Clagett Farm Notes

Bookmark the New Location!

This is probably the last post at this location. The migration to the new weblog site has been completed. To read Clagett Farm updates about the CSA and the farm in general, please visit the new location. Simply click below and bookmark the new URL.

Clagett Farm Weblog

If you receive the updates through email via the rssfwd service, you were automatically unsubscribed from here and subscribed to the new site. Because of a glitch some of you may have received several repeat postings, but it should be smooth sailing after this.

Thanks!

Thanks

A quick note to say thank you and goodbye. I'm immensely grateful to Clagett Farm and all the good people involved in it. As to the weblog itself, Clagett Farm Notes will remain open right here until Carrie announces the move to the new site.

On the radio

Your tomatoes, sweet potato greens, and your farmer were featured on WETA 90.9 this morning.  WETA's new show, The Intersection, hosted by Rebecca Roberts, had very nice program about eating and growing local food.      

I was hoping that by hearing Ms. Roberts ooh and ah over your sweet potato greens, you, my dear customers, might be more willing to try them.  (Not many Tuesday shareholders seemed as thrilled as I am that they're in your share.)  So if you haven't been inspired to eat the leaves of a sweet potato plant before now, then you should listen to the show!  Click over to the The Intersection website, from which you can listen to any show from their archives (you want the one from July 28, 2006).

 Before the show, it was fun to chat a bit with the Chef of Restaurant Eve, Cathal Armstrong, who is a surprisingly passionate supporter of his farmers.  Now I'm looking for an excuse to invite my husband to dinner there.  Mid-summer celebration, perhaps?  I also have to admit that it was just fun to sit around in an air-conditioned building for a while.  When it's this hot out, I'm easy to please.

Our farm family just became a little smaller

One of our dear and long-time CSA members, Marissa Irwin, just passed away.  She and her husband, Hans Verolme, have been members since they moved to the area eight years ago, and have become the type of old friends offering deep support and encouragement that makes our jobs so much more fulfilling.  With Marissa gone, and Kolya leaving, who will convince us to grow so much arugula?

Marissa died of ovarian cancer at the young age of forty.  She was a conservation biologist, and an activist and supporter for other women with cancer.  We're so glad to have known her. 

Party!

Just a reminder to all of you that next Saturday, July 8th, the farm is holding a party and you're invited!

Back in July of 2002 Kolya found  us on the farm and asked for a job, hoping he could learn enough to start his own farm someday.  Well four years later he's ready to make his dream a reality!  We're so indebted to him for having transformed us into a stronger and jollier farm, that we'd like to throw a party in his honor.  We'll start the grill around 3pm, and celebrate into the evening.  It's a pot-luck, so if you're up to it, bring some food or a beverage.  If you happen to bring your own dishes, it will save us some paper products.  See you then! 

Weblog changes

Very soon there will changes in this weblog. Clagett Farm Notes will become one of the blogs of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). I don't know whether the name will stay the same, but the look of the weblog will be quite different. It will have a slicker and more professional design than the one created by us, amateurs. At this point our main concern is with those of you who keep up with our weblog via feeds or email updates. I hope that everything will go smoothly, but if after the switch you stop receiving  our posts, please check the weblog itself for any new information that we may have on the subject.   

Hiring a part-time summer field worker

Our dear Kolya is currently planning for his transition to living in Vermont.  The planning is keeping him pretty busy, so we need to fill some of his summer hours with a part-time person--preferably someone whose schedule can remain flexible, to match his unpredictable one.  If any of you, current worksharers especially, would like to work on the farm for a few months, drop by sometime this week.  We pay $8/hour to first-year staff. 

Movie screening and panel discussion about an Illinois CSA farmer

The Real Dirt on Farmer John will be screened  on June 6th,  6:30-8:30pm at Charles Sumner School (1201 17th St, NW).  Afterward, Susan and Carrie will be members of a panel inviting questions from the audience.  Come join us, it's free!

"Independent Lens" is a PBS series; the film will air nationally on June 13.

NOTE: To read what Kolya wrote about this film a year ago, click here.

Job Opening: Harvest for Health Program Director

Job Description

Job Title: Program Director

Department: Harvest for Health

Reports To:  Senior Program Director

Classification: Exempt

Basic Function: To provide direction and oversight for staff and all aspects of programming for projects in the Harvest for Health Department, including the Anacostia Farmers Market, From the Ground Up at Clagett Farm, Cooking Close to Home and activities relative to each of these, while maintaining focus on the organizational mission, budget and strategic plan.

Responsibilities:

· Sets and evaluate goals for programs and staff through written strategic plans, work plans and action plans in a format compatible with other CAFB departments;

· Regularly provides constructive feedback on performance of all department staff and interns;

· Facilitates planning meetings with CAFB and CBF staff to encourage ongoing communication and collaboration on FGU program development;

· Seeks opportunities for streamlining and integrating all CAFB programs related to fresh produce, and work to encourage a Community Food Security perspective and approach;

· Tracks and reports poundage distribution related to all departmental programs, and ensure a near 50% distribution of Clagett produce to low-income households;

· Tracks expenses and income related to the department 4 (market) and 5 (farm) budgets, and assist in creating a monthly reconciliation between CAFB and CBF accounting records;

· Collaborates on grant proposals and other development activities to source funds for current project costs and future program development;

· Maintains records and monitors project progress to ensure compatibility with the predicted outcomes of awarded grants;

· Supervises plan and messaging for all departmental marketing and outreach;

· Provides direction and focus for educational aspects of all programs;

· Forges relationships and suggests needed action for CAFB Advocacy on issues related to departmental programming;

· Represents department or identify a staff member to be present at relevant national conferences, regional forums and local neighborhood meetings when appropriate;

· Forges strong community partnerships with groups and organizations, CSA shareholders, and member agencies located near project sites;

· Works with the Local Food Alliance and other pertinent community organizations to identify and secure a long-term community organizer for the Anacostia Farmers Market;

· Serves as the on-site and behind-the scene Anacostia Farmers Market manager until a community partner has been identified to assume leadership;

· Responsible for securing market site annually and work with District government on obtaining any necessary permits and approval;

· Supervises the recruitment of new farmers for the Anacostia Farmers Market and manage existing relationships with current farmer vendors;

· Monitors effectiveness of EBT acceptance and look for opportunities to take this experience elsewhere to other markets within DC and the Metro Area;

· Ensures efficiency of the From the Ground Up at Clagett Farm Fresh Produce Grant distribution of donated shares;

· Works to initiate Cooking Close to Home classes and provide structure for volunteers and interns to assume a large part of day-to-day project responsibility;

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in related field
• 4 years work experience and training in the fields of project management, program development and/or community organizing
• Competency with Microsoft Office Software to include: Word, Excel, Outlook and Publisher; knowledge of website updating beneficial

Knowledge, skills, abilities:

• Working knowledge of sustainable agriculture, preferably in the operations of a producer-only farmers market, small farm and/or Community Supported Agriculture program
• Experience in planning, organization and time management in team-oriented environments.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically.
• Exhibits excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Experience in marketing, event planning, public relations, customer service, and/or related fields a plus.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a dynamic organization.
• Experience working in low-income communities and with diverse populations.

Physical requirements:

• The ability to lift heavy boxes up to 40 lbs

Working Conditions and Hours: This position will require a flexible 40-hour work week, and will be based at the Capital Area Food Bank office. Time in the Anacostia community of SE Washington, DC, and at the farm in Upper Marlboro, MD will also be required. Most work is during the normal working day but some activities will take place during evening hours or on weekends during the growing season. Position requires working outdoors in varying conditions during the growing season.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Please contact: Les Johnson, M.S.

Human Resources Director

johnsonl@cfoodbank.org

www.capitalareafoodbank.org

202-587-1330 - Fax

Shares are sold out for the 2006 season

Shares filled up quickly this year, and though I hate to turn away wonderful new customers, we're sold out.  If you know anyone who would like to join next year, tell them to send us an email.  We'll add them to a list of folks who will be informed as soon as we begin selling shares for 2007.  Also, we never run out of space for work sharers, so send those able bodies our way!
Now, back to mulching those potatoes...