Clagett Farm Notes

The Promise of Strawberries

Our two strawberry fields are flowering, which means that in not too long shareholders will be enjoying delicious fresh berries. And remember that shareholders are welcome to "you pick" them--we will let you know when the time comes.

Don't send us money for 2005 shares yet!

We've been delighted that some enthusiastic, would-be members have already sent us money for a 2005 share.  Nonetheless, we're not quite ready for you.  We're still deciding on some small changes, and working out a few kinks in the way we process your shares.  Drop us a line to tell us you're waiting with bated breath, and we'll be sure to include your email among the first that receives our new 2005 order form.  I'm aiming to get them out around the end of February, (but that's not a promise). 

Also, we do not plan to have a pick-up site in or near Takoma Park.  As always, we'll encourage you to take turns picking up your share with another nearby member, instead.  We only want happy, satisfied customers, though, so if driving to the farm is too much, try shopping around for a more nearby source of locally-grown, environmentally-friendly produce.  These sites might help: csacenter.org, USDA.gov directory of farmers' markets, NewFarm.org "farm locator" and localharvest.org.  Or, if you'd like to donate a deisel van that we can convert to consume used vegetable oil, we would be so grateful you could have your share delivered wherever you want. 

Thanks everyone!

Summary of 2004 Survey Results

Remember those surveys? Here is our summary of the results. You know your particular likes and dislikes, but by reading this summary you will have a fairly good idea of the preferences of your "average" fellow shareholder.

Let’s start by combining the results of the first two questions: Of those who completed the survey, 68 percent were shareholders that picked up their shares at the farm. Among them, Saturday and Tuesday members were equally represented at 34 percent each. 27 percent of responders were Dupont Circle shareholders and 5 percent picked up at Anacostia. Responders ran the gamut from seasoned ten year veterans to first-time members.

Which three vegetables would you like us to grow more of next year?

If we are talking of favorite veggies, there is little doubt that tomatoes would top the list (or certainly be among the top two), but that is not what we asked. In any event, judging from your answers, we can state with confidence that you love variety. Forty-three different crops made the list! Here we will only list the eight most frequently mentioned. Broccoli was first--31 percent of responders wanted more of it. Second place goes to green/purple beans, requested by 21 percent of responding members. Corn took third place (18 percent). Beets and spinach were next (17 percent each), and after that carrots, lettuce and peas were tied, each getting 16 percent.

Considering our space limitations, if you were the sole decision maker which three vegetables you would not grow in our farm in order to have more space for your favorite ones?

This year, poor turnips won the dubious honor of being the least popular veggie, 29 percent of shareholders expressed willingness to give turnips the ax. Okra, which usually wins this competition, was selected by 24 percent of the responders. Kohlrabi came in a distant third with 14 percent. In addition to these three, twenty-eight other crops were mentioned, but all of them lagged behind considerably. Nevertheless, even the unpopular veggies had fans that wanted more of them. If 29 percent of shareholders dislike turnips, this means that 71 percent like them or at least do not mind having them.

Of the vegetables and herbs we didn’t provide, which ones you would want us to grow?

Asparagus and rosemary were the most frequently requested (at 15 percent each), followed by onions (12 percent). Thirty-two other crops were mentioned, but those three were clearly ahead of the pack. As some of you know, asparagus is a perennial crop that takes a few years to establish. Once established, though, the same bed should produce for fifteen years or longer. We planted asparagus last spring and in the spring of 2005 we expect to harvest only a small amount. In 2006 we expect to harvest it fully. We will plant rosemary and hope to have onions in our shares next year.

Is there anything you would change about your pick-up site, or how the vegetables were displayed and distributed?

Over two thirds (68 percent) of members expressed satisfaction and did not suggest any changes. Although we are happy with that, we appreciate the feedback of those who thought that we should improve. The most common pet peeve (10 percent of responders had the same complaint) was that the farm pick up area has become too crowded. This is interesting because this was the first year we had this complaint. It means that we reached a critical mass and that in order to serve the same number of shareholders we should rearrange our set up at the wash station. We will. 8 percent of members wrote that they wanted us to add more scales. This, of course, is related to the perceived overcrowding--an additional scale or two would ease any bottlenecks. The next most common suggestion was to move the Saturday pick up from the afternoon to the morning. At this point we are not inclined to this because of two reasons. First, only a very small percentage of shareholders had this suggestion. Second, most of the produce is harvested in the morning and distributed in the afternoon (or evening) of the same day. If we switch to Saturday morning distributions, besides additional work for us (storing the produce for the next day), the veggies will not be as fresh.

Did you have adequate assistance from the farm staff?

We are grateful that most of you thought that we provided you with good assistance. 96 percent of the responses were unambiguously positive. There were no outright negative comments, but 4 percent of the replies were somewhat mixed.

Did you ever "you-pick" extra vegetables for your share? Is there anything you would change?

Plenty of "You Pickers"! 65 percent of members you-picked at the farm. And this also included several Dupont and Anacostia shareholders. Among your suggestions, the most common was to improve the signs and have more of them. It addition, it was suggested to have a have a large laminated map of the farm in the wash station, as well as smaller maps for shareholders to take during walks around the farm. We will work on all those suggestions.

Was your share worth the price this year?

Well, the vast majority (85 percent) thought that the share was worth the price. 11 percent was not quite sure, and 4 percent felt that it was not worth it.

If this is not your first year as member, is it worth the price most years?

78 percent of old-timers think that our share prices are worth it most years. 22 percent replied with some ambiguity, but no old timer stated that the price is not worth it most years.

Have you checked the weblog? Do you find it useful?

Although most of you (63 percent) had checked the weblog, it was surprising that a full 37 percent of shareholders had not. Of those who had read the weblog, 87 percent found it useful or very useful, 11 percent had a mixed opinion and 2 percent did not find it useful at all.

Is there anything you would change or add to the weblog?

There were several suggestions. By far the most common was to have more posts and to update the weblog more frequently. We heard you! Our weblog will be more active during the growing season. Other common suggestions: preview the veggies coming up in the next share, notify weblog updates by email, have more input from shareholders and worksharers, and add more recipes. All these are excellent suggestions. Let us just add, though, that members can increase the interactivity of this weblog by sending comments to it. Just click on the comment link at the bottom of the post you want to comment on, write, and send.

Did you have enough access to information about the farm?

Although the vast majority (78 percent) thought that you had enough access to farm information, we will try to improve on this and make it easier for everyone, including those who think we are not quite up to par on this score (18 percent gave us mixed reviews on this and 4 percent thought we did not provide enough access.)

What was the thing you liked the most about your CSA this year?

It’s always fun to read what people liked about their year as CSA members. Fresh, quality produce was the number one response. The wide variety of veggies was the second most popular response. Coming to the farm itself was also one of the things you liked the most about being CSA members. Other common replies were U-Picking vegetables and strawberries, trying new veggies, our commitment to low income people, and the fact that the farm follows sustainable practices.

What was the thing you liked the least about your CSA this year?

Even though so many of you loved to visit the farm, somewhat paradoxically the most common "least liked" aspect about the CSA was the commute to the farm (this was mentioned by 17 percent of those who completed the survey.) There were other items in the "things you liked the least" list, but those dislikes were not nearly as common as the commute issue.

Do you plan to continue membership next year?

We are happy that 71 percent of shareholders wrote that they will continue membership next year. 16 percent were unsure and 13 percent stated that they will not be renewing.

If not, what are the two main reasons for not continuing?

The primary two reasons for not renewing were (1) the long commute to the pick up site, and (2) member either moving to another place or changing jobs making the pick up impossible or much more difficult.

Anything else you would like us to know?

The most common response here was "Thanks!" And we thank you back for your feedback and support. If you are curious you may want to peruse the summary of the 2003 survey. Click here to do that. 

Thank you, gleaners!

Because of all the gleaners that came to the farm this past Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, our 2004 season came to a happy end. It's good to know that as the season closed our fields are thoroughly picked and our veggies put to good use. This year we had many more gleaners than in the previous two years. A visitor to the farm during these two gleaning days may not have gotten that impression since at any given time there were only a handful of gleaners at the farm. But it was the steady trickle of gleaners that made the difference. At the end it added up to a significant number. We were also fortunate that on Friday when a van from Christ House, a medical facility for the homeless in DC, came to pick up veggies, three shareholders that were gleaning for their own households cheerfully jumped into the act and helped harvest several binfuls of nutritious greens for Christ House's kitchen. Thanks!

Gleaners who stopped at the washing station saw (and several of them bought) the swags that Carrie made with Clagett Farm's German Porcelain garlic, popcorn cobs, boxwood, holly and pine. Kathleen Davis also made a couple of wreaths that sold quickly. If you bought one of those swags or wreaths, remember that the garlic is of excellent eating quality, so once you are ready to put away your holiday decorations use that garlic in your kitchen.   

Election Day: You Have a Choice!

Dear shareholders, for many of you this Tuesday, November 2, is a share pick-up day. Perhaps (only perhaps) some of you are aware that the elections are also going to be held this Tuesday. Well, you have a real choice! You can either pick up your share as you usually do on Tuesdays or you can pick it up on Saturday. There is an added wrinkle for the Dupont Circle shareholders. If you choose to pick up on Saturday, you'll have to go to the farm itself between 1 and 4 PM.

If you are a Tuesday shareholder, please inform us in advance if you are not picking up on Tuesday because of time conflicts with the elections. This will help us in estimating how much to harvest on Tuesday and how much to save for Saturday. Our Dupont Circle stand closes promptly at 7 PM on Tuesday.

Thanks!

Shareholders picking up their shares at the farm a few Saturdays ago.

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A quick reminder: if you have not yet done so, please send us your completed survery. We have already received many of them, but the more surveys are completed the better.

Fall Festival at Clagett Farm

It was a glorious autumn day last Saturday--perfect for a farm fall festival. It was great to see so many shareholders, worksharers and friends enjoying themselves. It was very nice to see several shareholders (from Anacostia and Dupont) who had never been to the farm before. We all had a good time.

Steel drum band in action (Jeff Crespi's photo):

Michael Heller pulling out with hayriders:

Shareholder Lorig Charkoudian and daughter (thanks for the photo, Jeff):

Harvesting the potluck (once again, Jeff's photo):

Carrie and her grandma (the farmer on the right side of the picture is Rob Vaughn):

Last share dates: November 9, 10 and 13

Several people have been asking about our last share distribution. Including this week's share, we have four more weeks of shares. The last Tuesday share will be on November 9, the last Anacostia share will be on November 10, and the last Saturday share will be on November 13.

On November 19 and 20 (a Friday and Saturday) we will hold our gleaning days. That is, all shareholders and worksharers are welcome to the farm and glean from the tired fields whatever they want. We will let you know a few days in advance what you can expect to glean on those days.

Winter squash

In addition to sweet potatoes, there is another newcomer in this week's share: winter squash. Primarily acorn squash. Other kinds will follow once they are ready. This week shareholders should get one squash per share.

The sweet potatoes are coming!

This week we harvested sweet potatoes for the first time this season. They look good! When will shareholders start getting them? Maybe as soon as this coming Tuesday, September 28. After harvesting, sweet potatoes need to be cured for a few days. We will decide this Tuesday whether this first batch has had enough curing time. Do not worry, though, all shareholders will get plenty of them.

We at Clagett Farm want to extend a special thank you to shareholders Cindy Agard, Pat Burke and Chris Weule for the crucial help they gave four months ago. On May 25, one of the hottest days this year, they helped us transplant sweet potato slips. On that day the results of their hard work probably didn't look very promising: small and pitiful looking plants flopped over in a hot and barren field. A couple of months later, the field was thickly carpeted with sweet potato vines. And now we've started to dig out a good looking crop.

This is how our largest sweet potato field looked on May 25 right after transplanting (with Kathleen, Rana and Joe):

The same field on September 23. Sweet potato vines on the left (unharvested portion) and already harvested rows on the right:

And here is a recently dug up trio:

Watermelons

Be prepared, there is watermelon in this week's share. Shareholders who pick up at the farm or Anacostia should have no problems. It may be somewhat more problematic if you are a Dupont Circle shareholder, since most of you either walk or bike to the pick-up site. Because of the short notice and to make it easier to the Dupont members, most of the watermelons I'll bring this week will be small. Next week there will be more regular-sized watermelons in the Dupont drop-off site.