It’s officially June and that means the heat and the humidity have arrived for us. For those of you who follow this Newsletter, but are in a different area allow me to take a minute and explain the humidity. You walk outside and instantly feel wet and gross! We’re usually up early, but when the weather gets like this, we make it our goal to get up, get outside, and get our farm chores done!

In the gardens we are going into our last week for Kith & Kin CSA, but the farm is in full on production mode. We have so many tomatoes that aren’t fully ripe that you would think that’s all we grow!

Usually when there is an abundance the CSA will run a Summer Share, but this year our Summer is extremely busy so as the bounty comes in we will be creating some Seasonal Farm Baskets. Be on the look out for those!

In addition to tomatoes we have squash, zucchini, okra, peppers, and green beans just to list a few. The green beans (which yes I am biased because they are my favorite vegetable) have been extremely delicious and prolific this year. Our CSA Members have been making some beautiful dishes with them and we have too.

Over the next few months, we will be here, but we implore all of you to get out there and support local by visiting the many Farmers Markets happening in your area. If you have chemical sensitivities like I do, just remember to ask your questions and give your produce a good soak before using it.

Since our move, we’ve planted fruit trees but just like everything else things take time to grow. So we wait patiently or at least try to while this happens. Our peach tree gave us six peaches this year which is a drastic jump from the one we got in our first year. In the Fall it will be fertilized to prepare it for next years harvest. We are hoping for a big one

For now we’ve been supporting local and enjoying time spent with our family. Here are a few shots.

Most of you know that my Mom is recovering from a hospital stay and I have taken off time from my full-time job to assist their family. This meant everything took a step back and we were behind on our poultry harvesting schedules. Well thankfully my Mom is doing so much better, and we were able to get caught up this last week.

The birds were absolutely beautiful and tasty I might add. It seems that there is never enough to go around because we find ourselves sold out on chicken more often than we like. The other day when we cooked up one of our birds Brandon said “Ok from every batch, we need to keep 10 of these for ourselves”

I really need to learn to say no, but if it’s in the freezer I feel like I want people to experience this chicken because it is just soooo good. Of course I’m going to listen to my husband so our next harvest is set, ours will be put to the side, and you can reserve your own now.

Last month we shared with you guys that we are officially going to run turkeys on the farm for the first time since our move. Turkeys get pretty tall so we can’t just put them in a tractor and push them around the farm.

So we need to purchase the infrastructure in order to make sure that they are safe from the many predators out here and then it’s a go! Typically, we post them in July, but having the deposit up front helps us purchase what is needed to raise them well.

An all organic diet is a very expensive one, but we want them to have the best feed in addition to what they can find on their own. Plus the taste is more than worth it in the end. Turkeys are also up on our shop page!! They will be ready for that big November meal. It’s been our experience that these birds sell out quickly and we will not have extra once we get closer to that day, so please reserve them now.

In family news, WE HAVE OUR FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!! Our oldest daughter, Brooklynn completed her degree program and if that weren’t enough she passed her boards with high numbers! Brooklynn has always had a love for learning and it’s not surprising to see her excel, but to see her do it through pregnancy, while working, caring for a toddler, and then a premature baby with all his ailments, and still being a wife all while trying her best to keep God first has been amazing. We are so very proud of her!

Joshua is going into his senior year of High School and that blows my mind! He has also figured out that he wants to go to Culinary School and that is a perfect fit for him. As you know he has really been enjoying creating cookie flavors with The Sweet Spot, but he really has loved being in the kitchen since he was a young child. So seeing him choose something that he enjoys as a career choice is something that makes us excited and happy for him as well.

This month we will be pulling plants and turning over beds. We are installing new raised beds and with new beds comes new compost. We will also begin the process of scheduling for the Fall Season of Kith & Kin CSA which begins in October. Planting for it begins next month and it’s really my favorite season for the cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, less bugs, and the produce is a nice mix of Summers abundance and Fall veggies. We’d love to have you join! In fact, we are running an Earlybird Special for the entire month of June!

In Pig News, the piglets are just so sweet. We have one who is still just small enough to squeeze through some slats in the paddocks we set up and so it’s funny to go out and see him all alone enjoying the “greener grass” on the other side. They all enjoy their daily fill and of course we love giving them weeds and other produce from the garden.

We recently picked blueberries and Brandon is set on having us go back and get more for them. Yes we’re raising them for meat, but we want them to enjoy their lives and we definitely enjoy getting to watch them grow. Plus since we have made the decision to eat pork, eating our own is the best way to go!

If you’re interested in raising your own pork, reach out to us as we do have a few piglets for sale.

It’s planning to be a busy month, but we will have to fill you on all that happens in the next one. Until then……