H2A migrant labor program, which requires on-farm-housing of workers. And throughout it has helped us retain our crew in an area where the cost of housing on a farm wage would be prohibitive. But in addition to all these important business and financial reasons, offering housing to our crew has created a great sense of community at the farm. I love coming home at night and seeing the cozy lights of “Union Villa” shining in the dark, knowing that people are home and safe. I love that we can call each other for help with a stuck car, a heavy lift, or an after-hours emergency should one arise. I love seeing the crew out for a morning walk or snipping herbs in the pick-your-own garden after work. And when we gather for meeting each morning I love that we arrive from all corners of the farm, by foot or gator or car seat.

So we’ll saw and hammer and paint away to get ready for the crew’s return in the spring, knowing the importance of having a place to call home.

Cheers,

Norah and the Sweetland Crew

Week 6 Winter Harvest

Deadon (red/green savoy) cabbage

Carrots

Winterbor Kale

Yellow Onions

White Potatoes

Autumn Frost Squash

Daikon Radish OR Red Beets (look for a label on boxes containing daikon, no label on boxes containing beets)

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!