Wednesday, October 23, 2013

En Plein Air Barberry Hill Farm

We have been honored once again by a visit from the Plein Air Painters.





It is a singularly unique experience to watch the life of the farm in season become immortalized.






Yet it is still impossible to capture the farm in movement.




A prize winning Blue Hubbard Squash...








Nate, our steadfast WWOOF intern, has become an old hand on the farm.






The art of life is in the doing.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Journey For Health Tour

Last week we were honored to be a stop on the way for Journey For Health Tour .  These guys started biking in California and ended in New York City.  The J4H Tour was sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the objective was to promote a pro-health message to companies, employees and communities to help improve the health and well-being of people's lives.

They wanted to stop at our farm and learn how we get healthy food choices into communities.





Kingsley gave them a tour of the farm and talked about our CSA, the Farmers' Markets we're involved with, our farm stand and the schools with which we work.










After touring the farm, we headed out to our farm stand

The J4HealthTour began in California at a Boys and Girls Club.  The guys talked about healthy eating and living with the children and then donated a stationery bike to the club.  The children at this Boys and Girls Club make Battle Buddies for soldiers overseas as companions for when life gets lonely.  

The guys were very happy recipients of their own Battle Buddies to take with them on their journey.








Their journey, a 45 day, 3,200 mile trek, ended in Manhattan with the Journey For Health Tour sponsors donating a hundred bikes to children in the city.  Congratulations guys - way to make a difference in so many peoples' lives - including ours.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Sunflowers of Autumn

Early fall is the best time of year - this is when we are able to fully accept the rewards of our hard work during Spring and Summer.  The corn is never as sweet in the summer as it is in the fall; the peppers are finally turning red after growing for many months; the winter squash is ripe for picking and there is no need to worry about pulling weeds like we did in the past.  However, it's the warm glow of the sunflowers that is reminiscent of Summer.

Of the many different sunflowers that we have grown over the years, we have selected five of our favorites varieties:  Sunbright Supreme, Sunbright Supreme Golden Yellow, Sonya, Soroya and the Henry Wilde.


The Sunbright Supreme is one of our favorite single cut, large, long lasting sunflower varieties.


The Supreme Yellow Gold is a new variety with double rows of petals and a chocolate center.





Sometimes you can find them growing in the strangest places.


From our fields to your home.